[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 106 (Friday, July 31, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S9616]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT OF 1998

 Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I wish to engage my colleague, 
Senator DeWINE, in a colloquy.
  I thank Senator Jeffords, and the other members of the Senate 
Committee on Labor and Human Resources for your collective efforts in 
passing H.R. 1385, the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. This bill 
promises to improve and revitalize our country's workforce system and 
will enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of our federal job 
training programs.
  As you know, Texas has been in the forefront of the remaking its 
state and local workforce delivery system. Beginning in 1993, Texas 
created a system very similar to one embodied in HR 1385. As with this 
federal legislation, the new Texas system is based on the principles of 
local control, customer service, and consolidation.
  In this regard, I commend you for recognizing in the bill the 
uniqueness and foresight of the Texas workforce system by providing 
flexibility in the bill for our state to fully implement its new laws.
  Specifically, I understand that HR 1385 provides that Texas will be 
able to maintain use of its Human Resource Investment Council (known as 
the Texas Council for Workforce and Economic Competitiveness) as 
defined in Texas statute and regulation to fulfill the State Board 
requirements under Section 111. In addition, Section 117(I) provides 
that Texas will be able to maintain the Local Workforce Development 
Boards as defined in Texas statute and regulation to fulfill the Local 
Board requirements under Section 117. Section 189(I)(2) provides that 
Texas may maintain the current local workforce board areas as defined 
in Texas statute and regulation to fulfill the requirements under 
section 116, and that no other language in HR 1385 may be construed to 
force Texas to change the configuration of its 28 local workforce 
areas. Section 189(I)(3) provides that Texas may maintain its 
sanctioning process for local boards. Section 194(a)(1)(A) provides 
that Texas may maintain it current process and formulas for allocating 
funds under sections 127 and 132 to its local workforce boards and that 
Texas may maintain it current procedures for disbursing money that is 
allocated to local workforce boards. Section 194(a)(1)(B) provides that 
local workforce boards in Texas may maintain their disbursal processes 
and procedures for monies provided under sections 127 and 132. Section 
194(a)(2) provides that Texas may maintain the procedure as defined in 
Texas statute and regulation through which fiscal agents are designated 
by local boards for monies provided under sections 127 or 132. Section 
194(a)(3) provides that Texas may maintain its process by which local 
boards designate or select one-stop partners and one-stop operators, 
notwithstanding any requirements set forth in section 121. Section 
194(a)(4) provides that Texas may maintain its requirements that 
service providers shall not be permitted to perform both intake and 
training services. Section 194(a)(5) provides that Texas may maintain 
the roles and functions of its state board (otherwise known as the 
Texas Council for Workforce and Economic Competitiveness) and that no 
requirements for elements of state plans shall be construed to force a 
role or function upon Texas' State Board that is inconsistent with 
Texas statute or regulation. Section 194(a)(6) provides that Texas may 
maintain the roles and functions of its Local Boards and that no 
requirements for elements of state or local plans shall be construed to 
force a role or function upon Texas' local board that is inconsistent 
with Texas statute or regulation.
  Mr. DeWINE. The Senator is correct, and I, too, share your commitment 
to preserving the leading edge reforms Texas is implementing.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. I thank the Senator. There is, however, one final 
item on which I request clarification. It is my understanding that the 
intent of Section 194(a)(4) is to allow Texas to limit providers to 
provide either intake or training services as defined under section 
134.
  Mr. DeWINE. The Senator is correct. It was the intent of the 
Conference Committee to allow Texas this specific flexibility with 
regard to intake and training providers.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. I thank the Senator for his leadership and his 
assistance and cooperation in ensuring that the intent of this 
important bill is allowed to be carried-out according to specific state 
needs and laws.

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