[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 39 (Monday, February 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10596-10598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-4574]


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TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY WORKFORCE COMMISSION


Notice of Public Information Hearing

AGENCY: Twenty-First Century Workforce Commission.

ACTION: Notice of Public Information Hearing.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to announce a public information hearing on 
Tuesday, March 7, 2000. Members of the public are invited to attend the 
hearing. Several witnesses have been invited by the Commissioners to 
testify and to address the questions identified by the agenda set forth 
below.
    The purpose of the hearing is for Commissioners to learn how 
Massachusetts companies, educational institutions, community 
organizations, and governments are working together so more of its 
residents gain the skills and knowledge necessary to be part of the 
Information Technology (IT) workforce.

DATES: The Public Information Hearing will be held on Tuesday, March 7, 
2000, from 9:00 am to approximately 3:00 p.m. Registration is from 9:00 
am to 10:00 am. The dates, locations and times for subsequent meetings 
will be announced in advance in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Northeastern University is located at 360 Huntington Avenue, 
Boston, MA 02115. The hearing will be held at the Egan Research 
building. For information, call (617) 373-2000. (TTY) (617) 373-3768. 
Web-based directions can be found at: www.neu.edu. All interested 
parties are invited to attend this Information Hearing. Seating may be 
limited and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Hans Meeder, Executive Director, 
Twenty-First Century Workforce Commission, 1201 New York Avenue, NW, 
Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005. (Telephone (202-289-2939. TTY (202) 
289-2977)). These are not toll-free numbers. Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Establishment of the Twenty-First Century 
Workforce Commission was mandated by Subtitle C of Title III of the 
Workforce Investment Act, Sec. 331 of Pub. L. 105-220, 112 Stat. 1087-
1091, (29 U.S.C. 2701 note), signed into law on August 7, 1998. The 15 
voting member Twenty-First Century Workforce Commission is charged with 
studying all aspects of the information technology workforce in the 
United States. Notice is hereby given of the second Public Information 
Hearing of the Twenty-First Century Workforce Commission.
    The Workforce Investment Act (Pub. L. 105-220), signed into law on 
August 7, 1998, established the Twenty-First Century Workforce 
Commission. The Commission is charged with carrying out a study of the 
information technology workforce in the U.S., including the examination 
of the following issues:

    1. What skills are currently required to enter the information 
technology workforce? What technical skills will be demanded in the 
near future?
    2. How can the United States expand its number of skilled 
information technology workers?
    3. How do information technology education programs in the United 
States compare with other countries in effectively training information 
technology workers? [The Commission study should place particular 
emphasis upon contrasting secondary, non-and-post-baccalaureate degree 
education programs available within the U.S. and foreign countries.]


[[Page 10597]]


    The Workforce Investment Act directs the Commission to issue 
recommendations to the President and Congress within six months. The 
Commission first met on November 16, 1999, and will issue its 
recommendations by May 16, 2000.

Agenda

     At the Boston, Massachusetts hearing, the Commission working group 
conducting the hearing will emphasize the following issues: (1) How 
will information technology advances continue to change Massachusetts' 
economy in coming years, and what skills will individuals need to 
participate in the IT workforce? (2) How are Massachusetts companies, 
educational institutions, community organizations, state and local 
governments partnering to provide educational and training 
opportunities for individuals who want to enter the IT workforce? (3) 
What particular barriers face Massachusetts in building and 
strengthening the IT workforce, and how are under-represented 
populations being reached for participation in the IT workforce?

Commission Membership

     The Workforce Investment Act mandates that 15 voting members be 
appointed by the President, Majority Leader of the Senate, and Speaker 
of the House (5 members each), including 3 educators, 3 state and local 
government representatives, 8 business representatives and 1 labor 
representative. The Act also mandates that the President appoint 2 ex-
officio members, one each from the Departments of Labor and Education.
    The Commissioners are: Chairman Lawrence Perlman, Ceridian 
Corporation, Minneapolis, MN; Vice Chair, Katherine K. Clark, Landmark 
Systems Corporation, Reston, VA; Susan Auld, Capitol Strategies, Ltd., 
Montpelier, VT; Morton Bahr, Communication Workers of America, 
Washington, DC; Patricia Gallup, PC Communications, Inc., Merrimack, 
NH; Dr. Bobby Garvin, Mississippi Delta Community College, Moorhead, 
MS; Susan M. Green (ex officio), U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, 
DC; Randel Johnson, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Washington, DC; Roger 
Knutsen, National Council for Higher Education, Auburn, WA; Patricia 
McNeil (ex officio), U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC; The 
Honorable Mark Morial, Mayor, City of New Orleans, LA; Thomas Murrin, 
Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA; Leo Reynolds, Electronic Systems, 
Inc., Sioux Falls, SD; The Honorable Frank Riggs, National Homebuilders 
Institute, Washington, DC; The Honorable Frank Roberts, Mayor, City of 
Lancaster, California; Kenneth Saxe, Stambaugh-Ness, York, PA; David L. 
Steward, World Wide Technology, Inc., St. Louis, MO; Hans K. Meeder, 
Executive Director, Washington, DC.

Public Participation

     Members of the public are invited to attend this hearing. Several 
witnesses have been invited to testify by the Commissioners to address 
the questions identified on the Agenda. In addition, members of the 
public wishing to present oral statements to the Twenty-First Century 
Workforce Commission should forward their requests to Mr. Hans Meeder, 
Executive Director, as soon as possible and at least four days before 
the meeting. Requests should be made by email, fax machine, or 
telephone, as shown above.
    Time permitting, the Commissioners will attempt to accommodate 
requests for oral presentations. Each member of the public who is 
selected to testify will be allotted a three minute period to present 
their oral remarks. Members of the public must limit oral statements to 
three minutes, but extended written statements may be submitted for the 
record. Members of the public may also submit written statements for 
distribution to the Commissioners and inclusion in the public record 
without presenting oral statements. Such written statements should be 
sent to Mr. Hans Meeder, as shown above, or may be submitted at the 
hearing site.
    The Commission has established a web site, www.workforce21.org. Any 
written comments regarding documents published on this web site should 
be directed to Mr. Hans Meeder, as shown above.

Special Accommodations

     Reasonable accommodations will be available. Persons needing any 
special assistance such as sign language interpretation, or other 
special accommodation, are invited to contact Mr. Hans Meeder, as shown 
above. Requests for accommodations must be made four days in advance of 
the hearing.
    Due to difficulties of scheduling the members we are unable to 
provide a full 15-day advance notice of this meeting.

    Signed at Washington, DC this 22nd day of February, 2000.
Hans K. Meeder,
Executive Director, Twenty-First Century Workforce Commission.
[FR Doc. 00-4574 Filed 2-25-00; 8:45 am]
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