ACE Act from Representative Thompson

Washington, D.C. – The All Children are Equal (ACE) Act, a bill introduced by U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson in July of 2011, today was praised during a hearing in the House Education and Workforce Committee that examined two pieces of legislation – H.R. 3989, "Student Success Act" and H.R. 3990, "Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act" – which will serve as the basis to reform the current Elementary and Secondary Education Act, also known as No Child Left Behind.  The hearing was the Education and Workforce Committee’s 12th oversight hearing, exploring better ways forward for our nation’s elementary and secondary schools.  

Hearing Witness, Mr. Jimmy Cunningham, superintendent of Hampton School District in Hampton, Arkansas, spoke to concerns with the current Title I formula, which adversely affects small districts, both rural and urban, and inflates benefits to low‐poverty districts – counter to the intent of current law. 

Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act is the largest source of federal funding to the states and aims to improve the achievement of disadvantaged children.  It is the largest sources of federal funds contributed to school districts. 

H.R. 3989 and H.R. 3990 were introduced in the last week by the House Education and Workforce Committee.  Thursday’s hearing allowed members an opportunity to examine and obtain feedback on the legislation.  

To view the full a copy of Superintendent Jimmy Cunningham’s testimony, click here.

To view the text of the American Farm Bureau Federation statement of support, click here.

KOZ Legislation moves forward

HARRISBURG – Legislation authored by Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9) to strengthen Pennsylvania's Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ) program, Senate Bill 1237, has been sent to Governor Tom Corbett for his signature.

KOZs, which provide tax benefits to companies which create jobs in designated zones, have been used in Pennsylvania since 1999. Business Facilities magazine has called KOZs "the number one economic development strategy in the nation." 

Governor Corbett supports the legislation and is expected to sign it. SB 1237 authorizes the creation of up to 15 new zones, known as Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zones (KOEZs). As with existing KOZs, the tax benefits in KOEZs will be available for 10 years and all new zones must be approved by local governments and school boards.

For businesses which invest at least $1 billion and create at least 400 jobs within seven years, the tax benefits will be extended to 15 years.

The legislation also increases oversight powers and responsibilities for the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). DCED will be required to monitor job creation and retention data, information on what types of jobs are created, the average hourly wages, and more. More here.

PA Labor & Industry OVR 2013 Public Comment Sought

The Department of Labor and Industry, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), announces a period of public comment on its proposed Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2013 Combined Agency State Plan Attachments (Attachments). The plan is the blueprint for the provision of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services to persons with disabilities living in this Commonwealth. FFY 2013 begins on October 1, 2012, and ends on September 30, 2013. This notice is provided under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended in the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. Local meetings include:

Erie BBVS District Office
(Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Venango  and Warren Counties)
Date: April 5, 2012, Time: 5 p.m.—6 p.m.
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Conference Room, 3200 Lovell Place, Erie, PA 16503
(866) 521-5073 (Voice), (888) 884-5513 (TTY)
Contact Person: Dawn Sokol (814) 871-4401
and
Perkins Family Restaurant
Date: March 21, 2012, Time: 10:30 a.m.—12 p.m.
18276 Conneaut Lake Road, Meadville, PA 16335
Contact Person: Dawn Sokol (814) 871-4401
On-site at restaurant—mobile number (814) 573-1432


Erie BVRS District Office
(Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango and  Warren Counties)
Date: April 5, 2012, Time: 10 a.m.—12 p.m. and 5 p.m.—6 p.m.
Erie District Office Conference Room, 3200 Lovell Place, Erie, PA 16503
(800) 541-0721 (Voice), (888) 217-1710 (TTY)
Contact Person: Jack Hewitt or Kim Garnon

KOEZ bill receives final approval

[from Senator Robbins' newsletter] A measure intended to promote new economic development and job creation in the Commonwealth received final legislative approval Tuesday and is headed to the Governor for his signature and enactment into law.

Senate Bill 1237 authorizes the designation of 15 new Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zones (KOEZ) of up to 350 acres each. The parcels must be deteriorated, underutilized or unoccupied. Parcels may be occupied by a qualified business if the business creates or retains at least 1,000 full-time jobs within three years of designation and makes a capital investment of at least $500 million within three years of designation.
The bill allows the designation to be for 15 years instead of 10 if the business invests at least $1 billion and creates at least 400 new permanent full-time jobs within 7 years of the date of designation.

Chart outlines PY 2012 Workforce Funding

FISCAL YEAR 2012 RESOURCES

Fiscal Year 2012 Appropriations for Job Training and Education 

National Skills Coalition | December 2011 | Download

State of the Union

Highlights from last night's State of the Union address and the President's "An America Built To Last" plan:


*Reform job training and Unemployment Insurance to help put more Americans back to work:
The President believes we need to reform outdated and inefficient unemployment insurance and job training systems and restore the basic bargain that if you are willing to do the work, you deserve the chance to gain the skills you need to find a job or land a better one. The President called on Congress to move forward on reforms to the Unemployment Insurance program by requiring workers to undergo eligibility assessments in order to receive emergency federal benefits, while at the same time offering new tools to help workers find new jobs. He also proposed streamlining training and employment services for dislocated workers so that those workers are able to access a single program, visit a single location, and go to a single website to find the help they need about job services and training opportunities in their communities.

*Forge new partnerships between community colleges and businesses to train and place 2 million skilled workers: Many industries have difficulty filling jobs requiring specific technical skills, even with many Americans still looking for work. In coming years, America will need to fill millions of mid- and high-level skilled positions in industries from healthcare to advanced manufacturing, clean energy to information technology. The President proposed a new initiative to train and place two million Americans in good jobs through partnerships between businesses and community colleges that give workers the skills employers explicitly need. To address future workforce needs, the President will support partnerships between high schools and industry to create more career academies, which combine instruction in academic subjects and industry skills.

The work plan also includes initiatives toward hiring unemployed Veterans, continued work for Equal Pay, strengthening the manufacturing sector, and multiple tax reform proposals.

Sen. Scarnati elected for 6th time as President Pro Tempore of the PA Senate

Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) was sworn in as President Pro Tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate for 2012, the sixth time Senate colleagues have elected him to the third-highest constitutional office in the commonwealth.

In brief remarks to the chamber, the senator said the legislature must continue to focus on creating jobs and making state government live within its means. He also highlighted several cost-saving initiatives that were implemented in the Senate in 2011.

Senator Scarnati is serving his third term in the Senate. He was born and raised in Brockway, Jefferson County, and represents the 25th Senatorial District, which currently includes Cameron, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, Potter, Tioga and portions of Clearfield and Warren counties.