1. What’s New in Workforce Development Policy? Deborah Mutschler, Executive Director Massachusetts Workforce Alliance (MWA) www.massworkforcealliance.org

2. Agenda 1.Federal Update 2.State Update 3.Activity 4.Report out

3. Mission: The mission of the Massachusetts Workforce Alliance is to unite individuals, organizations and coalitions to advance sensible workforce development policy that creates true economic opportunity for low-income people. Work: Advocacy – Green Jobs Bill, Down to Earth Publications Training -- PEER, Know and Go Website: www.massworkforcealliance.org

4. The Federal Story The Mood Scott Brown New strategy of splitting WIA www.nationalskillscoalition.org

5. 2011 Federal Budget. DOL Reauthorization of WIA (w/ $321 million in DOL/DOE for new “Partnership for Workforce Innovation.”) Reauthorization of TAA programs & maintaining the current cap on training funds at $575 million. $100 million for a Health Care Training initiative. $85 million for the Green Jobs Innovation Fund $46.6 million for Pilots, Demonstrations, and Research (w/ $40 million reserved for transitional jobs activities) $703.6 million for state Employment Service Grants.

6. 2011 Federal Budget DOE $612 million for state ABE grants. American Graduation Initiative -- $10.6 billion for community colleges. The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA / HR 3221) has many AGI recommendations. + $6.46 billion FY 2010 Pell funding. $34.8 billion 2011/12 Pell Grants (max award = $5,710.) Calls to annually index Pell Grant awards to the Consumer Price Index +1%, & make funding for Pell Grants mandatory not discretionary. HHS Extend the current (TANF) Emergency Fund (under ARRA) for one year– and increases the federal reimbursement for states to create subsidized jobs from 80 percent to 100 percent.

7. More Federal Information Sectors Bill Jobs Bills UI/COBRA

8. MA Legislators No more Kennedy as chair of HELP John Kerry = Senate Finance (d) Jim McGovern = House budget committee (d) John Olver = House Appropriations (d) John Tierney = House Education and Labor and Pension (HELP) (d) – WIA, HEA, Perkins, and ABE Richard Neal = Income Security and Family Support (d)

9. State Story Secretary Joanne Goldstein Governor’s Budget for next year – down $10 million Jobs bills (S. 2270; governors bill H. 4866) Green jobs and Down to Earth

10. Activity: A Year in Review 30 Minutes Moving Forward What needs to be different? What is your biggest policy concern right now ?

11. Closing with the dots Use your dots to indicate: What your focus is or What you’d talk to legislators about