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Congress Works to Avoid a Government Shutdown
NLC Testifies on Integrated Planning, Water Infrastructure Financing
Senate Takes Steps Toward Transportation Authorization
Proposed Job Training Bills Would Damage the WIA Program
Congress Works to Avoid a Government Shutdown
Carolyn Coleman, coleman@nlc.org, 202.626.3023
Last month, Congress completed work on a $128 billion "minibus" spending bill that provided funding for the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Transportation and Housing. That bill included a resolution to continue funding the remaining federal agencies until midnight tonight.
With the midnight deadline to avoid a government shutdown approaching, the House passed a $915 billion "megabus" spending bill that the Senate was expected to pass and the President to sign. The megabus includes funding for energy-water, homeland security, interior-environment, labor, and health and human services, education, and other programs.
Here are a few highlights from the megabus:
Energy and Environment
The Energy-Water section of the bill funds the Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It calls for $1.825 billion for the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), but does not provide specific program allocations. Instead, the DOE EERE has the flexibility to allocate the funds to specific programs. In FY2011, DOE EERE allocated $174.3 million to the Weatherization Assistance Program. Of note, this section of the bill prohibits DOE from using funds to enforce federal light bulb efficiency standards that are set to take effect on January 1, 2012.
The Interior-Environment section of the bill funds the Department of Interior and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The bill funds the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund at $1.5 billion, the same as in FY2011; the bill also provides level funding for the Superfund program at $1.2 billion. Both the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund and the Brownfields program face reductions in funding-the former by $45.6 million to $919.4 million, and the latter by $5 million to $95 million for FY 2012. While the bill does not include many of the discussed controversial policy riders aimed at limiting EPA's regulatory authority, one rider that was included would prohibit EPA from imposing reporting requirements regarding greenhouse gas emissions.
Labor
The section of the bill that funds workforce training programs was cut overall by $600 million from $3.8 billion to $3.2 billion. But, there is some good news. Despite efforts to virtually eliminate workforce training programs, the megabus provides level funding for them with $771 million would be available for adult programs, $826 million for youth programs, and $1 billion for dislocated worker programs. Programs that help communities and individuals respond to major plant closings and other significant changes in the economy would be hit by the $600 million in cuts.
Education
The bill calls for a $153 million in education programs over last fiscal year. Title I education programs, which target funds to at-risk schools, are cut by $300 million from $14.8 billion to $14.5 billion; Race to the Top, which supports schools that achieve academic excellence, are reduced by more than 20 percent, from $698 million down to $550 million. Special education funding is increased by $100 million, to $11.6 billion.
Health and Human Services
This section of the bill calls for a $1.2 billion cut to the Low Income Home Energy Program (LIHEAP); a $424 million increase over last year for Head Start programs; and level funding for the Social Services Block Grant program.
Homeland Security
In the megabus, State and Local Homeland Security Grants, which include core programs such as the Urban Area Security Initiative and the State Homeland Security Program, are set to receive only $1.35 billion. That number is $880 million, or 40 percent, below FY 2011 funding. After carve-outs for training, FEMA salaries and expenses, and border security initiatives, only $977 million will remain for crucial homeland security programs. The $977 million will be allocated by the Secretary to the more than ten State and Local Programs that are traditionally funded as line items in this category.
In better news, $675 million was appropriated for Firefighter Assistance, a significant increase from the $405 million provided in FY 2011. The funding will be split evenly between equipment and staffing grants. Emergency Management Performance Grants, which are utilized to assist state, local, tribal and territorial governments in preparing for all hazards, received $375 million ($50 million more than FY 2011).
NLC Testifies on Integrated Planning, Water Infrastructure Financing
Carolyn Berndt, berndt@nlc.org, 202.626.3101
On Wednesday, Joe Reardon, Mayor/CEO of the Unified Government of Kansas City, Kan., and Wyandotte County, testified on behalf of NLC before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment about the need for a modern policy framework and resources to invest in our nation's water infrastructure systems.
The hearing focused on a recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) memorandum, "Achieving Water Quality Through Integrated Municipal Stormwater and Wastewater Plans," in which the agency recognizes that many local governments face difficult financial conditions and commits to developing a planning framework that will allow communities to evaluate all of their Clean Water Act stormwater and wastewater obligations and prioritize their investments in a manner that maximizes water quality gains. In his testimony, Mayor Reardon called on the EPA and Congress to work more effectively with local governments in making cost-effective and affordable investments in water quality.
Mayor Reardon also brought attention to the nation's aging water infrastructure systems and echoed NLC's call for a reliable, long-term source of substantial capital to help close the gap between current expenditures and anticipated needs, including through the state revolving loan fund programs and other alternative financing mechanisms.
To read the mayor's testimony, click here. To view a video of the hearing, click here.
Senate Takes Steps Toward Transportation Authorization
Leslie Wollack, wollack@nlc.org, 202.626.3029
As Congress winds down for the year, Senate leaders are racing to finish work on a transportation authorization bill, so it may be considered by the full Senate in January.
On Wednesday, the Senate Commerce Committee voted to adopt its portion of the bill. During debate, the Committee added a provision requiring the Department of Transportation to implement a national plan for freight investments and adopted a "complete streets" amendment offered by Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK), a former mayor. Complete streets policies are intended to provide for safe, convenient, efficient, and accessible use by all-motor vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit vehicles. A total of 240 local governments and 27 states have adopted complete street policies that will save money by including small improvements in the course of routine roadway projects.
Of the two additional committees with jurisdiction over transportation authorization, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has already completed its action on MAP-21, a two-year surface transportation reauthorization bill that funds highway, transit and bridge programs at current levels. The Senate Banking Committee is also working against the calendar to complete the transit and planning portion of the bill before Congress adjourns for Christmas.
Proposed Job Training Bills Would Damage the WIA Program
Neil Bomberg, bomberg@nlc.org, 202.626.3042
Last Friday, The House Committee on Education and the Workforce released two bills that, if passed, would eliminate as many as 33 federal workforce development programs and dramatically restructure the composition of local workforce investment boards to limit the voice of community-based organizations, community colleges, and other key workforce system stakeholders.
The first bill, the Streamlining Workforce Development Programs Act (H.R. 3610), introduced by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), calls for the consolidation of 33 of 47 existing training programs into four "Workforce Investment Funds" and would authorize FY 2013-2018 formula funding to states for job specific training services:
- $4.3 billion annually for adults, unemployed workers, and youth employment;
- $1.9 billion annually for disadvantaged youth, with a focus on school completion;
- $218 million annually for U.S. veterans; and
- $581 million annually for special populations, including Native Americans and migrant and seasonal farm workers.
The second bill, the Local Job Opportunities and Business Success Act (H.R. 3611), introduced by Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV), would mandate that two-thirds of all workforce investment board members be employers, and would eliminate representation requirements for Workforce Investment Act partner programs, local educational entities, and labor organizations. The bill would also mandate that local boards reserve a minimum percentage of funds for training activities.
NLC is opposing both measures, which will likely see additional action early next year, because of the impact they would have on local authority over workforce development efforts at the local level.
Happy holidays from the NLC Federal Relations team! This is the last FR Update for 2011; the next edition will be published on January 27, 2012. |
