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2012 -- S 2303 | |
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LC00846 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
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IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
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JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012 | |
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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N | |
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RESPECTFULLLY URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO FULLY FUND THE | |
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WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT (WIA) | |
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Introduced By: Senators Paiva Weed, Ruggerio, P Fogarty, Lynch, and DaPonte | |
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Date Introduced: February 01, 2012 | |
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Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs | |
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WHEREAS, The United States Congress is considering an appropriations bill that would |
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significantly cut funding to federal workforce programs including the Adult, Dislocated Worker, |
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and Youth programs authorized under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA); and |
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WHEREAS, WIA is the major funding source for the employment and training programs |
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in the states, including education, placement, and business support services; and |
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WHEREAS, WIA appropriations help fund Rhode Island’s comprehensive One-Stop |
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Career Centers, local Workforce Investment Boards, contextualized training, innovative industry |
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partnerships, and a myriad of other services designed to improve the skill level and work |
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preparedness of Rhode Island’s workforce; and |
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WHEREAS, Programs funded by WIA provide a valuable service to our business |
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community by helping to provide a 21st century skilled workforce that is designed to meet the |
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needs of Rhode Island employers who are struggling to recover from the recent recession; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the past two years, the Department of Labor and Training estimates |
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that WIA programs have assisted over 33,600 Rhode Islanders in their efforts to obtain new skills |
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and secure employment; and |
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WHEREAS, A significant reduction in federal WIA funding would devastate the |
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workforce development system in Rhode Island, resulting in fewer training and retraining |
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opportunities for unemployed job seekers, reducing funds for valuable on-the-job training, |
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reducing funding for the state’s Rapid Response layoff aversion program, reducing the number of |
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work experience and career exploration programs for vulnerable at-risk youth, and hindering the |
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development and enhancement of a workforce that can compete in the global economy; now, |
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therefore be it |
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RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations |
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hereby strongly urges and implores Congress to fully fund the Workforce Investment Act, the |
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cornerstone of the state workforce system that provides vital services to the unemployed, under- |
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employed, and employers as they try to rebound from the recent recession; and be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to |
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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the President of the United States Senate, to the |
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Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, to the Honorable Jack Reed and Sheldon |
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Whitehouse, United States Senators, and to the Honorable James R. Langevin and David N. |
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Cicilline, United States Representatives. |
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LC00846 | |
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