President Signs Unemployment Insurance/Payroll Tax Extension

On February 22nd, the President signed The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (H.R. 3630) to extend the emergency jobless benefits and the Social Security payroll tax cut through the end of the year. Specifically, the new law extends the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program and 100% federal financing of the Extended Benefits (EB) program until December 31, 2012. 

Among other provisions, the law also reauthorizes the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant and related programs through September 30, 2012, and it includes a mandate for data exchange standardization.

Chapter Awards Update

The Awards Redesign Team is in the process of finalizing the proposed changes to the Chapter Awards (currently Education, Legislation, Communication, Professional Practices, International, Membership.)

Although still is draft form, the awards are being redesigned to fit the new committee structure (Education, Chapter Development, Communication, Recognition, and Marketing).  It's hoped that the proposal will be ready to send to the District Directors sometime in March for input from members and ultimately passing by the board of directors.

Once the proposal is sent to the District Directors, I will post it to this blog so all members can review and comment.

Finally It's Settled

The Senate and the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan deal Today extending the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits while also avoiding a Medicare fee cut for doctors for the rest of the year.  The bill passed the Senate in a 60-36 vote less than an hour after the House passed it by a 293-132 margin.  President Barack Obama has promised to sign the legislation as soon as he returns to Washington, DC.  

UI Extension

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Max Baucus, (D-MT), said negotiations continue behind the scenes on how to pay for extending unemployment benefits and the Social Security payroll tax cut, all of which could cost as much as $160 billion over 10 years.  

But congressional leaders of both parties have expressed increasing anxiety throughout the week about the progress on the package. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said earlier this week he would develop his own package if the House-Senate conference committee does not come up with an agreement by early next week. On Thursday, the House leadership also said it may consider a payroll-tax package next week that would be the vehicle for expanded unemployment insurance benefits. 

On Thursday, House and Senate negotiators exchanged sharp words over a Senate proposal to shorten Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08) to 93 weeks from 99 weeks. The House Majority said the Senate offer was unsatisfactory, especially since it did not include a proposal on how to pay for the EUC extension. In addition, the House Majority already passed legislation to phase-down federally funded unemployment insurance (Extended Benefits and EUC) to a maximum of 59 weeks.

Women's Bureau Releases Guide on Green Jobs

The U.S. Department of Labor's Women's Bureau released a guide to help women prepare for, find and succeed in 'green' jobs.  The online publication, available at http://www.dol.gov/wb/Green_Jobs_Guide, will help workers learn about a range of in-demand and emerging jobs, as well as job training opportunities and career development tools, in the clean energy economy. The guide also serves as a resource for workforce development professionals, training providers, educators, career counselors and women's advocacy organizations. 

The guide is an outcome of nationwide roundtables at which leaders from the public and private sectors discussed opportunities for women in the clean energy economy. These conversations revealed that an overall lack of awareness and information about nontraditional jobs was a significant challenge to women hoping to succeed in this marketplace. Information about the roundtables is available at http://www.dol.gov/wb/media/green.htm.

The Women's Bureau, established by Congress in 1920, is the only federal agency designated to represent the needs of working women. The bureau's goal is to empower all working women to achieve economic security by preparing them for higher paying jobs, ensuring fair compensation, promoting workplace flexibility and helping homeless women veterans reintegrate into the workforce.

Compromise for UI Extension

A House-Senate Conference Committee are continuing negotiations to extend the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08) program and the Social Security Payroll tax cut. As part of the discussions, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Max Baucus (D-MT) put forward a plan  of policy proposals to bridge differences among House-Senate negotiators.

The plan would accept some of the House provisions as contained in H.R. 3630 and include uniform job-search requirements, reemployment services, UI program integrity and other policies.

However, the Senate plan does not address the major issues – the length of the extension and how the extension will be financed. In addition, the Senate Majority does not support drug testing for UI eligibility, GED requirement for UI eligibility and elimination of the “Non-Reduction Rule.” These three issues were all passed by the House as part of H.R. 3630.

Proposed FMLA Changes Would Benefit Military Families

Since 1993, the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) has allowed most employees to take unpaid leave to deal with certain medical or family emergencies without fear of losing their jobs or insurance benefits.

The law provides for up to 12 weeks off a year to care for a seriously ill child, deal with an aging parent or attend to any number of situations that might arise on the home front.  In 2008, President George W. Bush signed into law expanded provisions of the FMLA to help family members of those serving in the National Guard and reserves.

This week, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis announced plans to take the act a step further by extending the leave to cover families of those in the regular armed forces, as well as families of veterans for up to five years after leaving the military.

The proposal is one more way for government to express its appreciation to our service men and women, as well as to their family members. The conflicts of the past decade have required military families to face a wide array of unexpected circumstances. Expanding the provisions of the FMLA to accommodate military families is a relatively inexpensive but important way for Americans to show their gratitude for the men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line to defend our freedom.

President's Proposals

Reform Job Training and Unemployment Insurance

According to the White House fact sheet, the President plans to reform the “outdated and inefficient unemployment insurance and job training systems” and workers deserve the chance to gain the skills needed 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.

Job Training Programs

The President proposed streamlining training and employment services for dislocated workers so these workers are able to access a single program, visit a single location, and go to a single website to find the help they need for job services and training opportunities in their communities.

Veterans

The President’s fact sheet also emphasized the need to put veterans to work protecting the nation’s communities and preserving its natural resources. He suggested building on tax cuts already passed for hiring unemployed veterans and proposed a new Veterans Job Corps that will provide communities funding to hire veterans as police and firefighters and to put them to work rebuilding and enhancing parks, forests, and natural resources.

Additional details will be available once the President officially submits his budget to Congress the week of February 13th.