PRINTER'S NO. 1142
No. 88 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY FLICK, MARCH 22, 1999
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS,
MARCH 22, 1999
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Memorializing the Congress of the United States to maintain
2 vigorous oversight to ensure the implementation and execution
3 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 is consistent with
4 the letter and spirit of the act; and requesting the United
5 States Departments of Labor, Education and Health and Human
6 Services to implement and execute the provisions of the
7 Workforce Investment Act of 1998 in a manner consistent with
8 the letter and spirit intended by Congress.
9 WHEREAS, Congress is to be commended for its passage of the
10 Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-220, 112 Stat.
11 936) to support State and local work force investment systems
12 aimed at increasing employment, enhancing the job retention and
13 earnings of citizens through increased skill and knowledge
14 attainment, thereby improving the overall quality of the work
15 force, reducing welfare dependency and promoting self-
16 sufficiency, and enhancing the overall competitiveness of the
17 nation in the world market; and
18 WHEREAS, The General Assembly recognizes the vital importance
19 of Pennsylvania's work force development system in providing
20 economic opportunity for all citizens, promoting economic self-
1 sufficiency and individual responsibility and developing an
2 educated work force with relevant skills; and
3 WHEREAS, The Governor and General Assembly recognize the
4 advantages to the citizens of this Commonwealth and to the
5 customers of the work force development system from the
6 coordination of services and a focus on the needs of the
7 customer; and
8 WHEREAS, The Governor has, by Executive Order 1997-7, created
9 the Team Pennsylvania Human Resources Investment Council to
10 align, coordinate and integrate work force development programs
11 to focus them on serving the needs of the employer and job-
12 seeking customers in a cost-effective and efficient manner which
13 meets the demands of the taxpaying citizens; and
14 WHEREAS, The Team Pennsylvania Human Resources Investment
15 Council has had a collaborative process developing the State
16 work force plan to be submitted to the United States Department
17 of Labor; and
18 WHEREAS, The plan development has been all-inclusive,
19 involving stakeholders, legislative representatives and local
20 government partners; and
21 WHEREAS, The General Assembly supports the efforts of the
22 Team Pennsylvania Human Resources Investment Council to submit
23 the Commonwealth's unified plan, including all the programs and
24 funding streams contained in Executive Order 1997-7, to the
25 Department of Labor, as encouraged under the law; and
26 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth has expressed its desire to
27 implement and carry out its responsibilities under the Workforce
28 Investment Act of 1998, beginning July 1, 1999; and
29 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth plans to meet its obligations under
30 the Workforce Investment Act of 1998; and
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1 WHEREAS, The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 defines and
2 delineates the roles of the Federal, State and local
3 governments; and
4 WHEREAS, The intent of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998
5 is to provide states flexibility to design programs, policies
6 and mechanisms which most effectively meet their work force
7 needs; and
8 WHEREAS, The intent of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998
9 is to vastly reduce Federal involvement in job training,
10 employment, literacy and vocational rehabilitation programs; and
11 WHEREAS, The intent of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998
12 is to transfer the vast majority of resources, responsibilities
13 and authority to the states and local communities; and
14 WHEREAS, The Department of Labor and Industry and the
15 Chairman of the Team Pennsylvania Human Resources Investment
16 Council have shared these concerns and specific citations with
17 the United States Department of Labor; therefore be it
18 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
19 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize Congress to
20 maintain vigorous oversight of the implementation and execution
21 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-220, 112
22 Stat. 936) to ensure it is consistent with the letter and spirit
23 of the act; and be it further
24 RESOLVED, That, because the General Assembly supports the
25 intent of the Workforce Investment Act of 1988 to transfer the
26 majority of resources, responsibilities and authority to the
27 states and local governments, the General Assembly requests that
28 the United States Departments of Labor, Education and Health and
29 Human Services implement and execute the provisions of the
30 Workforce Investment Act of 1998 in a manner consistent with the
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1 letter and spirit intended by the Congress of the United States
2 by granting state and local governments the flexibility needed
3 to achieve superior performance; and be it further
4 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
5 the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
6 member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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