Category: Advocate

This week, Senate appropriators are working to advance a bill that would provide $164.3 billion in discretionary budget authority for the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education. Compared to the FY 2013 level, the amount proposed by the bill would result in a $156.5 billion increase. In addition, the Senate bill is nearly 26 percent more than the $121.8 billion provided by the House version. Beyond this week, the prognosis for the bill’s advancement is murky.

READ MORE from Despite Senate Advancement, FY 2014 Funding Prognosis Uncertain

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, one of the most costly battles in American history. Over 50,000 Union and Confederate troops were killed, wounded or missing after the massive three-day battle that marked the turning point of the Civil War. Veterans of that war had little in the way of services to help them regain their lives and find jobs after the war ended. Fortunately, things are different for today’s veterans. Goodwill® provides an array of services to help America’s fighting men and women find work after leaving the military.

READ MORE from Join Goodwill® In Supporting Those Who Served

It has been 15 years since Congress enacted the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), the nation’s primary job training law. Back then, the U.S. had a budget surplus and the unemployment rate was 4.4 percent. Today, the nation is slowly recovering from the worst recession experienced in a generation and unemployment is stubbornly declining from the peak it reached during that time. Needless to say, the law is long overdue for an update. The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing today to consider how WIA could be improved to better develop a skilled workforce for a competitive economy.

READ MORE from Senate Panel Holds Hearing on Improving Workers’ Skills

Twice a year, I sit down with my team and we discuss goals, strengths and areas for improvement as part of our company’s performance review process. It is the season for mid-year reviews and Congress should have theirs. As voters, we “hire” these elected officials for the job and as all good supervisors we should be providing feedback often.

READ MORE from Congress' Mid-Year Review Reveals Room for Improvement

Twice a year, I sit down with my team and we discuss goals, strengths and areas for improvement as part of our company’s performance review process. It is the season for mid-year reviews and Congress should have theirs. As voters, we “hire” these elected officials for the job and as all good supervisors we should be providing feedback often.

READ MORE from Congress’ Mid-Year Review Reveals Room for Improvement

Sixty-nine years to the day after the D-Day invasion during World War II, seniors who landed on those beaches are facing a new threat: the highest rates of poverty and economic hardship since the Great Depression. Even though both the stock market and home values have rebounded in the last several months, it is too late for many seniors who were on the cusp of retirement when the Great Recession hit to recoup the staggering loses they endured. This is especially true for low-income seniors whose financial foundation was already precarious.

READ MORE from Seniors Are Facing Highest Poverty Rates in Decades; Urge Your Senators to Cosponsor S. 1028, the Older Americans Act Reauthorization

Earlier this week, members of Congress observed Memorial Day in their home states and districts. Meanwhile, advocates for programs funded through non-defense discretionary (NDD) spending remain concerned about the country’s political and economic outlook. “Non-defense discretionary spending” is such a wonky term that it can lose its meaning during the process. In an effort to

READ MORE from What Political Gridlock and Disinvestment Really Mean for America

Last week, approximately 160 people representing Goodwill agencies all across the country came to Washington to inform members of Congress about how Goodwill helps people who have employment challenges to find jobs and advance in careers. They noted that many of our achievements depend on a public-private partnership that exists between Goodwill and government programs that leverage our resources and expertise. Unfortunately, this public-private partnership is becoming lopsided. Over the course of the past decade, we have aggressively worked to increase our capacity to do more, while government resources have steadily declined.

READ MORE from Goodwill’s Capacity Is Increasing: Can Policymakers Hold Up Their End of the Deal?

Last week, approximately 160 people representing Goodwill agencies all across the country came to Washington to inform members of Congress about how Goodwill helps people who have employment challenges to find jobs and advance in careers. They noted that many of our achievements depend on a public-private partnership that exists between Goodwill and government programs that leverage our resources and expertise. Unfortunately, this public-private partnership is becoming lopsided. Over the course of the past decade, we have aggressively worked to increase our capacity to do more, while government resources have steadily declined.

READ MORE from Goodwill's Capacity Is Increasing: Can Policymakers Hold Up Their End of the Deal?

Today, Goodwill® advocates from around the country will visit Capitol Hill and meet with hundreds of lawmakers to advocate for federal investments in programs that leverage Goodwill and benefit the people we serve, and the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). You can take part in the Goodwill on the Hill Virtual Advocacy Day to make your voice heard!

READ MORE from Join the Goodwill® on the Hill Virtual Advocacy Day!

In the spirit of Goodwill Industries Week, a time when Goodwill® celebrates the power of work, I’d like to take a break from my usual focus on the week’s pressing issues in order to consider important lessons we can learn from Goodwill’s origins. Just as it did for Progressive Era pioneers like Helms, today's success depends on vision, faith, luck and leadership.

READ MORE from Empowering People to Work Depends on Inspiring Change

When Congress failed to avert automatic spending cuts, otherwise known as “sequestration,” in early March, it felt like a non-event for many. While the airwaves were littered with the news and predictions of its impact, for people on Main Street USA, life went on pretty much as usual. This week, however, the airwaves and headlines were full of content about automatic spending cuts, causing air traffic controllers to be furloughed, resulting in flight delays.

READ MORE from Goodwill Urges Policymakers to Protect Job Training Investments