The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to mark-up the FY 2016 Labor-HHS Appropriations bill, which includes Job Corps’ administration, operations and construction funding, Wednesday, June 24 at 10:15 a.m. EST. This is a critical step in what may be a long appropriations season.

We encourage corporate and Job Corps grassroots supporters and champions to reach out to their U.S. House members of Congress and congressional staff before Wednesday’s mark-up and ask them to contact the Labor HHS subcommittee members to express their support of Job Corps and the NJCA’s requested funding level (http://bit.ly/1cQyijx). Below, please find a series of talking points to use.

TALKING POINTS

• As a result of funding constraints, Job Corps campuses have empty beds and classroom seats. In fact, every single Job Corps center could serve additional youth – 10,000 in total – with an increase in the fiscal year (FY) 2016 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (Labor-HHS) Appropriations bill.
• At {ORGANIZATION}-operated Job Corps facilities alone, we are unable to serve XXXX youth in states across the country, including {STATE}, impacted most by the unemployment crisis, high school dropout rate epidemic and reliance on public assistance.
• Moreover, our Job Corps campuses are struggling to retain devoted senior managers and academic and vocational instructors because we are unable to provide competitive salaries. Job Corps is also battling with the realities of our changing youth population, including access to upgraded technology for e-learning and counseling and mental health specialists to support students.
• We need your advocacy to ensure that Congress includes a much-needed Job Corps operations increase to ensure that we continue to fulfill the program’s mission of educating and training America’s most vulnerable and economically at-risk youth.
• By providing $1.778 billion in the FY 2016 Labor-HHS bill, Job Corps can serve 3,500 more youth; ensure we can provide competitive salaries to instructors and counselors; and maintain operations at 126 campuses.
• In addition, it is critical that statutory language is included in the FY 2016 Labor-HHS Appropriations bill to ensure greater transparency and clarify congressional intent in WIOA by stating a more robust interpretation of WIOA eligibility requirements. Below is the draft language:
  • Provided, that no funds will be used to award a contract for the operation of a Job Corps center, unless he Secretary documents to the Committee that the factors listed in Section 147(a)(3) of P.L. 113-128 were fully applied to the procurement of such center including with respect to making any determination to restrict competition pursuant to procurement actions under FAR Subpart 19.502-2.
• Again, we are grateful for your support of {ORGANIZTION} and Job Corps. We remain committed to your service to {STATE}. As the FY 2016 appropriations process continues, our team is eager to work with you to secure critical funding resources for the Job Corps program.