PACT Act Introduced

On February 4th, Congresswoman Melissa Hart (R-PA) and Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA) introduced the Pathways Advancing Career Training Act (PACT), H.R. 3764. The PACT Act restores federal funding to programs providing education and training services to displaced homemakers, single parents, and individuals entering nontraditional training and employment.

The legislation was first conceived in 2001 and introduced as the HEAL Act by Congresswomen Hart and the late Patsy Mink (D-HI). The PACT Act is a fantastic opportunity for Women Work! Network programs to regain the funding that was eliminated in the 1998 reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act.

On February 19, attendees of Women Work!’s national conference, Celebrating 25 Years of Transitions & Triumphs, held meetings with legislators and their staff on Capitol Hill to discuss the importance of the PACT Act and to request that their Representatives co-sponsor the legislation. For the PACT Act to be enacted into law, it is essential that every Women Work! program contact their U.S. Representative and urge him/her to co-sponsor this important, bi-partisan legislation. The road to final passage is a long one and will require dedication and hard work as the bill moves through the House, Senate and at last, to the President. Please take a few moments to make a personal phone call or write a brief email message to your U.S. Representative. Describe your program and the women you serve, and express the urgent need for this funding. Be sure you include your full postal address in any correspondence. This is an effective and efficient way to do your part to ensure the success of the PACT Act.

To obtain contact information for your U.S. Representative, please visit www.congress.org or contact Katherine Reilly, Women Work! Policy Associate, at (202) 467-6346 ext. 24 or kreilly@womenwork.org.

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President’s FY 2005 Budget Cuts Domestic Social Programs

On February 2, President Bush sent his $2.4 trillion FY 2005 budget proposal to Congress for consideration, marking the start of the appropriations process for the next fiscal year. In his proposal, the President endeavors to cut the federal deficit in half by 2007 at the expense of domestic social programs. In FY 2005, growth of domestic programs is capped at 0.1%, while spending on defense in increased by 7% and homeland security is increased by 10%. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the budget proposal would then cut spending on domestic discretionary programs by $66 billion in 2009. These cuts will affect widely used programs, such as childcare assistance, WIC, Title I education and fuel assistance.

Department of Labor
Similar to last year, the President’s budget request for the Department of Labor seeks to combine the WIA Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Employment Service funding streams. In their place, he has proposed creating a block grant program called the Consolidated Adult & Dislocated Worker State Grant. This grant would be funded it at nearly $3 billion, which is less than the combined amounts of the 3 current funding streams. The President’s budget proposal also contains $250 million for the Community College Initiative, a program announced in this year’s State of the Union address as part of Bush’s Jobs for the 21^st Century Initiative. These grants would be awarded to community colleges that partner with local businesses to provide training for high-demand jobs. In addition, $50 million is included for a pilot program using Personal Reemployment Accounts (PRA). The Administration proposed funding PRAs in the FY 2004 budget proposal, and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce approved legislation authorizing a PRA program in March 2003. However, the bill stalled in the House. The Women’s Bureau is level funded at just over $9 million.

Department of Education
The President’s budget proposes to again eliminate funding for Perkins vocational education and tech-prep grants. In lieu of funding Perkins, the President creates the Secondary & Technical Education State Grants program and funds it at $1 billion. This proposal is identical to the FY 2004 budget, and represents the Administration’s desire to overhaul career and technical education. While there is little support in Congress for the elimination of Perkins, Women Work! is closely monitoring developments in the Department of Education and will continue to fight against this proposal. The budget also increases Pell grant funding by $857 million. Unfortunately, the Administration has recommended that WEEA (Women’s Educational Equity Act) be completely eliminated.

Department of Health & Human Services
Funding for both the Child Care Development Block Grant and child care entitlement spending is maintained at FY 2004 levels, despite increased work hours requirements proposed in TANF reauthorization legislation. The budget moderately increases funding for TANF by $660 million with $240 million dedicated to marriage promotion activities. The Administration’s Supporting Healthy Marriages program is a state-based, competitive matching grant program for projects that encourage healthy marriages and reduce out-of-wedlock births. The budget also includes $10 million for maternity group homes to provide young, pregnant and parenting women with access to community-based activities.

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Woolsey Introduces New Bill for Working Families

On February 4, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) introduced The Family and Work Balancing Act of 2004 (H.R. 3780). This bill expands the services of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and launches several new initiatives to benefit working families. Woolsey stated that her bill is designed to bring "public policy out of the Ozzie and Harriet era and into line with the realities and pressures of modern life."

Included in H.R. 3780 are increased paid leave, wage replacement for new parents, increased funds for child care, improved child care sites, funding for after-school programs, and extension of FMLA benefits to non-standard workers.

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Congress Reauthorizes the Community Services Block Grant

Congress reauthorized the Community Service Block Grant (CSBG), H.R. 3030, on February 4, 2004. This program provides crucial funding to states for community-based economic development projects. Congressman Mike Castle (R-DE), chairman of the Education Reform Subcommittee, stated that the CSBG program "is an essential tool in meeting the unique needs of low-income communities across the country. These programs are especially vital because they often serve as a conduit in assisting low-income individuals and families in becoming self-sufficient. From community to community you may find different services, but they are all working toward the same goal."

Under the reauthorized bill, states must allocate a minimum of 90% of the grant to local programs that focus on a variety of issues including job placement and retention, housing, emergency food services, youth mentoring services, and youth crime prevention. The reauthorization of CSBG also maintains current overall funding levels and funding for discretionary programs through 2009.

CSBG also retains current law protections for faith-based charities receiving funding, which allow these organizations to make employment decisions based upon religion. This right is granted to religious groups under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

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Tuesday, April 20 is Equal Pay Day!

The wage gap is real! A recent study by the Government Accounting Office (GAO) confirmed that women who work full-time earn an average of 80 cents for every dollar that men earn, even when accounting for demographic and work-related factors such as occupation, industry, race, marital status and job tenure. The GAO reviewed 18 years of data and found that the 20% earnings gap cannot be explained due to differences in work patterns or histories.

Equal Pay Day is the perfect time to call attention to wage disparities in your community. Observed in April, Equal Pay Day indicates how far into the next year a woman must work to earn as much as a man earned in the previous year. Tuesday symbolizes the day when women's wages catch up to men's wages from the previous week. Red is worn on this day as a symbol of how far women and minorities are "in the red" with their pay.

Last year, Equal Pay Day events took place across the country. Advocates organized rallies, lobby days, letter-writing campaigns, and meetings with employers and policymakers to promote effective solutions for closing the wage gap.

For more information, ideas and resources to plan your Equal Pay Day event, visit the National Committee on Pay Equity website at www.pay-equity.org.

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