Workforce Reinvestment Act (WIA) Update
After introductions, Shirley Weathers reported on WIA developments. There was a WIA Hearing held on June 18 by the Subcommittee on Employment, Safety and Training of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. UREAP submitted a comment, based on and refining our previous comments and UREAP participants' comments as the reauthorization process moves forward. Mark-up legislation is expected at the HELP Committee level in late July. Shirley asked for additional input by the end of June for the next UREAP comment, to be submitted to the full HELP Committee and Utah's Senators. Formal testimony at the hearing indicated agreement on the need for increased WIA funding, but controversy over consolidating funding streams, pace of reform, and other issues UREAP has taken positions on. There is an attempt at bi-partisanship in the HELP Committee with regard to WIA. This is encouraging.

John Woeste and others from Utah's Independent Living Centers attended the National Council of Independent Living in Washington, D.C. and communicated with our Congressional delegation. A bill to change the Independent Living (IL) funding formula for new money to provide rural states a better share has finally been introduced by Senator Bennett. John noted the power of Senate and House staffers in issues such as this. The bill is standing alone at this point, but may get wrapped into the WIA Reauthorization legislation. John said that IL Centers' strong feelings about who appoints the RSA Commissioner took Hill staffers by surprise. Funding for One-Stops remains a key issue, but ILs know some funding is necessary and agree with Vocational Rehabilitation (Voc Rehab) that 3/4 of 1% would be fair. John reported that the ADA Notification Act (AKA the Clint Eastwood-Hotel California Act) to lessen ADA enforcement mechanisms is making the rounds, but after 13 years since the passage ADA, he doesn't think businesses need any more time or encouragement to follow the law.

Garth Mangum distributed six pages of tables and narrative that tie into a work he is producing on job training history in Utah. The tables show people in training, even co-training, including TANF populations. He reported that there is a national push to increase WIA Youth money. He said Utah is way ahead of other states in combining services in the One-Stops. Helen Thatcher commented that Utah is #2 in the nation in providing TANF training (23% of participants). Garth noted that Voc Rehab directs participants toward higher education. Don Uchida explained that Voc Rehab clients, since they are disabled to be eligible for services, need specialized educational services in order to advance personally and get off public assistance. Garth welcomes comments and questions. His email address is garthmangum@aros.net.

Welfare Reform Reauthorization Updates
Robin Arnold-Williams first reported on the process to extend TANF and related programs, important because the most recent sunset date set by a Continuing Resolution (CR) last year is June 30, 2003. The House passed a CR until September 30, 2003, but the Senate was stalled and only has one more day to act before they leave town for the July 4 Recess. Oregon and Virginia Senators have put a "hold" on the TANF CR unless state waivers are also extended, because they don't wish to change their state programs now (change back to pre-waiver policies) and change again when Reauthorization passes. Negotiations are underway among the National Governors Association (NGA), the National Conference of State Legislators ((NCSL), the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA), the Senate and Administration to resolve the CR issue. The Administration asked these parties what would happen in the states if TANF and the Child Care Development Block Grant ceased to exist, a worst case/"train wreck" scenario on July first. Robin said most states would not shut down programs, but prefer to focus on a Senate political resolution to the CR issue. Robin said she would forward new information to UREAP as it becomes available.

Shirley and Sheila Walsh-McDonald posed the several crucial questions of work issues in TANF Reauthorization and asked where the Senate Finance Committee stands. Robin responded that there seemed to be no agreement in Senate Finance and no concept papers, language or mark-up to discuss and debate. She said partisanship seems to prevail this year, unlike the tri-partisan developments that produced a bill that passed the Finance Committee last year. Time is running out and interested parties are anxious. Robin said that the good news is that Oregon Senator Gordon Smith (R) is a member of the Finance Committee and seems to be a moderate on work issues and state flexibility. He could join Senators Hatch and Snowe to forge a reasonable bill and help negotiate with the White House and the House.

The Senate Finance Committee members and staff are very busy with other issues. It seems likely that TANF issues will be resolved through Finance member deliberations. UREAP has requested a meeting with Senator Hatch to discuss and reaffirm his stands on the various TANF issues. Shirley related a second-hand story that Senator Hatch recently publicly supported $5.5 billion for the Child Care Development Block Grant. She is going to follow up on that, but noted that this is good news if it truly means that Senator Hatch is holding firm on his position last year for that amount, despite increased pressure this year. She said, too, that Senator Hatch voted against an amendment (which passed) to the Medicare Prescription Drug bill, restoring Medicaid coverage to certain immigrants. She said it is unclear whether he had a philosophical or political reason for that vote, but that UREAP is on record requesting that he support a state option in TANF reauthorization legislation allowing expenditure of federal TANF funds for immigrant families.

Shirley reported that UREAP staff, after receiving over a dozen email comments, signed UREAP on with numerous organizations to support teen parent TANF provision recommendations as part of an effort to improve that part of the law by the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP). The provisions were formulated by a process that involved largely TANF teen parents.

Robin said that Becky Shipp, Finance Committee staff to Senator Grassley, wants to mark up Welfare Reform Reauthorization legislation by July 21 and get it to the Senate Floor by the end of July or early August. If that happens, the bill will have to be conferenced between House and Senate versions. It is thought quite possible that Senator Hatch will be on the Conference Committee, as he was in 1996. Robin the Senator was very helpful in 1996.

Dee Rowland reported that, in a recent meeting with Senator Hatch, he said he wanted to run for the Senate again, with the hope that he would chair the Senate Finance Committee. She said he believes this is the best way to provide additional help to Utah.

UREAP WIA Principles finalized
The fourth draft of the WIA Principles, dated June 24, 2003, was discussed and approved. Additions to the 3rd draft included:

• add a number 8. "Provide stipends, access to Pell grants, or other means of subsistence, to enable low-income non-TANF-eligible clients to participate in job skill training as needed."
• add the word "incentives" to number 9.
• add the word "accountability" to number 11.
• add the phrase "including representation from people who need help" to number 14.

Announcements
Karen announced that the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Public Hearing is to take place on June 26, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m., DWS, at 1385 South State Street, SLC.

The next UREAP meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 29, 2003, at Horizonte, 2:30-4:30.