SENATE summary version of the S. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (also known as the Stimulus bill), which Summary, like its HOUSE counterpart, includes $500 million for VR.
The Senate Summary, which was released on Tuesday, provides under Education and Training the following: "EDUCATION AND TRAINING In order to compete in the 21st Century, Americans must have a well-educated workforce, capable of adapting to an ever-changing economic environment. Investing in education now will ensure that the next generation of American workers is ready and able to meet the challenge of global competition. In the near-term, millions of workers have seen their jobs disappear, and find themselves unable to match their skill sets with existing opportunities. Providing job training in new and expanding fields will help to lower the unemployment rate and help today's workers better compete against foreign competition.
Highlights include: TOP LINE SPENDING OF APPROXIMATELY $125 Billion EDUCATION: -- $79 BILLION State Fiscal Stabilization Fund includes $39 BILLION to local school districts and public colleges and universities, distributed through existing State and Federal formulas: $15 BILLION to States as incentive grants as a reward for meeting key education performance measures; and $23 BILLION to States for other high-priority needs such as public safety and other critical services, which may include education.
-- Title I: $12 BILLION to help close the achievement gap and enable disadvantaged students to reach their potential. -- SPECIAL EDUCATION/IDEA: $13 BILLION to improve educational outcomes for disabled children. This level of funding will increase the Federal share of special education services to its highest rate ever.
-- Pell Grants: $13.9 BILLION to increase the Pell Grant maximum award and pay for increases in program costs resulting from increased eligibility and higher Pell Grant awards. The bill supports an increased Pell Grant maximum award of $281 in the 2009-2010 academic year and $400 in the 2010-2011 academic year. This aid will help 7 million students pursue postsecondary education.
TRAINING -- TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES: $3.4 BILLION for job training including State formula grants for adult, dislocated worker, and youth programs (including $1.3 billion to create up to one million summer jobs for youth). The training and employment needs of workers also will be met through dislocated worker national emergency grants, new competitive grants for worker training in high growth and emerging industry sectors (with priority consideration to "green" jobs and healthcare); and increased funds for the Job Corps and YouthBuild Programs. Green jobs training will include preparing workers for activities supported by other economic recovery funds, such as retrofitting buildings, green construction, and the production of renewable electric power.
-- VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION STATE GRANTS: $500 MILLION FOR STATE FORMULA GRANTS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES PREPARE FOR AND SUSTAIN GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT. -- Employment Services Grants: $400 MILLION to match unemployed individuals to job openings through State employment service agencies and allow States to provide customized reemployment services.
When I think of a stimulus plan, these are the types of expenditures I approve. I still do not want 50,000,000 for the arts, and 300,000,000 for STD's.... But Congress is always going to add pork into any plan.
The Senate Summary, which was released on Tuesday, provides under Education and Training the following: "EDUCATION AND TRAINING In order to compete in the 21st Century, Americans must have a well-educated workforce, capable of adapting to an ever-changing economic environment. Investing in education now will ensure that the next generation of American workers is ready and able to meet the challenge of global competition. In the near-term, millions of workers have seen their jobs disappear, and find themselves unable to match their skill sets with existing opportunities. Providing job training in new and expanding fields will help to lower the unemployment rate and help today's workers better compete against foreign competition.
Highlights include: TOP LINE SPENDING OF APPROXIMATELY $125 Billion EDUCATION: -- $79 BILLION State Fiscal Stabilization Fund includes $39 BILLION to local school districts and public colleges and universities, distributed through existing State and Federal formulas: $15 BILLION to States as incentive grants as a reward for meeting key education performance measures; and $23 BILLION to States for other high-priority needs such as public safety and other critical services, which may include education.
-- Title I: $12 BILLION to help close the achievement gap and enable disadvantaged students to reach their potential. -- SPECIAL EDUCATION/IDEA: $13 BILLION to improve educational outcomes for disabled children. This level of funding will increase the Federal share of special education services to its highest rate ever.
-- Pell Grants: $13.9 BILLION to increase the Pell Grant maximum award and pay for increases in program costs resulting from increased eligibility and higher Pell Grant awards. The bill supports an increased Pell Grant maximum award of $281 in the 2009-2010 academic year and $400 in the 2010-2011 academic year. This aid will help 7 million students pursue postsecondary education.
TRAINING -- TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES: $3.4 BILLION for job training including State formula grants for adult, dislocated worker, and youth programs (including $1.3 billion to create up to one million summer jobs for youth). The training and employment needs of workers also will be met through dislocated worker national emergency grants, new competitive grants for worker training in high growth and emerging industry sectors (with priority consideration to "green" jobs and healthcare); and increased funds for the Job Corps and YouthBuild Programs. Green jobs training will include preparing workers for activities supported by other economic recovery funds, such as retrofitting buildings, green construction, and the production of renewable electric power.
-- VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION STATE GRANTS: $500 MILLION FOR STATE FORMULA GRANTS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES PREPARE FOR AND SUSTAIN GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT. -- Employment Services Grants: $400 MILLION to match unemployed individuals to job openings through State employment service agencies and allow States to provide customized reemployment services.
When I think of a stimulus plan, these are the types of expenditures I approve. I still do not want 50,000,000 for the arts, and 300,000,000 for STD's.... But Congress is always going to add pork into any plan.