DeLauro, Larson, Himes Letter to Conn. General Assembly Regarding WIA Funding

June 19, 2009
Press Release

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), John Larson (CT-1, and Jim Himes (CT-4) sent a letter today urging the Connecticut General Assembly to approve the release of the Connecticut Department of Labor funds for the Workforce Investment Act programs.

Below is the text of the letter.

Senator Donald Williams, Jr.

Senate President Pro Tempore

Legislative Office Building Rm. 3300

Hartford, CT 06106

Representative Christopher Donovan

Speaker of the House

Legislative Office Building, Rm. 4106

Hartford, CT 06106

Senator John McKinney

Senate Minority Leader

Legislative Office Building, Rm. 3400

Hartford, CT 06106

Representative Lawrence Cafero, Jr.

House Minority Leader

Legislative Office Building, Rm. 4200

Hartford, CT 06106

Dear President Pro Tempore Williams, Minority Leader McKinney, Speaker Donovan, and Minority Leader Cafero:

We understand that you will be reconvening the General Assembly tomorrow and are writing to you to encourage you to use this opportunity to authorize the state Department of Labor to release funds approved under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and annual formula allocations for Workforce Investment Act programs. Any inaction could severely impact Connecticut, resulting in the shutdown of the Connecticut workforce system, which is currently operating on funding that expires on June 30, 2009.

Congress included Workforce Investment Act funding in the ARRA to ensure that States dealing with the economic downturn were not forced to discontinue job training and summer jobs programs, as these programs are vital to our nation's overall recovery. The $30.3 million in WIA funding dispersed through the ARRA to our state of Connecticut was expected to provide job opportunities to over 5,000 youth this summer and ensure that CTWorks One Stop Career Centers remain open. It is for these reasons that we implore you to take action. Connecticut is the only state in the union that has not allocated this funding and it would be unconscionable if we were to needlessly disadvantage our youth and unemployed workers by not making use of these funds.

We strongly urge you and your colleagues to take action and allocate the Workforce Investment Act funding authorized by Congress. These funds would have a real and immediate impact on the lives of our constituents and our communities. Thank you for your consideration.