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The House Committee on Education and the Workforce, chaired by Rep. John Kline (R-MN), today held a hearing entitled, “Expanding Opportunities for Job Creation.” The hearing examined ongoing challenges affecting the strength of the American workforce, the need for smarter federal regulatory policies, and the demand for pro-growth solutions such as job training reform.

“Simply put, we are experiencing the weakest recovery since the Great Depression,” said Chairman Kline. “As the Wall Street Journal recently noted, the recovery of the 1980’s led to 18 straight months of growth greater than 5 percent. Yet our own recovery over the last two and a half years has averaged just 2.5 percent. The nation should be firing on all cylinders, yet our economy remains stuck in neutral. In many ways, the current administration has made matters worse by promoting the politics of fear and uncertainty.”

Ms. Kellie Johnson, president of a small manufacturing company in California, echoed Chairman Kline’s concerns. “The uncertainty of our regulatory and economic environments makes it almost impossible for short or long-term business growth, especially for a capital intensive industry like manufacturing,” Ms. Johnson testified. “As a result, my customers may make the decision to migrate to places they believe care more about manufacturing.”

Ms. Johnson cited specific regulatory initiatives by the National Labor Relations Board and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Explaining the impact this regulatory environment has on job creation, Johnson stated, “To be compliant with the newest regulations and rules takes time away from running the day-to-day operations of a business. Resources are constantly rerouted away from customers, resulting in lower productivity and lower customer satisfaction.”

The onslaught of new regulations is just one challenge facing American businesses. Federal spending continues to spiral out-of-control. Despite the fact that our national debt has eclipsed the size of the entire U.S. economy, Democrats in Washington continue to call for more ‘stimulus’ spending. Dr. Matthew Mitchell, senior research fellow with the Mercatus Center urged caution. “I cannot tell you what level of risk is acceptable to take with the American economy,” he said. “But further stimulus at this point is indeed risky. In fact, there are compelling reasons to expect it would do more harm than good.”

Instead of temporary fixes that push our economy into a more precarious position, Dr. Mitchell said, “We should be creating the conditions that are necessary for long run economic health; we should be enhancing economic freedom. This means that regulations should be informed by sound analysis to ensure that they do not detract from or divert human capital into unproductive uses.”

Across the country, some states are advancing their own reforms in an effort to build a better environment for job creation. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder told the committee his state has “embarked upon an aggressive initiative to reinvent our state’s regulatory system. Excessive and burdensome regulations have long served as an impediment to job creation and economic growth. By launching an Office of Regulatory Reinvention to review and streamline regulations, we are establishing a culture in state government that emphasizes customer service above all, and is more conducive to business growth and job creation.”

Governor Snyder also described the importance of revamping the federal job training system, noting reform provides an “important opportunity for partnership with states to aggressively address the realities of the 21st century economy and job training” and “create a demand-driven workforce system that cultivates a labor force possessing the necessary skills employers require.”

The governor also recognized efforts by House Republicans to create a 21st century workforce investment system that better meets the needs of today’s workers and employers. Last year, House Education and the Workforce Committee members introduced three pieces of legislation that lay the foundation for a leaner, more accountable job training system. Additionally, the committee has taken steps to engage the administration in the process, sending a letter to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis this morning that describes the new proposals and asks for more details about the president’s latest call for “one program” to serve America’s job seekers.

“Streamlining these [job training] programs will enhance support for workers, offer a better trained workforce for employers, and promote better use of taxpayer dollars,” Chairman Kline concluded. “I encourage all members, on both sides of the aisle, to stay engaged, offer positive solutions, and work to find common ground.”

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Press Release

One year ago, the committee met to examine the state of the workforce. It was our first hearing of the 112th Congress, and reflected our commitment to make job creation and American competitiveness top priorities.

Much has happened since we met in January of 2011. Unemployment was 9.1 percent; today it stands at 8.5 percent. Nearly 14 million workers were unemployed; now one million fewer workers are unemployed. The number of long-term unemployed – those out of work for 27 weeks or more – has also declined from 6.2 million to 5.6 million.

These facts may demonstrate modest progress, but far too many Americans continue to face significant hardship in this tough economy. The number of Americans participating in the labor force is at its lowest level in 28 years. More than 8 million individuals are working part time because full time jobs are unavailable and one million “discouraged” workers have abandoned their job search entirely.

Simply put, we are experiencing the weakest recovery since the Great Depression. As the Wall Street Journal recently noted, the recovery of the 1980’s led to 18 straight months of growth greater than 5 percent. Yet our own recovery over the last two and a half years has averaged just 2.5 percent. The nation should be firing on all cylinders, yet our economy remains stuck in neutral.

In many ways, the current administration has made matters worse by promoting the politics of fear and uncertainty. Costly regulations that fail to enhance the welfare of workers, bureaucratic actions that favor powerful special interests at the expense of employers and employees, and politically motivated decisions that destroy tens of thousands of good paying jobs are part of what Governor Mitch Daniels described as a “pro-poverty agenda.”

To help restore certainty and confidence, the House of Representatives has approved more than 30 bipartisan jobs proposals in the last 12 months. The bills touch upon virtually every part of the economy, from labor relations and energy security to tax relief and fiscal responsibility. No single proposal represents a silver bullet, but each helps remove government barriers to economic growth and job creation.

While more than 25 House-passed jobs bills face obstruction in the Democrat-led Senate, a number of our legislative efforts have reached the president’s desk. In January, I had the privilege of joining Speaker Boehner on a trip across Latin America, including a stop in Colombia to visit with its business leaders and elected officials. Thanks to the bipartisan effort of this Congress, working with the president, Colombia will soon import – duty free – goods and products built by American workers.

Speaking of our trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea, the president stated, “American automakers, farmers, ranchers and manufacturers, including many small businesses, will be able to compete and win in new markets.” We need to build on this success and explore new opportunities to help workers thrive in the global economy.

I am hopeful job training reform is an area in which we can work together to strengthen the competiveness of the workforce. For the nation’s long-term unemployed, seven months without work can feel like a lifetime. Effective job training support can help workers get back on their feet and back to work. The need for a leaner, more efficient workforce investment system has never been more urgent. I was pleased to hear the president call for reform in his State of the Union address, and we stand ready to take action.

Already, my Republican colleagues have introduced three proposals that lay the foundation for a 21st century job training system. A key component of our effort is the consolidation of dozens of federal workforce programs into four flexible funding streams. Streamlining these programs will enhance support for workers, offer a better trained workforce for employers, and promote better use of taxpayer dollars. The president suggested the need for even greater consolidation, and we are happy to consider a responsible plan to do that.

In fact, I sent a letter to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis this morning that asks for more details about the president’s new job training proposal. I look forward to receiving a timely response so we can improve the nation’s workforce investment system without delay.

Over the last several years, we’ve seen a lot of failed policies and broken promises, starting with a so-called stimulus plan that created debt, not jobs. And I know there are sharp differences on this committee. However, it is not enough to shout from the stands and criticize the plays being called on the field. I encourage all members, on both sides of the aisle, to stay engaged, offer positive solutions, and work to find common ground. 

Press Release

Graves Holds Hearing on the State of American Small Businesses

“There is no doubt that the lack of certainty in burdensome regulatory requirements and complex tax structures coming from Washington continues to be an impediment for growth and job creation for small business owners.”

WASHINGTON, DC— House Small Business Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) today held a hearing to examine obstacles to small business job creation and economic growth in America in an effort to narrow down and tackle the most egregious impediments.

On October 24, 2011, Gallup released a poll outlining the most significant concerns facing America’s small businesses. This poll mirrors numerous trade association, think tank, and national media polls that point to excessive government regulation, lack of available capital, and low consumer confidence as the biggest hurdles small businesses must overcome.

The Committee heard from Gallup Chief Economist, Dr. Dennis Jacobe, who said, “[A]merica’s small businesses and the U.S. economy are at a crucial juncture. While small-business owners tend to be agile — and have demonstrated their ability to adjust to the business cycle as needed to survive — the current weak economy has persisted since 2008. About one in four small businesses are worried about whether they’ll survive 2012.”

“Last year, we evaluated various barriers for small business growth in our state of the small business hearing, however, we know that many roadblocks still remain,” said Chairman Graves. “There is no doubt that the lack of certainty in burdensome regulatory requirements and complex tax structures coming from Washington continues to be an impediment for growth and job creation for small business owners. This must change sooner rather than later if we want to see economic growth and Americans back on the job.

“Today’s hearing highlighted the most pressing concerns and needs of small businesses. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will take note so we can work together on removing these obstacles as quickly as possible.”

Today’s State of American Small Businesses hearing is a follow-up to last year’s broader hearing, Putting Americans Back to Work: The State of the Small Business Economy.

For related hearing documents, click here.

Notable Witness Quotes:

Michael J. Fredrich, President of Manitowoc Custom Molding in Manitowoc, WI, said, “On top of serious spending and fiscal issues, new legislation passed by Congress, the ever changing and confusing actions of the Federal Reserve, and what appears to be the [disinterest] of Washington regarding the level of Federal debt creates a level of uncertainty in the private sector which will only result in stagnation and decline.”

WASHINGTON— House Small Business Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade Chairman Scott Tipton (R-CO) today issued the following statement on the Department of Labor decision to re-propose their “parental exemption” portion of their proposed regulation on youth employment in agriculture.

DOL’s decision comes less than a day before the current head of the Department’s Wage and Hour Division is scheduled to testify about the rule before the Small Business Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade. The hearing, entitled, The Future of the Family Farm: The Effect of Proposed DOL Regulations on Small Business Producers, is scheduled for tomorrow at 10am.

“After much pressure from Congress and producers, DOL has finally acknowledged serious flaws with the parental exemption part of their regulation,” said Tipton. “However, this is only half a victory. There remains great concern about other parts of the rule pertaining to youth access to safety training programs and on-farm education and employment opportunities. 

“I believe, as the majority of American farmers do, that this rule altogether should never have been proposed. The rule as offered would change long-standing and proven programs that provide training to young people who are interested in pursuing careers in agriculture. This is bad for agricultural small businesses and it is bad for the future of our nation’s farming needs.

“We will discuss this more in depth at tomorrow’s House Small Business Subcommittee hearing and continue to persuade DOL to reconsider the rule in its entirety.”

U.S. House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN) and Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis requesting more information about the president’s latest job training proposal.

During his State of the Union address, the president called on Congress to “cut through the maze of confusing [job] training programs” and implement “one program, one website, and one place to go for all the information and help [job seekers] need.”

In their letter, the committee leaders commend the administration for acknowledging the overwhelming number of federal employment and training programs are a disservice to workers, referencing a 2011 report by the Government Accountability Office that identified 47 separate job training programs spread across 9 federal agencies and costing taxpayers $18 billion annually. 

Reps. Kline and Foxx are requesting information that will help reconcile the president’s latest call for “one program” with his September plan to create additional job training programs at a cost of $9 billion to taxpayers:

Given our sincere interest in working with the president on reforms that will improve job training services, we respectfully request more details on his recent remarks. We are especially interested to learn more about the president’s call for “one program, one website, and one place” for workers to receive employment support. As you may recall, in September of last year, the president asked Congress to create two additional job training programs, without any request for consolidation of existing programs. We welcome any information that reconciles the president’s previous support for additional programs with his most recent plan.

House Education and the Workforce Committee Republicans are working to develop a leaner, more accountable job training system capable of filling the demands of employers and meeting the changing needs of workers. Last year, committee members introduced three pieces of legislation that lay the foundation for a 21st century workforce investment system. Click the links below to learn more about each bill.

• The Workforce Investment Improvement Act (H.R. 2295)
   
• The Streamlining Workforce Development Programs Act (H.R. 3610)
   
• The Local Job Opportunities and Business Success (JOBS) Act (H.R. 3611)

To read the full letter, click here.

On Thursday, February 2 at 10:00 a.m., the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, chaired by Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN), will hold a hearing entitled “Examining the Challenges Facing PBGC and Defined Benefit Pension Plans.” The hearing will take place in room 2175 of the Rayburn House Office Building. 

Approximately 43 million American workers and retirees participate in a defined benefit pension plan. Since 1974, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) has provided a federal safety net to protect workers in the event a defined benefit plan becomes insolvent or terminated. In fiscal year 2011, the PBGC provided monthly pension benefits to more than 819,000 retirees in approximately 4,300 terminated plans at a cost of $5.3 billion.

Despite collecting revenue from a number of sources, including premiums paid by plan sponsors and assets that exist when a pension plan has been terminated, the PBGC currently faces a deficit of $26 billion. The weak economy and recent bankruptcies of several large employers could exacerbate PBGC’s financial standing. Additionally, investigative reports by PBGC’s Inspector General found improper PBGC management of various terminated plans may have resulted in retirees failing to receive the proper benefits.

To help strengthen PBGC’s finances, a number of reforms have been proposed. Effective reform must protect the pensions of workers, support job creation, and not discourage participation in the voluntary pension system.

Thursday's hearing will provide committee members an opportunity to learn about the fiscal and management challenges facing the PBGC, as well as the continued difficulties confronting defined benefit plans. Additionally, members will discuss a number of reforms that have been proposed to strengthen the financial outlook of the PBGC. To learn more about Wednesday’s hearing, visit http://edworkforce.house.gov/hearings.

# # #

WITNESS LIST 

Panel I

Joshua Gotbaum
Director
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Washington, D.C.

Panel II

Gretchen Haggerty
Chief Financial Officer
U.S. Steel
Pittsburgh, PA

John McGowan
Professor
Saint Louis University
St. Louis, MO

Randy DeFrehn
Executive Director
National Coordinating Committee for Multiemployer Plans
Washington, D.C.

Kenneth W. Porter
President
Benefits Leadership International, LLC
Wilmington, DE

Cross-posted by Forbes.com on WLF contributor site Imagine a law requiring cupcake shops to display a large sign near their cupcake display informing their sweet-toothed customers: “Eating Cupcakes Can Lead to Obesity and Diabetes.  Stop Eating Cupcakes Today.”  Or a law requiring car dealers to display the following sign in their showrooms:  “Automobile accidents kill [...]

Cross-posted by Forbes.com at WLF’s contributor site We’ve commented twice before (here and here) on the indigestion-causing class action suits that were filed in New Jersey and California against Ferrero, the maker of Nutella. The gist of the complaints is that Ferrero misled consumers with statements and images on the product label and in ads that Nutella was [...]

Bonuses to Be Cut at Agencies Failing Small Business Under Bill
By Nick Taborek, Bloomberg Government

Thousands of federal government executives risk losing their bonuses under a bill that would establish the first penalties for agencies failing to meet small-business contracting goals.

U.S. Representative Sam Graves, a Missouri Republican who chairs the House Small Business Committee, told Bloomberg Government he plans to introduce the bill today. Eleven of 24 agencies missed their targets in 2010, according to the Small Business Administration.

The bill also would raise the share of eligible contracts that the federal government aims to award to small businesses to 25 percent from 23 percent, according to a draft of the legislation.

“If you don’t meet goals, why should you get a bonus?” Graves said in an e-mail. “One of the biggest complaints I receive from small businesses is that the goals lack teeth since agencies are free to ignore them.”

Under the proposal, senior executives wouldn’t be eligible for incentive pay the year after their agency failed to meet its target for small business awards.

There were 7,893 senior executives in the federal government as of December 2010, according to a Congressional Research Service report published last April. They include chief information officers and strategic advisers for intelligence and space programs.

The executives, who act as links between political appointees who lead federal agencies and the civil servants who staff them, earn between $119,554 and $179,700 a year and may be eligible for performance bonuses of as much as 20 percent of their salary.

Senior Executives

A top-earning executive would be eligible for performance pay as high as $35,940. The maximum annual amount an executive is permitted to receive, including special recognition such as a Presidential award, is $230,700, according to the CRS report.

Graves’s proposal would apply to all senior executives, whether or not they are involved in procurement. If signed into law, it would create the government’s first penalty for missing the small business contracting goals, he said.

“Leadership comes from the top, so it is indeed the top level executives who should be held accountable,” Graves said.

Terry Williams, chief executive officer of the Washington- based American Small Business Chamber of Commerce, didn’t immediately return a phone call and an e-mail seeking comment.

The Defense Department, which spent $368 billion on contracts in fiscal 2010, or 69 percent of the government-wide total of $534 billion, missed its small-business goal each year from fiscal year 2006 through 2010. Results for fiscal 2011, which ended Sept. 30, haven’t been released.

Contracting Goals

The Defense Department doesn’t comment on pending legislation, Cheryl Irwin, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said in an e- mail. The Small Business Administration also declined to comment, Tiffani Clements, an agency spokeswoman, said in an e- mail.

“It’s always good to have incentives for people to try to reach those goals,” said Allan Burman, a former head of procurement policy for the federal government and now president of Jefferson Solutions, a consulting firm in Washington. Tying every senior executive’s bonus to the small business contracting goals may not be the best incentive, he said in a phone interview.

Raising the government’s contracting goal for small businesses by 2 percentage points may direct about an additional $11 billion a year to small companies, Graves said. Small companies received $98 billion in federal contracts in 2010, or 22.7 percent of eligible contracting dollars, according to the Small Business Administration.

The definition of a small business differs depending on the type of company. For example, highway construction companies are allowed to have annual revenue as high as $33.5 million to be considered small businesses, while the maximum for life insurance carriers is $7 million.

Graves introduced a similar bill in January 2010, when the Democrats controlled the House. The full chamber didn’t vote on the proposal.

House Small Business Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) today introduced legislation that will help create jobs by providing more contracting opportunities for small firms and reforming small business federal contracting policy. The GET Small Business Contracting Act of 2012 will increase the federal government goal for small business contracting percentage from 23 percent to 25 percent, and the Small Business Advocate Act of 2012 will empower the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) at all federal agencies to better advocate on behalf of small businesses in the contracting process. Today’s legislation is the first in a series of bills from the House Small Business Committee aimed at reforming small business contracting policies.

“Because the federal government spends half a trillion dollars on contracted goods and services, we owe it to the taxpayer to make sure their money is used wisely and efficiently,” said Chairman Graves. “This legislation will help provide more opportunities for small businesses, which will help create jobs. Government contracting offers a unique opportunity to invest in small businesses while also stimulating our economy, considering small businesses create the majority of jobs—65 percent over the last 17 years. Small businesses have proven time and time again that they can perform a service or produce goods for the government cheaper and often quicker than their larger counterparts, however, various bureaucratic impediments remain for small contractors. Any avenue to save taxpayer dollars, increase competition and spark growth is the route we should be taking.”

Details of the legislation:

GET Small Business Contracting (Government Efficiency through Small Business Contracting) Act of 2012:
• The federal government spends nearly $540 billion in contracting each year, with a goal of awarding 23% of prime contract dollars to small businesses. 
• This legislation raises the small business contracting goal from 23 percent to 25 percent. Raising the goal by 2 percent means a substantial amount of new business for small businesses – about $11 billion worth.
• The Obama administration missed that target by over 3 percent in FY 2010— that’s nearly $20 billion that small businesses missed out on. According to early data, it appears the administration missed the 23 percent target by a larger amount in FY 2011.
• This legislation holds top agencies accountable for meeting the small business goals by withholding the senior agency officials’ bonuses if the small business goals aren’t met. 
• The legislation also ensures opportunities for small businesses as subcontractors, with a goal of awarding 40 percent of all subcontracted dollars to small businesses – an increase from the current goal of 35.9 percent.

Small Business Advocate Act of 2012 (SPAA):
• The goal of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) is to promote the maximum practicable utilization of small businesses in federal contracting at each agency, both at the prime and subcontract level. 
• This legislation makes it easier for the OSDBU to advocate for small business contracts, focus on acquisition assistance, and fight insourcing and unjustified contract bundling.
• Acting as the OSDBU Director is often simply another assigned duty for a senior official that lacks the authority to challenge decisions made by the Chief Acquisition Officer or Senior Procurement Executive. This legislation elevates their position to a senior acquisition leader in the agency and prohibits them from holding any other position so they can concentrate on their advocacy responsibilities.                                              

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A good real estate agent is always working. Sometimes it’s easier for an agent to have documents and correspondences sent directly to his home so he can avoid taking an unnecessary trip to the office or he can impress certain clients with a particular zip code. While not overtly improper, using a non-brokerage office address for business can have unanticipated consequences.

California Business and Professions Code Section 10163
An agent who uses his personal address in advertisements and material documents can be perceived by the Department of Real Estate as running an unlicensed place of business. Every real estate brokerage’s “place of business” must be independently revealed to and licensed by the DRE. California law delegates the DRE Commissioner full authority to determine whether an office is being used as a “place of business” for real estate brokerage purposes and every such place must have an on-sight broker representative to oversee and manage licensed activities.

Audits
The DRE may audit any individual salesperson and responsible broker suspected of operating an unlicensed place of business. Normally, the DRE comes across a business card, flier, or website which seems to direct clients and cooperating brokers to a physical address not belonging to the salesperson’s broker (usually it’s the salesperson’s home address or second job). From there, the DRE may conduct an audit or a less formal inquiry to determine the extent of business operations being conducted at the location.
If the Commissioner determines that an unlicensed office exists, the Commissioner may remedy the situation by requiring that the location become licensed (evoking tax and zoning dilemmas) or restricting/revoking the responsible party’s license.

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Of course, agents reveal their home addresses to clients and cooperating brokers for any number of reasons – most are completely proper. Audits normally result when a non-brokerage address is posted on an advertisement or a material document to the transaction.  As such, it’s advisable to have agents refrain from ever putting home addresses on their business cards, fliers, or any other medium used as the first point of contact with clients and the general public. More obviously, an agent should never post his personal address in lieu of his broker’s address on a listing agreement, agency disclosure, or purchase contract.

Cal Bus & Profs §10163 is reproduced as follows:

“If the applicant for a real estate broker’s license maintains more than one place of business within the State he shall apply for and procure an additional license for each branch office so maintained by him. Every such application shall state the name of the person and the location of the place or places of business for which such license is desired. The commissioner may determine whether or not a real estate broker is doing a real estate brokerage business at or from any particular location which requires him to have a branch office license.”

What if a well-informed, trusted authority figure said you had to make difficult and enduring changes in the way you think and act?

If you didn’t make those changes, you would die soon. A lot sooner than you had to.

Could you change when change really mattered?

Yes, you say? Try again. Most likely you wouldn’t change.

Don’t believe me? Let me share with you the odds – 9 to 1. That’s 9 to 1 against you.

Do you realize a SMALL percent of the population consumes the VAST majority of the health care budget for diseases that are very well known, and by in large behavioral? We are sick because of how we choose to live our lives, not because of any environmental or genetic factors beyond our control. They say it could be as much as 80% of our health care budget is consumed by these behavioral issues – smoking, eating, drinking, stress and lack of exercise.

Could behaviors be driving issues in more than one area of our lives? Could we ultimately be in control of the aspects we felt were a product of conditions outside our control?

Do you want some more proof of the challenge we all face in change?

There was a study done back in 1995 of people who went through bypass surgery (open heart surgery). Of those studied, within 2 years from surgery 90% went right back to their old unhealthy lifestyle. So, if the fear of DEATH doesn’t initiate change – is there any hope? More importantly how do we get our stubborn brain to stop resisting change so tenaciously. Why do we fight it even when we KNOW if we don’t it will kill us?

Well, knowing that motivating people with the fear of death wasn’t the right approach because 90% went right back to where they were before, the study tried a different approach. They decided to change the patients focus. Have any idea to what? The joy of LIVING.

The study took 300 patients and put a 100% daily effort into focusing their minds on all the daily things that make life great. They coached them on their mindset, their attitude, their daily habits, and surrounded them continually with the RIGHT influences. It was this change of focus – taking it away from the fear of death and into the joy of living – that allowed 77% of the patients to sustain the lifestyle changes.

What changes do we need to make? Where is our focus – in fear or in joy?

It’s time to make some changes now!

Download and read Alan Deutschman’s complete Change or Die article, my inspiration for today’s Mojo. It’s an eye opener – definitely worth taking the time to read.

Make is a GREAT week and a GREAT life!

On Wednesday, February 1 at 10:00 a.m., the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, chaired by Rep. John Kline (R-MN), will hold a hearing entitled “Expanding Opportunities for Job Creation.” The hearing will take place in room 2175 of the Rayburn House Office Building. 

Over the last year, the national unemployment rate has dropped from 9.1 percent to 8.5 percent and almost one million individuals previously unemployed found work. Despite these signs of progress, 13 million individuals remain out of work and 5.6 million workers have been unemployed for 27 weeks or more. Job creation remains the nation’s top priority.

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved more than 30 proposals to help provide certainty to employers and support job growth. The House-passed legislation address economic challenges such as fiscal responsibility, labor relations, and energy security. State leaders are also adopting various policy changes intended to help put people back to work.

Wednesday’s hearing will provide committee members an opportunity to learn about state proposals to encourage fiscal discipline and job creation, as well as discuss various federal policies that affect these state efforts. Additionally, members will listen to witnesses describe the current economic landscape and the ongoing challenges facing small business owners. To learn more about Wednesday’s hearing, visit http://edworkforce.house.gov/hearings.  

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WITNESS LIST

Panel I

The Honorable Rick Snyder
Governor
State of Michigan
Lansing, MI

The Honorable Dannel Malloy
Governor
State of Connecticut
Hartford, CT

Panel II

Ms. Kellie Johnson
President
ACE Clearwater Industries
Torrance, CA 

Dr. Matthew Mitchell
Senior Research Fellow for Economics
The Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Arlington, VA

Dr. Jared Bernstein
Senior Fellow
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Washington, D.C.