$266 Million in Recovery Funds Are Critical for Nevada’s Schools

Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District released the following statement on the announcement by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan that $266 million in State Fiscal Stabilization Funds are now available for Nevada’s schools through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

 “Today’s (May 11, 2009) announcement that $266 million are now available for Nevada’s schools is welcome news for our state, our teachers, and our children.  These funds could not have come at a more important time.  It is critical that during this tough economic time we continue to invest in our nation’s future by ensuring that students receive a quality education.

 “This money, along with the more than $74 million in education money that has already been sent to the state through the recovery plan, can help save jobs for our teachers, administrators, and support staff and lead to critical reforms that will improve our schools and our children’s performance so they can compete in the global economy.”

Congressman Rubén Hinojosa, Chair of the Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness Subcommittee of the Education and Labor Committee, and Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District announced today that the Subcommittee will hold a field hearing in Henderson on the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) on Friday, May 29 at 10 a.m.  The hearing, New Innovations and Best Practices Under the Workforce Investment Act, will examine ways to improve WIA in an effort to educate and retrain workers.  This is the fifth in a series of hearings on this issue.

 “I am honored to join Congresswoman Titus in Nevada’s Third District to listen to your ideas focused on new innovations and best practices that will improve the workforce development system we are studying,” said Congressman Hinojosa.  “If we are to succeed in achieving our goal of making educational opportunities available to all, then we must listen to different voices, new ideas, and expert testimony on the issue.  With your input, we can develop a targeted and focused strategy to build a bridge to postsecondary education, advanced training and a better quality of life for adults.

 “I look forward to welcoming Chairman Hinojosa to Southern Nevada to discuss this important legislation that can help provide people with the training they need to find a new job or get ahead in the workplace,” Congresswoman Titus said.  “With unemployment in Nevada at a 25-year high, it is critical that we examine what works and what doesn’t with job training programs so we can put people back to work.”

The Workforce Investment Act was signed into law in 1998 in an effort to consolidate, coordinate, and improve employment, training, literacy, and vocational rehabilitation programs.  WIA provides job training and related services to unemployed and underemployed individuals and is the federal government’s primary support for Americans seeking assistance to obtain, retain, or change employment.

WHO:           Congressman Rubén Hinojosa, Chair, Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness Subcommittee

Congresswoman Dina Titus, Member, Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness Subcommittee

Witnesses to be announced

WHAT:          Field Hearing on New Innovations and Best Practices Under the Workforce Investment Act

WHEN:           Friday, May 29, 2009 at 10 a.m.

WHERE:         Nevada State College

                    Room 120, Liberal Arts and Sciences Building

                    1021 East Paradise Hills Drive

                    Henderson, NV