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leadership has pledged to take up the amended bill people, and assist justice-involved individuals to re-enter
quickly, and deliver it to the President for signature. the job market.
The bill contains a number of provisions strengthening
HOUSE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION SUBCOMMITTEE the focus of workforce programs on those with barriers
EXAMINES FINANCIAL INEQUITIES FACING PEOPLE WITH to employment and specifically includes people with
DISABILITIES disabilities among those targeted, adds assistive
technology as an allowable use of funds to
On May 24, the Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee of accommodate those with disabilities for delivery of
the House Financial Services Committee held a hearing services; increases authorization of appropriations
titled, "Diversity Includes Disability: Exploring Inequities under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 for supported
in Financial Services for Persons with Disabilities, employment services for individuals with the most
Including Those Newly Disabled Due to Long-Term significant disabilities as well as the Architectural and
COVID." Witnesses included Alison Cannington, Senior Transportation Barriers Compliance Board; and includes
Manager, Advocacy and Organizing, The Kelsey; Cynthia under the definition of dislocated workers eligible for
DiBartolo, Founder and CEO, Tigress Financial Partners; services the caregivers or survivors of veterans with
Thomas Foley, Executive Director, National Disability service-connected disabilities. The measure also
Institute; Vilissa Thompson, LMSW Fellow, The Century promises increased funding to local workforce areas to
Foundation & Co-director, Disability Economic Justice provide “customer support to enable those with barriers
Collaborative; and Caroline Sullivan, Executive Director, to employment (including individuals with disabilities)
North Carolina Business Committee for Education, Office and veterans, to navigate among multiple services and
of the Governor. The hearing explored many of the activities for such populations.” The bill is pending in the
housing and employment barriers that impede Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions
economic security for people with disabilities and Committee. A link to the House report that accompanied
highlighted particular challenges faced by those affected the legislation can be found here.
by long-COVID-19’s impacts. The webcast and testimony
can be found here.
NEWS OF NOTE
HOUSE PASSES WORKFORCE LEGISLATION Assistant Secretary for VETS Confirmed
On May 17, the House passed H.R. 7309, the Workforce On May 4, James D. Rodriguez was confirmed by the
Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2022, Senate as the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL)
reauthorizing the nation’s primary workforce Assistant Secretary for Veterans’ Employment and
development system that supports America’s Job Training Service (VETS). VETS oversees DOL programs
Centers, adult and dislocated worker training programs, that strive to prepare America's veterans, service
Job Corps, disadvantaged youth programs, and members and their spouses for meaningful careers. In
numerous other targeted employment programs. Fiscal Year 2021, over 2,800 DOL VETS staff, contractors,
According to the Chairman of the Education and Labor and grantees served more than 331,000 veterans and
Committee, Representative Robert Scott (D-VA) the military spouses across all DOL programs.
legislation would authorize approximately $80 billion for
WIOA programs over six years, “more than double the State Employment Policies for Veterans with
number of people receiving training services in Fiscal Disabilities
Year 2023, and allow us to train one million workers per
year by 2028.” In a floor statement prior to passage, The National Conference of State Legislatures, in
Chairman Scott emphasized that H.R. 7309 would collaboration with the State Exchange on Employment &
modernize WIOA, expand work opportunities for young Disability, published a report on “State Employment
