Workforce & Education

Chair – Mr. Joe Hummel, Allied Construction Industries, Inc.
Co-Chair – Mr. Mark Stepaniak, Esq., Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

The Workforce & Education Committee provides commentary and insight on issues pertaining to employment, training and workforce development.  As 2010 starts, the Committee is reviewing immigration legislation, a "jobs bill" stimulus proposal and reathorization of the Workforce Investment Act.

If interested in joining the Workforce & Education Committee, please email Tom Ewing, tewing@cincinnatichamber.com.

Committee Dates:

8:00 a.m. at the Chamber - January 12, March 9, May 11, July 13, September 14, November 9  

Key Issues:
Workforce Investment
Worker Training
Employment Verification
Labor Relations
Immigration

3rd Quarter Update:
The Committee met multiple times in May and June to prepare for its July meeting, which included a telephone conference call with Moira Lenehan-Razzuri, Legislative Assistant for Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown.  Ms. Lenehan-Razzuri is the education specialist working in Sen. Brown’s Washington office.  The Committee wanted to discuss S.777, sponsored by Sen. Brown, a bill that would amend the Workforce Investment Act and create new training/educational programs centered on two-year community colleges.  The Committee and/or Chamber staff will follow up with additional information and comments sent to Sen. Brown’s office.

2nd Quarter Update:
The Committee last met in February due to the Committee’s standing March meeting date conflicting with the Chamber’s annual Washington D.C. Fly-In.

Earlier – as reported at the Government Affairs Council’s January meeting – the Committee developed the language for the Chamber’s one-page position paper on the Workforce Investment Act, used for the Fly-In.

At our meeting in February we completed a substantive review of HR 4321, federal immigration legislation introduced by Rep. Solomon Ortiz of Texas.  This review was expansive and detailed.  Peggy Godar of Frost Brown Todd led the review.

During the next few months we will be following the various employment/stimulus bills expected to come forward as Congress continues to address high unemployment.  Immigration reform is expected to remain a top agenda item for President Obama, Congress, and the business community.

1st Quarter Update:
In December and January the Committee, along with an ad hoc group specializing in employment issues, participated in the White House “community jobs forum” and completed the set of questions circulated by the White House.  The deadline for that document was January 7, 2010.

At its most recent meeting on January 12, the Committee reviewed the “Jobs for Main Street Act, 2010” passed by the US House in December and developed draft comments.  The Committee is awaiting the Senate’s version of an employment bill and, of course, the Administration is working hard to establish policies that will boost job formation and hiring.  This topic could be part of the Chamber’s 2010 Washington, D.C. Fly-In agenda.

The Committee meets next to review new federal immigration legislation (HR 4321) and to review any new immigration proposals expected to be forthcoming from the President.  Discussions will be led by Ms. Peggy Godar, Esq., Frost Brown Todd LLC.

The Committee has developed a position statement on the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act. The statement forms the basis for this topic on the Chamber’s 2010 Washington, D.C. Fly-In agenda.

Beginning in January, the Committee’s normal meeting day is the 2nd Tuesday of every other month.