Policy News – November 16, 2023

In The States

The Texas Workforce Commission has received a $4.6 million grant from the Department of Labor and Department of Justice to support workforce reentry services within the state. This grant aims to expand employment services for individuals currently incarcerated or those who have recently been released from federal prisons.

Governor Kathy Hochul (D) recently unveiled a $2 million investment aimed at enhancing Direct Entry pre-apprenticeship programs throughout New York. This strategic move is designed to fortify the state’s already robust apprenticeship ecosystem. The initiative seeks to reinforce the pathway into New York’s apprenticeship network, which currently boasts over 17,500 apprentices engaged in approximately 900 skilled trade programs.

Around 70,000 Louisiana state employees are poised to benefit from a significant policy change set to take effect on January 1. Governor John Bel Edwards (D) has granted approval for a six-week paid parental leave program. This progressive initiative, applicable to the majority of state government workers, mandates a minimum of one year of government service and must be utilized within the initial three months of one’s journey into parenthood. While the fiscal implications of this policy and its continuity beyond Governor-elect Jeff Landry’s (R) inauguration remain uncertain, advocates argue that the positive impact on employee retention is likely to outweigh potential costs.

 

On The Hill

The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship held a hearing on Wednesday 11/15 titled “Veteran Entrepreneurship: From Service to Small Business Success.” 

 

Bills Of Interest

Rep. Monica Del La Cruz (R-TX-15) introduced a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to limit the participation of staff of the Internal Revenue Service in conferences being carried out by the Independent Office of Appeals for the purposes of resolving a taxpayer dispute.

Rep. Emilia Strong Sykes (D-OH-13) introduced a bill to amend the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act to support workers who are subject to an employment loss. 

Rep. Luis Correa (D-CA-46) introduced a bill to require certain grant recipients of transit and highway transportation projects to establish and contribute to a business uninterrupted monetary program fund. 

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) introduced a bill to establish a grant program for States to support apprentices in apprenticeships programs. 

 

At The Agencies

The US Small Business Administration issued a press release on “SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans Available to Washington Small Business.