Roll Call
CQ Roll Call June 19, 2013

Education & Labor Archive

story blurb thumbnail

Health Care and Immigration: Uncomfortable Bedfellows

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus was emphatic that illegal immigrants should be included when the landmark health care bill was being negotiated in 2009. But the White House and Democratic leaders said it was not the right time and health care would be taken care of when immigration was overhauled.

story blurb thumbnail

Rubio, Republicans Preparing Tougher Border Security Plan for Immigration Bill

Republicans are preparing a border security amendment to the bipartisan Senate immigration bill and plan to release it as early as next week.

Regional Lines Divide Aging Demographic Patterns

The aging of the American population is a decidedly different story from region to region.

story blurb thumbnail

In Spending Debate, Baby Boomer Issue Remains a Headache for Legislators

When Congress created Medicare in 1965 to handle the health care needs of the older population, less than 10 percent of Americans were old enough to collect Social Security and the new medical benefit.

A Bipartisan Opportunity for Jobs | Commentary

From the Buckeye State to the Evergreen State, Americans want their elected officials to focus on supporting economic growth. And, wouldn’t it be nice if Democrats and Republicans worked together for a change?

What's Really at Stake in the Fight Over Student Loan Reform? | Commentary

For the first time in history, Americans owe more in student debt than they owe on their credit card bills. For a new graduate, that burden means sacrificing dreams, such as embarking on a difficult career that requires more schooling, opening a business or even starting a family.

story blurb thumbnail

Paul Signals Openness to Discussing Changes With Immigration Bill Supporters

Sen. Rand Paul said he cannot support a bipartisan Senate immigration overhaul bill in its current form, but he is open to discussions with the bill’s supporters on what it would take to win him over.

story blurb thumbnail

Senate Duo Punches Time Clock on Job-Training Bill

Bipartisan negotiations to overhaul federal job-training programs are picking up again, with Sens. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., hoping to usher a bill through the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee before the August recess.

N.C. Workforce Board Uses Innovative Approach to Job-Training Programs

Charlotte Works, the workforce board for the Charlotte area of North Carolina, knew it needed to try something different when Siemens Energy approached the panel in 2010 looking to hire skilled workers for 1,000 newly created machinist, welding and mechanical assembly jobs.

Congress Should Do More to Bring Data to the Classroom | Commentary

Every day, Netflix collects millions of searches and clicks to tailor movie recommendations for subscribers. Hospitals crunch the numbers on medical statistics to predict patients’ likely needs and calculate risk. During the past election, President Barack Obama’s campaign scoured consumer information, voter contact reports and demographic data to target voters block by block. “Big data,” it seems, is seeping into every area of our lives. But one holdout remains: the classroom.

story blurb thumbnail

Is Obama's Charm Offensive Over?

President Barack Obama has pivoted back to playing hardball with Republicans after a spring spent attempting to woo Senate Republicans over collegial dinners and White House visits.

story blurb thumbnail

White House Conference Aims to Reduce the Stigma of Mental Illness

Efforts to increase awareness of mental-health issues and reduce the stigma associated with them got a boost Monday when the Obama administration hosted a national conference on mental health at the White House.

story blurb thumbnail

As Clock Ticks, Senate Plans Student Loan Test Votes

With federal student loan interest rates set to double on July 1, Congress returns from recess facing a familiar partisan brawl with no quick resolution in sight.

Supporting Smart Saving for College | Commentary

The value of a higher education is undeniable — but its sticker price is undeniably too high. Over the past decade, college costs have risen nearly 51 percent. For a family, figuring out how to pay can be quite taxing. Many families rely on financial aid to combat costs, assuming that assistance will come in the form of scholarships and grants that do not have to be repaid. In practice, however, more than half of federal financial aid comes in the form of loans that not only must be repaid but also incur interest.

Free Tutoring Is a Lifeline for Students in Low-Performing Schools | Commentary

Every year, tens of thousands of students across the country continue to struggle in low-performing schools with little or no access to the individual attention they need to succeed. For so many of these children, the tutoring assistance program established by No Child Left Behind is nothing short of an educational lifeline in an otherwise failed system. Known as Supplemental Educational Services, free tutoring is a parental empowerment option for Title I kids trapped in failing schools.

story blurb thumbnail

Sponsors of Mental Health Bills Look for Way Forward

The decision to tie mental health legislation to the Senate gun package that was pulled from the floor last month has left supporters of those provisions in limbo.

An Answer to Unemployment: A Jobs-for-All Bill | Commentary

It has been five years since the financial crisis struck, and progress in putting the unemployed back to work still lags, with no end in sight.

story blurb thumbnail

Job Corps Hits Turning Point Under Congress' Watch

A banner typed across the front page of the Job Corps website in bold red letters reads, “Attention! Job Corps is enrolling students again!”

Sounding the Alarm on Job Corps' Woes

For Anand Vimalassery, watching Job Corps’ finances spiral out of control has been more than frustrating. After all, he spent the better part of a year trying to warn the Labor Department that the program — which offers students ages 16-24 free education or training to learn a career, earn a high school diploma or equivalency degree, and find and keep a good job — was headed for a serious funding shortfall.

story blurb thumbnail

Advocates Fight to Stop Sunset of Skin Cancer Program

To mark National Skin Cancer Awareness Month, a group dedicated to educating schoolchildren about the hazards of too much sun exposure will hold a reception Wednesday to honor winners of its annual poster contest.

SIGN IN




OR

SUBSCRIBE

Want Roll Call on your doorstep?