McKeon RSS Articles

Congressman McKeon and Congressman Peters Introduce the Communities Achieving Sustainability Act

Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C.- This week, Congressman Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-CA 25) and Congressman Scott Peters (D- CA 52) introduced H.R. 1997, the Communities Achieving Sustainability Act (CASA). CASA Authorizes the Housing Urban Development (HUD) to make 203k loans to small investors for a 2-year period. This legislation will help revitalize communities (especially those hurt most by the recent foreclosure crisis), increase property values and create economic growth in the housing market.

A 203k loan is a specific type of loan offered by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), designed to help home purchasers buy and repair a fixer-upper. The federal government created these loans to encourage lenders to fund home purchases for dilapidated homes, incentivizing the development of neighborhoods and the increase in community property values. The 203k loan covers not only the cost of the property, but also the cost of necessary home repairs. A vast range of repairs, including room additions, bathroom remodeling, roofing, flooring and installing/replacing air conditioning systems can be funded with these loans. Developing incentives for the purchasing of homes in need of repair, as well as goals of neighborhood revitalization and greater homeownership opportunities drove the creation of this loan.

Currently, only purchasers who plan to use the home as their residence are able to obtain a 203k loan. This Act will open the 203k loan program to small investors. This legislation calls for the continued use of the current framework of the 203k program with additional stipulations including: allowing for investors to purchase no more than 4 dwellings per year, and requiring that the outstanding principal amount borrowed by the purchaser may not exceed 90% of the loan. Additionally, after an initial 2-year period, this authorization will terminate and it will be left up to HUD to change their regulations to allow investors to participate in the 203k program.

“California is one of the states that has been hit the hardest with foreclosures and a lot of these foreclosed homes have been left uninhabited and now sit in a state of disrepair,” said Congressman McKeon. “Many home buyers are hesitant to purchase homes that need significant repairs, resulting in further dilapidation, a hefty housing market inventory and the decrease in neighboring property values. CASA will work to ensure that more of these homes can be repaired and put back on the market in good condition. This bill will help revitalize California communities that are still struggling with the aftermath of the foreclosure crisis and will spur economic growth in the still sluggish housing market.”

“In San Diego the housing market is beginning to recover, but we must make sure that we’re providing opportunities for community improvement,” Congressman Peters said. “CASA provides for small scale investment in our neighborhoods that is needed across San Diego, the state of California, and our nation. Teaming up with Chairman McKeon to introduce CASA, I know that more Americans will be able to achieve the dream of home ownership.”

Houses that qualify for 203k Loans:

There are two types of FHA 203k loans, regular and streamlined. Regular 203k loans are for homes that need structural repairs, and streamlined loans are for those that need non-structural repairs.

The following types of residences qualify:

Tear-downs: As long as part of the foundation will remain, houses that need to be destroyed and rebuilt are eligible.
Existing construction that is at least a year old.
Single-family, two-family, three-family or four-family dwellings.
Condos: if they have been approved for FHA loans.
Mixed-use properties: If you are repairing only the home portion, a mixed residential/commercial property can qualify.
Homes needing to be moved to rest on a new foundation.

Repairs that qualify under a 203k Loan:

The FHA has specific guidelines as to which types of repairs qualify for 203k loans. The lender will also stipulate which repairs you can make. Labor costs must be included in the loan, even if the homeowner performs the repairs. The repairs must be completed within six months.

Allowable repairs include:

· Disability access

· Heating, ventilation and air conditioning

· Plumbing

· Roofing and flooring

· Energy conservation

· Kitchen remodeling

· New appliances

· Room additions

· Decks and patios

· Bathroom remodeling

· Room additions or second-story additions

· New siding

· Finishing an attic or basement

· Site grading

At the time of introduction, CASA is supported by the following organizations: National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP), California Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, Southland Association of Realtors and the Mortgage Bankers Association.

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McKeon and Sanchez Introduce Big Cats & Public Safety Protection Act

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C.- Today, Congressman Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-CA 25) and Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-CA 46) introduced H.R. 1998, the Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act. The Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act would prohibit private possession of big cats, such as lions, tigers, panthers and cheetahs, except at highly-qualified facilities, like accredited zoos, where they can be properly cared for and restrained. Additionally, since no agency, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), state agencies, or local first responders, currently knows exactly how many dangerous big cats are being kept in private hands, under what conditions, and in what locations, the bill would require any persons who currently possess big cats to register those animals with USDA in order to keep the cats they currently own. The bill would also outlaw the breeding of any big cat except at accredited zoos and research and educational institutions. Violators of the law could have their animals confiscated along with any vehicles or equipment used to aid in their illegal activity, and could face stiff penalties including fines as much as $20,000, and up to five years in jail.

The need for federal legislation regulating the sale and captivity of big cats has become dire. An alarming number of wild cats have been bred and sold as domestic pets in the U.S. This trend threatens public safety and often results in the severe mistreatment of these animals. The tragic event in Zanesville, Ohio in October, 2011, where 49 wild animals were killed after they were let loose on an unlicensed wild animal preserve, showcase the dangerous implications of this rising trend. Currently, only nine states have laws enforcing “no wild animals permitted,” and the remaining states have weak or no laws in existence. This bi-partisan bill will deter the dangerous private breeding, selling and keeping of lions, tigers and other dangerous big cats, and will help keep the public safe. This bill will also help global big cat conservation efforts and will work to ensure that big cats do not end up living in horrible conditions where they can be subject to mistreatment and cruelty.

“No matter how many times people try to do it, wildcats such as lions, tigers, panthers and cheetahs are impossible to domesticate for personal possession,” said Congressman McKeon. “These wild animals require much higher living standards compared to a domestic house cat and demand care that most black-market owners are not able to provide for. When accidents happen or when individuals learn they can’t take care of these animals, and these wild cats are released into our neighborhoods, it causes panic, puts a strain on our local public safety responders and is extremely dangerous. This bill is a step forward in protecting the public, ensuring that wildcats are not exploited and making sure those that are held in captivity are taken care of humanely in proper living conditions.”

“State laws addressing the private ownership and breeding of big cats vary greatly, with some states banning the practice outright while others impose few and partial restrictions,” said Congresswoman Sanchez. “This patchwork of regulations is confusing and it jeopardizes the safety of the public and the welfare of our animals. The Big Cats bill is a federal solution that will clarify these regulations and will lessen the interstate traffic of various species.”

This legislation is supported by the Roar Foundation, Shambala Preserve, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Born Free USA, Lions Tigers & Bears, Humane Society of United States, Big Cat Rescue, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and Ian Somerhalder Foundation.

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Congressman McKeon Votes to Transfer $4 Billion from Obamacare Slush Fund to Help Sickest Patients with Pre-Existing Conditions

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C.- Today, Congressman Howard “Buck” McKeon voted for H.R. 1549, The Helping Sick Americans Now Act. This legislation transfers $4 billion from the Obamacare slush fund to help the sickest patients with pre-existing conditions get coverage through the end of the year.

Under Obamacare, a federal and state high-risk pool program (known as the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, or PCIP) was created to provide coverage for vulnerable individuals with pre-existing conditions. On February 15, 2013, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced they were closing enrollment in the PCIP due to funding constraints.

Obamacare also established the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF), a slush fund originally intended to increase funding for prevention and public health activities. The PPHF is controlled by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Unfortunately, the PPHF has been wrought with fraud and abuse since its inception. The PPHF has funded projects such as pet neutering campaigns, the enactment of fast food density laws and the lobbying efforts to exact soda, sugar and tobacco taxes. Additionally, the slush fund is currently being used to fund and implement other provisions of Obamacare.

H.R. 1549 would require HHS to transfer approximately $4 billion in FY 2013-2016 funding from the PPHF to PCIP. This would allow CMS to enroll sick Americans who have been denied coverage because of the Administration’s decision to close enrollment in the high-risk coverage pool.

“Protecting vulnerable individuals and families with pre-existing conditions has always been a health care reform measure that I have supported,” said Congressman McKeon. “Protecting those with pre-existing conditions was one of the major motivations for passing Obamacare, yet the Administration has turned their backs on the PCIP, the very entity that was created to protect these folks. Terminating the wasteful slush fund dismantles some of the most troubling aspects of Obamacare while helping those that need coverage the most. This is a common sense reform that I am proud to support.”

Key Highlights of H.R. 1549:

The bill would eliminate four years of funding from the Prevention and Public Health Fund – one of Obamacare’s worst programs which is rife with waste and abuse. For example, the “Prevention” fund has financed:
- The Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Communities Putting Prevention to Work Program. This program has used stimulus and Obamacare dollars on projects such as pet neutering campaigns, bike/park signs, and gardening. This program has also funded lobbying campaigns to enact fast food construction moratoriums and soda taxes (included polling to test messages for higher soda taxes).
- CDC’s Community Transformation Grant Program – funding similar lobbying efforts to increase soda, sugar, and tobacco taxes, as well as enact fast food density laws.

The legislation would help defund implementation of Obamacare. The Administration has tapped $54 million from the Prevention Fund to pay individuals and community groups to sign people up for Obamacare exchanges. Just last week, the Administration announced that is about to tap $304 million for enrollment and advertising campaigns for Obamacare. The Prevention Fund is one of the last sources the Administration has to use for 2014 implementation of its $1 trillion exchange program.

H.R. 1549 eliminates federal red tape that requires individuals to go without coverage for six months in order to gain eligibility for the program. While PCIP could be improved further, it makes sense to prioritize funding for vulnerable Americans over slush funds for the remainder of 2013.

Preliminary estimates also show that H.R. 1549 will reduce the deficit by approximately $1 billion.

McKeon Statement on Disposition of Suspected Terrorist Dzhokhar Tsarnaev

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON - Congressman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, made the statement below, following indications from the White House that suspected terrorist Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will not be treated as an enemy combatant:

"The White House's announcement today that Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will be tried in a federal court, not by military commission, is correct and consistent with provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act. However, it seems premature to declare that we will not treat Tsarnaev as an enemy combatant since we do not know enough about his affiliations. As an American citizen, he would be tried in federal court regardless of his status as an enemy combatant.

"Where to try Tsarnaev is only one decision facing the President today, and probably not the most pressing one. What is vital in the time ahead is the suspected terrorist associated with last week's horrific bombings is interrogated fully - with a focus not on some future civilian trial, but on gathering intelligence to prevent future attacks. Congress debated these issues exhaustively in the last defense bill and arrived at a commonsense consensus designed to deal with precisely this circumstance. Clearly American citizens must be tried in civilian courts, but the same citizen, having viciously attacked his countrymen, must be exploited for his intelligence value before any trial begins."

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McKeon Statement on President Obama’s Budget

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Congressman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon made the following statement on the President's budget submission:

“Today the President released a budget proposal that is disappointing and nothing more than a document that reaffirms the President’s belief in the status quo of big government, big spending and big deficits. With 4 plus years of record unemployment and unsustainable deficits, the status quo is not working. Instead of proposing serious budget reforms that would get our economy back on track and our country out of the red, the President is proposing to raise taxes by $1.1 trillion, increase government spending to the tune of $964 billion and add $8.2 trillion to our national debt. This budget makes no attempt to balance, to address the serious reforms needed in our mandatory spending or to pay down our unsustainable debt. Unfortunately, the President’s small deficit reduction proposals are not real, and are instead based on tax increases and phantom math. This budget proposal is a missed opportunity to come to the table with serious ideas that could lead to workable solutions for the American people.

“I am also gravely concerned about the national security implications of the President’s proposal. My job as Chairman of the Armed Services Committee is to listen to the advice of our senior commanders and ensure that Congress meets our responsibility to 'provide for the common defense.'

"Two months ago, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff testified before my committee that our military could not absorb any additional cuts and continue to carry out the missions the country has assigned to them. In the ensuing weeks the situation in Syria became more volatile, we are in a stand-off with North Korea, and we appear to be opening a North African front in the War on Terror. In other words, we are already adding to what we have asked our military to do while the President cuts their resources. Now, with no assessment of strategic impact, the President has proposed yet another arbitrary cut of $120 billion from the military.

"Historically, Congress and the White House have both proven to be poor judges of where and how we will have to fight to preserve our liberty. What we can say with certainty is that the fight will come. By levying more cuts on the military, the President has decided that a future generation of Americans won't have what they need on that day.

“All this said, I am pleased that after 4 years of broken governing, the House, the Senate and the Administration have all crafted budget proposals for consideration. I am hopeful that we can now move forward with full participation from both chambers of Congress and the White House to come up with a real budget for the American people.”

Highlights of President’s Budget:

$120 Billion in Additional Cuts to Defense

$8.2 Trillion in New Debt

· Accounting for the cost of eliminating the sequester and removing the budget gimmicks, net deficit reduction is only $119 billion.

· Additional deficit increase in FY2013: $61 billion

· Total U.S. debt in 2023: $25.4 trillion

· Debt increase per household: $60,980

· Interest payments on the debt in 2023: $763 billion

· Deficit in 2023: $439 billion

$1.1 Trillion in New Taxes

· President Obama’s budget increases taxes by $1.1 trillion—on top of $1 trillion in taxes from Obamacare and more than $600 billion from the President’s recent tax hike.

$964 Billion in New Spending above Projected Growth

· Spending increase next year alone: $154 billion

· Additional spending in FY2013: $61 billion

· Total spending over ten years: $46.5 trillion

· Rate of annual increase in mandatory spending: 5.2%

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McKeon Statement on the Passing of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON - Congressman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, made the following statement on the passing of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher:

"I am deeply saddened to hear of Prime Minister Thatcher's passing. We have lost one of freedom's great champions. Her indefatigable will changed the United Kingdom forever, but preserved the ideals that made England tower. She reminded us all that there can be no liberty unless there is economic liberty. She pulled the realm from uncertainty and despair. And she fought tirelessly for Her Majesty's Armed Forces.

"Together with President Reagan, she brought the conflict of a generation to a peaceful conclusion and ushered in a new era of prosperity in Eastern Europe. She insisted that the community of free nations must never, ever, compromise in the face of aggression. She was willing to stand alone when she had to, but America is blessed that on more than one occasion she stood with us. As free nations are challenged by aggression from North Korea, Iran, and Islamic extremists around the world, we would do well to remember the lessons left to us by the Iron Lady.

"Tennyson said that there's no glory like those who save their country. Lady Thatcher brought that glory to herself and her people. She leaves behind a great hole in history, but the free world will reap the fruits of her courage for generations to come."

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Congressman McKeon Responds to Anemic March Jobs Numbers

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C.- Today Congressman McKeon released the following statement regarding the March Jobs Report:

“Today we received more bad news from Washington in the form of another dismal jobs report. We learned that in March: only 88,000 private sector jobs were created; job increases were even less broadly dispersed than in February, which was already down from January; aggregate hours, overtime hours and earnings were flat; and 500,000 workers left the labor market. The most concerning figure was that labor force participation fell to 63.3 percent, numbers we have not seen since 1979, the last year of President Carter’s Administration.

“This jobs report is just another reminder of what the American people already knew to be true: the economic policies coming out of Washington aren’t working. I don’t know how many consecutive months it is going to take for the Administration to understand that spending more money than we bring in, overregulating and overtaxing businesses and enacting overreaching government interference in health care does not promote economic growth. Millions of families continue to struggle, millions have given up looking for work all together and millions are working twice as hard for half as much. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result, yet we keep spending money we don’t have, killing our businesses with higher taxes and more regulations and handcuffing the very people we expect to create jobs. Enough is enough.”

Congressman McKeon Votes for a Path to Prosperity and a Balanced Budget

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C.- Today, Congressman Howard “Buck” McKeon voted in favor of the Path to Prosperity, the House Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2014. This budget plan stops spending money Washington doesn’t have, balances the budget in ten years and fosters a healthy fiscal environment that will restore the economy and create jobs.

“To budget is to govern, and this plan puts our country on a sustainable fiscal path which will allow our economy to grow, create jobs and save taxpayers their hard earned dollars,” said Congressman McKeon. “A real economic recovery cannot be centered around higher taxes and greater borrowed government spending, and our critical safety nets will not survive under the current path of unsustainable growth. This budget puts our country on a path toward prosperity and offers America modernization, reform, growth and opportunity.

“As Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, I am particularly gratified to see this plan provide for our men and women in uniform and our national security by replacing deeply harmful sequestration cuts to our national defense with other common sense reforms. Since 9/11 our military has been operating at a very high operational tempo around the world keeping this country’s citizens safe from those who seek to do us harm –from deadly attacks by al-Qaeda to the sabre rattling of Iran and nuclear provocations of North Korea. But back home as our economy slowed and our deficit rose, this Administration began to question our role in the world and called for substantial reductions to our national defense. While we agreed that everything should have been on the table in order to address this Nation’s deficit spending, defense has represented only 18% of our national budget, while our military has absorbed 50% of the cuts to date.

"Which is why it is so important today that House Republicans stand unified, both fiscal and national security conservatives, on the goal of replacing arbitrary, automatic across-the-board cuts to our military. This House Republican budget, as does its counterpart from the Republican Study Committee, provides $560.2 billion in defense funding for fiscal year 2014. This is the amount my Committee called for in our views to Chairman Ryan, and an amount consistent with our military responsibilities. Over the next decade, we provide over $6 trillion to fund our nation’s defense. While this is significantly less than the levels in previous budget resolutions passed by the House, it is $500 billion more than will be available under sequestration. It allows our military to execute the current national defense strategy and avoids the hollow force and unacceptable level of strategic and operational risk our commanders have warned us about in hearings before our Committee.

"I want to thank Chairman Ryan for his unyielding dedication and belief in this country and in American exceptionalism. Absent his vision and absent this House budget, in just four short years, we will be paying more in interest on our debt than our national security.

“I urge the Senate and the President to come together with this Congress to finally pass a budget for the American people and I also continue to urge them to support Congress’s core constitutional responsibility – to provide for our common defense."

Today, the House also passed a Continuing Resolution to avoid a government shutdown and fund the federal government for the remainder of the full fiscal year. The bill provides funding needed to keep the doors of the government open until the end of the 2013 fiscal year on September 30. The current continuing resolution expires on March 27.

The legislation provides full-year funding levels for five Appropriations bills – Defense, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, Commerce, Justice and Science, and Agriculture – to support critical law enforcement and national security efforts, protect our nation’s borders and food supplies, and make key investments in our nation’s agricultural and economic infrastructure.

For other federal departments and agencies, funding levels are continued at the fiscal year 2012 levels. In addition, both the House and the Senate included limited, good-government changes to certain specific programs to prevent waste of taxpayer dollars or to avoid undue damage to important programs.

The funding provided is subject to the President’s sequestration order, bringing the total discretionary spending level in the bill to $984 billion.

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U.S. Must Secure Its Gains in Afghanistan

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The war in Afghanistan is fast approaching an inflection point. This year, NATO military forces will transition from combat operations to a narrower mission limited to counter terrorism and training and assisting the Afghan security forces.

In spite of the incredible achievements coalition and Afghan forces have made, the region continues to live under the threat of extremism, instability, and nuclear proliferation – which is why a continued presence in central Asia falls squarely in the peg of American national security interests. And it is not unusual. Americans have recognized the need for a continued military presence after the end of other combat operations. Allied forces will focus on standing Afghanistan up as a stable ally in an unforgiving neighborhood, much as we did in Japan, Germany, and South Korea. Like our efforts in these countries, we won’t commit our sons and daughters and our treasure simply to ensure democracy in Afghanistan can flourish or to rebuild a war torn country out of kindness. We must secure our military gains in Afghanistan because ensuring their security and stability is directly related to securing our own.

In many ways it’s harder than any post-war challenge we have previously faced. Defeating terrorism is a long game. For the scourge of suicide bombings and headline-grabbing attacks on civilians to disappear as a battlefield tactic, not only must the terrorists be beaten in combat, their narrative must be disproven and the civilians they target must reject their tactics and disavow their safe havens.

The Taliban have largely been defeated on the field of battle. They are now limited to headline grabbing attacks in city centers, such as the recent attack during my visit earlier this month, which coincided with Secretary Hagel’s first trip. As the local Afghans I met with know, a despicable attack on civilians is a sign of weakness, not strength.

Nevertheless, the Taliban perpetuate their spin that the Americans have no more fortitude than the Soviets and will abandon Afghanistan to chaos. Sadly, but understandably, Afghans are listening. A crisis of confidence is ensuing. The Afghans I met with are willing to fight for their country, but they are uncertain we will remain to advise them. We have it within our power to prove the Taliban wrong and ensure Afghanistan is never again allowed to become a spawning pool for terrorists.

Relatively speaking, it won’t take much - significantly fewer forces than we have in Korea today and only a quarter of what the military’s currently spending in Afghanistan. It now falls on the Obama Administration and the Karzai government to forge a bilateral security agreement that provides the framework for this enduring security. Unfortunately, President Obama failed to achieve a similar accord with the Baghdad government when the stakes were not nearly as high. Although Iraq has held together, it is undeniable that Islamic militants now look at Iraq as low-hanging fruit for what should otherwise have been a strong U.S. ally in a pretty tough neighborhood.

A bilateral security agreement is not trivial to negotiate. For our troops to assist our Afghan partners, they need freedom of movement across the countryside. As with the rest of our overseas partnerships, the Government of Afghanistan cannot levy taxes upon our military assistance. Furthermore, American forces accused of a crime must be held accountable to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Let’s be clear - this does not mean that U.S. forces should be “immune” from prosecution.

These criteria must be negotiated in full recognition of Afghanistan’s sovereignty. To agree with these terms, President Karzai must be able to demonstrate that Afghanistan’s security will be improved. This is one of the few areas where lessons learned from Iraq are helpful. Unless we are willing to clearly articulate our commitment upfront, it is no wonder President Karzai is unwilling to extend his political capital to secure a meaningful agreement.

This is not to excuse his recent behavior. It is unconscionable to suggest that we are cooperating with the very same enemy who attacked us, to guarantee a longer presence in Afghanistan. Every day that we remain is a day that our children, siblings, and parents are gone from us, with the risk that they will not come home. Every day we remain, taxpayers must write a check from a shrinking bank account. After September 11th, the majority of Americans swore to stop our enemy from being able to keep its safe havens in Afghanistan. I was one of those and I am committed to getting the job done right. But without a willing partner in Afghanistan, I will not support an unworkable strategy that gets us deeper into debt without an increase in our own security.

As a first step, I believe we ought to have a tough, public conversation about troop levels post-2014. The President is silent on the issue, although there has been plenty of speculation about what the White House might do. Central Command commander General James Mattis has testified that his recommendation is 13,600 troops. My take away from speaking to our current commander in Afghanistan, General Joe Dunford, and his predecessor, General John Allen, is that there are risks and opportunities associated with a variety of force levels. I am sure the President has received wise counsel from each of these officers.

I believe that numbers count. We have our mission with our Afghan allies and we must keep adequate force protection for the troops who stay behind. For their sake, I would rather pursue a less risky option and dial it back if we are more successful than we anticipate. General Mattis’ recommendation seems to be a reasonable insurance policy.

This has been a long, tough war. But after a decade of fighting, we’re on the verge of setting Afghanistan on the right path. President Obama can be the President that defied history and pulled Afghanistan from its dark fate, principally for the good of Americans. Or he can be the President that snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-Santa Clarita) is chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.

Congressman McKeon on Passage of the SKILLS Act

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C.- Today, Congressman Howard “Buck” McKeon voted in favor of H.R. 803, The Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills (SKILLS) Act. This legislation passed by a vote of 215-202. The SKILLS Act will empower employers, rein in bureaucracy, and provide America’s workers with a more dynamic, flexible, and effective network of job training services.

In the last 5 years, the United States has experienced devastating unemployment, hovering at or above 8 percent for record breaking months on end. Today, roughly 12 million Americans are unemployed and searching for work, yet the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports millions of job openings remain unfilled. One reason for this startling fact is a broken workforce development system. Despite a multi-billion dollar annual taxpayer investment in federal job training programs, employers continue to struggle to find workers with skills necessary to fill in-demand jobs. An unwieldy workforce training system is making it more difficult for workers to access important job skills and assistance, and fails employers who seek a highly trained workforce. The SKILLS Act implements reforms and improvements that will streamline our nation’s workforce training system, equipping it for a 21st century economy and job force.

The SKILLS Act is legislation that stems from Congressman McKeon’s original Workforce Investment and Improvement Act (WIIA). As former Chairman and current Senior Member of the Education and Workforce Committee, Congressman McKeon has been a pioneer in crafting legislation that improves and streamlines the workforce training system and equips our nation’s workers and job seekers with the training and resources needed to compete and thrive in today’s job market. Congressman McKeon has authored and introduced WIA legislation in past Congresses and has worked to garner bi-partisan support for the principles of this legislation.

“Solving our country’s unemployment crisis and getting Americans working again requires real solutions and I am committed to legislating commonsense and realistic solutions to our nation’s job crisis,” said Congressman McKeon. “American workers looking to sharpen their skills and keep up with the changing economy don’t see this legislation as a partisan, political issue. They see it as an opportunity to protect their livelihoods and provide a better life for themselves and their families.

“While I vigorously support the main principles of this bill, I am concerned about some technical funding aspects in the legislation. Funding for some programs subsidized under the SKILLS Act have been consolidated. One of these programs is YouthBuild. The Antelope Valley YouthBuild center is molding teens and young adults into model citizens. The staff works with youth ages 16 – 24 to help them build the confidence and skills needed to thrive in their communities. Participants work toward acquiring marketable skills to launch them into their careers while ensuring they complete their high school education. Participants give back to their community by building affordable housing in the Antelope Valley. I do not want the rug to be pulled out from under them by consolidating this program. Here in the 25th District, this program has a significant impact to many lives and the community at large. Not all programs are best run from Washington. Bureaucrats often don’t understand what local communities need and how they operate, so operating every program at the national level is bad policy. But some programs deserve a second look and I believe YouthBuild is one of those programs.

“While I support the overall bill on the floor today and look forward to an eventual reauthorization of WIA, I am concerned about the fate of YouthBuild. Let there be no doubt that with the GAO findings on our workforce training system there needed to be some consolidation, but not all programs are created equal. Some work better than others. Some work well in some districts while not so well in others. I would urge Chairman Kline and Subcommittee Chairman Foxx to reconsider consolidation of YouthBuild if this legislation gets to a conference committee.

“While not perfect, this bill strengthens job training opportunities for workers and job seekers and builds on reforms to improve programs and services to put Americans back to work, all while maintaining our commitment to responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. I am hopeful that we can work towards a bipartisan agreement in a future conference committee and pass this legislation into law.”

As our nation continues to struggle with high unemployment and unsustainable debt, streamlining ineffective programs and promoting better use of taxpayer dollars is critical. The SKILLS Act includes the following highlights:

Streamlines Federal Workforce Development Programs. The SKILLS Act eliminates and streamlines 35 ineffective and duplicative programs, including 26 identified in a 2011 report by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office. Additionally, the proposal creates a Workforce Investment Fund to serve as a single source of support for employers, workers, and job seekers. States are required to reserve a certain percentage of funds to specifically target individuals with unique barriers to finding employment, including at-risk youth.
Strengthens a Dynamic, Employer-Driven Job Training System. The SKILLS Act reinforces the role of America’s job creators in our workforce investment system by ensuring two-thirds of state and local Workforce Investment Board members are employers.
Expands Decision Making at the Local Level. The SKILLS Act eliminates 19 federal mandates regarding local workforce board representation and empowers locally elected officials to determine the remaining board members. Similar requirements are lifted for state workforce boards, as well. This will help ensure workforce investment boards better reflect the needs and priorities of local communities. The local workforce boards will regularly conduct analyses of area workforce needs, including economic conditions, the knowledge and skills of workers, and existing workforce development activities to enhance support services for local workers and employers.
Improves Accountability and Transparency. The SKILLS Act requires state and local leaders to adhere to “common performance measures” for all workforce development services to help eliminate waste and ensure taxpayer dollars are used effectively. The bill also requires an independent evaluation of training programs every five years.
Creates a Seamless Workforce Development System. The SKILLS Act strengthens the authority of governors, in consultation with local officials, to designate the location of workforce areas in their states, which will help ensure resources and support services are more readily available to workers and employers and the system is aligned to regional economic and labor markets.
Empowers Governors to Further Reduce Administrative Burdens. The SKILLS Act allows states to continue submitting a unified statewide workforce development plan to the federal government for all employment and training services and related programs. The bill also allows governors to consolidate additional programs into their state Workforce Investment Fund for the express purpose of providing greater administrative flexibility and reducing overly burdensome paperwork requirements. If a state decides to consolidate additional programs, it will still be responsible for meeting the goals and requirements of the programs.
Facilitates Greater Collaboration with Community Colleges. The SKILLS Act allows states to determine the standards required for eligible training providers, simplifying the bureaucratic requirements that have forced many community colleges and other providers out of the system. It also allows local boards to contract with community colleges directly to provide training to large groups of participants instead of on an individual basis.
Encourages More Training to Meet In-Demand Job Opportunities. The SKILLS Act eliminates arbitrary provisions under current law that prevent individuals from accessing training immediately by streamlining the delivery of services to help individuals receive the support that best meets their needs. The proposal also requires local boards to designate a portion of resources to spend directly on training. Finally, the bill requires service providers to contribute a portion of their resources to support the infrastructure of the One-Stop Career Centers, providing more resources to training and other efforts that directly serve workers.
Reforms the Job Corps Program. The SKILLS Act reforms Job Corps to ensure that career and technical education and training is geared toward in-demand occupations and that disadvantaged youth receive a regular high school diploma and/or a recognized postsecondary credential that prepares them for employment in the global economy. It establishes a new performance accountability and management system and requires all grantees to re-compete for funding. These reforms will help ensure grantees are high-quality and have expertise in serving disadvantaged youth. These changes will also help at-risk youth become more employable, responsible, and productive citizens.
Improves Adult Education and Vocational Rehabilitation. The SKILLS Act also amends the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The bill increases the focus on delivery of basic literacy and math skills, and works to build this instruction into employment activities. The legislation also focuses on helping individuals with disabilities transition into employment. Both programs are required to meet the common performance measures outlined in the bill.

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