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Read TWA's September-October 2008 Washington Update with the latest on workforce funding, higher education legislation, and other workforce news from the Hill.

Senators Brown, Snowe Announce Sector Partnership Legislation Developed with TWA to Grow Local Industries by Investing in People. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) announced legislation – developed in collaboration with The Workforce Alliance and other experts in the workforce field – that will promote long-term competitiveness for American industries and employment opportunities for America’s workers. Read the press release. Read the bill summary and the bill. Your organization can endorse the bill using this customizable letter template.

Podcast: The New FSET. Listen to TWA's June 19th Audio Update about changes to the Food Stamp Employment and Training (FSET) program in the new Farm Bill. Reforms proposed by TWA in the new law remove restrictions on program participation for working individuals and expand the scope of post-employment support services allowable under the program. Learn what these changes will mean from leading experts in the field. Overview of the new law, Rachel Gragg, The Workforce Alliance; Considerations for state FSET expansion plans, Jeffrey Jablow, Social Venture Solutions; Lessons learned from the California experience, Jessica Bartholow, California Association of Food Banks.

TWA endorses vision of new report from the National Commission on Adult Literacy. The report finds that the decline in U.S. literacy and skills threatens the nation's economy and that reversing the trend by 2020 could generate $25 billion. The Commission calls for an expanded national adult education system that is focused on preparing adults for postsecondary education and employment. Read TWA's press release.

The Center on Wisconsin Strategy, the Apollo Alliance, and TWA released Greener Pathways, a report on middle-skill green jobs that includes an action plan for state policymakers, highlighting policy, program, and system reform opportunities. Read the report, the executive summary, and the press release.

Listen to TWA's analysis of President Bush's FY 2009 budget proposal, which includes severe cuts to workforce programs under the Departments of Labor and Education. Read TWA's Federal Budget Washington Update or listen to TWA's Audio Update Podcast with in-depth analysis. Follow Along with the Podcast PowerPoint while listening to segments on Workforce in the Budget Process, Overview of Workforce in the FY09 Budget, Department of Labor, Department of Education, and Workforce Stakeholders' Message to Congress.

Stakeholders from across the nation took a fresh approach to workforce at TWA's 2008 Advocacy Summit. On Feb. 12th and 13th, 150 stakeholders from 24 states came to Washington to meet with over 100 elected officials about a new vision for federal workforce policy that can make the U.S. more competitive. Visit the 2008 Summit webpage.

TWA hosts Capitol Hill briefing highlighting sectoral strategies for low-income workers. On February 13th, representatives from some of the nation's most successful and innovative sectoral training programs shared their experiences at a TWA briefing on Capitol Hill. Watch video segments from the briefing and learn about the speakers.

Listen to TWA's Audio Update. This Dec. 18th end of session wrap-up assesses the status of federal workforce funding as well as Congressional action on key workforce policies. Listen to the Audio Update segments now: Federal workforce appropriations, Trade Adjustment Assistance and Food Stamp Employment and Training, and Green Jobs legislation.