Danger, Will Robinson! Bush** attacking Voc. Rehab.

[KamaAina]

Now I'm sure that many of you have issues with Voc. Rehab. (if not, tell Uncle KamaAina, and I'll tell everyone to move to your state right away :-) ) -- but think what it would mean if VR were gone. No more college tuition. No more adaptive devices. And so on...

http://www.nationalrehab.org/website/govt/200309.html

The recently-introduced House Workforce Investment Act (WIA) bill, H.R. 27, is scheduled to be marked up on Wednesday, February 16, 2005, by the full Committee on Education and the Workforce.

There is a strong possibility that an amendment will be incorporated into H.R. 27 at that markup, which essentially puts the VR Program on a fast track to being BLOCK GRANTED at the discretion of the Governors.
The amendment, known alternatively as WIA PLUS or WIA CONSOLIDATION PLUS, would EVISCERATE the programs administered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (hereinafter referred to alternatively as the Public/Private VR Partnership or VR).

THIS AMENDMENT LEAVES 'NO WIA PARTNER BEHIND' IN THE BLOCK GRANTING BLITZ AND CONSOLIDATION CULTURE CONSUMING CAPITOL HILL THESE DAYS. (caps theirs)

Oh, the irony. Voc. Rehab. got its start serving disabled vets from WWI. Now that we're due for another huge load of disabled vets, courtesy of those friendly folks at PNAC, VR is about to be taken away from them. What a bunch of doo-doo heads. :grr:

[Sugarbleus]

1. Great find!

VR was a pretty good program in my area......until it went to another town. I never did understand why they did that.

When they had an office here I used it to help me re enter college. As I went through an orientation with them I noticed it served a wide variety of people who needed assistance. Interesting that it's targeted just when new vets might be needing it!!

And the "cuts" just keep rolling on.........this is NOT A GOOD THING.

[Sgent]

2. VR

has been a godsend for many, many people. In my state Medicaid is not available for people who are male or female and not pregnant. VR has paid for countless surgeries for these people to keep them productive (even if they are not permanently disabled).

[KamaAina]

3. No block grants, for now at least

http://www.nationalrehab.org/website/govt/200310.html

The House version of the WIA reauthorization, H.R. 27, The Job Training Improvement Act, was marked up yesterday in the full (parent) Committee on Education and the Workforce and we are pleased to advise you that the WIA PLUS BLOCK GRANT AMENDMENT Act was not offered during yesterday's markup of the bill. The bill, H.R. 27, was reported out favorably, today, February 17, 2005, as amended, on a roll call vote of 26 AYES TO 20 NOES, with the usual technical and conforming amendments.

That said, we fully expect that the WIA PLUS BLOCK GRANT AMENDMENT will emerge in some form on the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives during consideration of H.R. 27, as amended.

Watch the slimeballs attach a rider to Page 227(a) of the bill at 4:30 one dark moonless night.