HHS Secretary Confirmation Hearings Begin Today

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, President Obama's nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary, will participate in two confirmation hearings this week.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee should hold its confirmation hearing today. The Senate Finance Committee is expected to hold its confirmation hearing on Thursday. Senate leadership would like to have the nomination process completed before they leave for Easter break.

After Sebelius is confirmed as secretary, other positions at HHS will begin to be discussed and filled. NCAF will be keeping a close eye on those positions impacting the Community Action and Head Start community, so stay tuned.

-- David Bradley, NCAF Executive Director, Washington

2010 Budget Plan Moving Through Congress

All eyes are on the 2010 budget resolution this week!

We are hearing the fight to pass the budget will be within the Democratic Party. I expect almost no Republican support in either the House or the Senate.

I appreciate the difficulty that moderate and “Blue Dog Democrats” face. The deficits that they’re projecting out there are absolutely stupefying. I worry that, unless all these economic stimulus plans work, some day in the not too distant future all domestic program funding that falls outside of education, energy and health care will get extremely tight.

Fortunately, there is a base in Congress that believes in Community Action programs. The question is whether the base is broad and deep enough.

I’m looking at all the funding requests by different social service advocacy groups, and it does make me pause to wonder how all this additional spending could possibly be paid for. I think the responsible thing for many programs, including some of Community Action’s programs, is to look at a freeze for 2010.

For the Community Services Block Grant, we saw a 2009 increase as well as additional stimulus money. The Weatherization Assistance Program also received a great deal of funding through the stimulus package. The prudent thing to do is to not push our congressional supporters through the wall in a year when there truly are other needs and a small pot of funds from which to draw.

I will be visiting with some House Appropriations Committee members today to get their take on things. Later today, I also may have the opportunity to speak with a central participant in the House budget debate. Stay tuned for their predictions on the budget outcome.

-- David Bradley, NCAF Executive Director, Washington

P.S. Click here for a fairly good explanation from Reuters on how the U.S. budget works in Congress.

Question of the Week: Health Care

I have had a couple significant players in the health care debate ask what role Community Action might play in health care reform.

Questions of the Week: Knowing that there are a lot of other entities involved, including community health centers, how do you envision a CAP role in health care legislation? How do we participate in the debate and make the ultimate compromise better by having Community Action Agencies involved?

Share your feedback in the comments section below.

-- David Bradley, NCAF Executive Director, Washington

Time to Write

I have been trying to find more time to write communications to the network, such as this blog, CAP-FACTS, Quick-Facts, memos and letters. However, I'm finding it quite challenging.

I try to carve out time in the mornings to write. It seems the earlier I get to the office, the more I find to do. I most often arrive to the office at 6:45 a.m., and by 7 a.m. I feel I'm already behind!

My busy travel schedule doesn't help matters. There's seldom a week that goes by that I'm not flying somewhere to speak or participate in an event.

On Friday, for example, I flew to Zanesville, Ohio, for lunch. The Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development and National Community Action Foundation hosted a successful fund-raiser for Zack Space, a very good Ohio congressional member who spoke at the 2009 NCAF Legislative Conference.

Despite the challenges, I will continue my efforts to help keep you as informed as possible about poverty, policies and politics related to Community Action.

-- David Bradley, NCAF Executive Director, Washington

New War On Poverty Seminar in May

National Community Action Foundation will host a new seminar on the history and philosophy of the war on poverty as a foundation for 21st century Community Action. This seminar will be held May 11-14 at the historic Renaissance Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg, Fla.

This three-day workshop highlights the changing roles of the federal government and the Community Action network in assisting the poor. Participants will explore the motivation and objectives behind President Johnson's 1964 declaration of the "War on Poverty." They will examine how four decades of national anti-poverty legislation and policy have shaped, challenged and, ultimately, reinforced the unique role and responsibilities assigned to the Community Action program.

This seminar is essential for those who are interested in a career with Community Action. It is important to understand where we came from to understand where we are going.

For those who have attended one of my seminars in the past, we are always adding new information. In this one, there will be a greater focus on the future with a new Congress and Administration.

To register, fax or mail this form by April 24 for the regular $475 rate. Hotel reservations should be made directly with the Renaissance Vinoy by April 10.

-- David Bradley, NCAF Executive Director, Washington

Feedback Sought on New Stimulus Logo

National Community Action Foundation has created new artwork to help tell our communities that Community Action Agencies are part of the economic stimulus plan.

Community Action has more included in the American Recovery and Reivestment Act than any other program. It is up to us to keep proving that it belongs there and that we are doing our part to aid in the country's economic recovery. Our programs were not included in the governors' lists or part of the Obama Administration's initial proposal. Community Action's inclusion in the stimulus package was a congressional response.

We need to wear this responsibility proudly and champion those who included our programs in the stimulus. Our hope is that CAAs would hang the artwork in windows and on bulletin boards in their communities to help tell the story.

This eagle logo was unveiled during the NCAF Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. We are interested in getting feedback from the network about the new logo before launching it nationwide. Please share your comments below.

-- David Bradley, NCAF Executive Director, Washington

NCAF and ExxonMobil Partner to Train Workers in Energy Efficiency

During the National Community Action Foundation Legislative Conference, which kicked off yesterday in Washington, D.C., NCAF and ExxonMobil Corporation announced an exciting new partnership to enhance training programs for the tens of thousands of new workers required to meet the needs of rapidly growing weatherization programs around the country.

ExxonMobil will donate $5 million to NCAF to support projects that will expand the scale and scope of existing training programs so workers are well-prepared for sustainable careers in the growing fields of energy efficiency and weatherization. ExxonMobil's grant is the largest-ever private contribution to community organizations that work with the Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program.

Rex W. Tillerson, chairman and chief executive officer of ExxonMobil Corporation, has said that this new partnership is "based on our common belief that energy efficiency and economic development go hand in hand" and "by working together, we can advance our shared goals of protecting the environment, promoting energy efficiency and expanding career opportunities for American workers."

NCAF will establish a competitive grant program to finance innovative projects that will significantly expand the capacity of weatherization training programs funded through the Weatherization Assistance Program.

The recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act increases funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program. This program, implemented by 900 local community agencies represented by the Foundation, enables low-income Americans to reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient.

Our partnership with ExxonMobil will allow us to leverage the best thinking and most innovative approaches in weatherization training to create a weatherization workforce for the 21st century. Through enhanced training programs, we can prepare workers for new skills and careers while helping families use less energy and save money.

Click here and stay tuned for more details.

-- David Bradley, NCAF Executive Director, Washington

Bike with David to CAP Convention!

The Community Action Partnership Annual Convention will be held in Philadelphia, Sept. 1-4, 2009. I am interested in leading a bike ride from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia to raise money for CAP-PAC.

I am planning an easy, two-day ride, complete with an online training program for beginners. Our route, overnight accomodations and support will be planned in advance.

I think this would be a fun way to get in shape, see the countryside and develop good discussion and friendships within the Community Action network, while raising much-needed CAP-PAC dollars with every mile we ride.

Would anyone be interested in joining me?

-- David Bradley, NCAF Executive Director, Washington