MANNO'S 2009 JOBS PROGRAM TIES INTO
NEW $5.8 MILLION "GREEN JOBS" GRANT TO TRAIN 1500 WORKERS
Legislation authored by Delegate Manno and passed into law by the legislature in 2009 will tie into a newly secured $5.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. Manno's 2009 "Apprenticeship Opportunities Act" (HB 644) requires that state contracts either utilize apprenticeship training programs or contribute to a new apprenticeship training fund created by the legislation. The $5.8 million federal grant will enable a partnership between businesses, community colleges, the One-Stop Workforce System and labor apprenticeship programs, by implementing new green job programs, preparing more than 1,500 Marylanders for jobs in manufacturing, construction, environmental technology and solar energy. Under the $5.8 million grant, IBEW Local 26 and IEC-Chesapeake will act as entry-level service providers in concert with the "Go Solar! Regional Partnership" business consortium. The grant will implement training for both new and current workers to ensure there is a pool of skilled workers for jobs in the emerging green economy, with emphasis placed on providing opportunities for veterans, reservists, low wage and transitioning workers. The new $5.8 million green jobs grant follows an earlier $4 million federal green jobs grant awarded to Maryland in November.
2009 bill signing of Manno's "Apprenticeship Opportunities Act", which ties into the new $5.8 million grant
MANNO INTRODUCES KEY LEGISLATION
ON CLEAN ENERGY, SENIORS TAX CREDITS,
WORKPLACE PROTECTIONS, AND ORGANIC AGRICULTURE
This week Manno introduced several important legislative initiatives, including: reintroduction of the Workplace Religious Freedom Act (HB 381) to ensure reasonable religious accommodations in the workplace; priority legislation of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) to implement tax credits for Long-Term Care policies (HB 382); priority legislation of the League of Conservation Voters / Environment Maryland / Sierra Club, requiring the Public Service Commission (PSC) to conduct comprehensive, long-term planning for the State's clean energy needs (HB 522); and amendments to Manno's Maryland Organic Transition Investment Pilot Program (passed into law in 2009), in order to provide additional funding options and a five-year extension of the program's sunset (HB 524).
ECONOMIC MATTERS COMMITTEE
CONSIDERS UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE EXTENSION
AND HEARS OVERVIEW OF "CALVERT III" PLANT
The House Economic Matters Committee, on which Manno serves, considered Governor O'Malley's Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act (HB91/SB107). The legislation seeks to expand and update the State's Unemployment Insurance program by qualifying for $126.8 million in federal stimulus funds. The new funds seek to offset the incremental costs of the modernization measures over seven years, during which time the State will slowly emerge from the economic downturn. In December, 2009 Maryland's unemployment rate was 7.2 percent, while Montgomery County's rate was 5.2 percent -- the second lowest rate in the State. In addition, jobless numbers in the 19th Legislative District were the lowest in Montgomery County.
The committee also heard an update on the forthcoming Calvert Cliffs nuclear energy facility ("Calvert III") in southern Maryland, which has recently received approval by the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC). As a result of the 1999 "deregulation" of the state electricity industry, the PSC alone maintains autonomy in approving the construction of new electric generation plants and transmission lines throughout the State, although it no longer regulates costs of electricity generated within Maryland. The PSC recently issued a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for Calvert III after an 18-month review that included public hearings and a complex federal approval process. The application for the proposed 1,600 megawatt facility was submitted by UniStar Nuclear Energy, a joint venture of Constellation Energy and EDF Group. Construction of Calvert III is projected to create some 4,000 jobs over a 7-10 years period under a Project Labor Agreement (PLA). However, a myriad of environmental, safety and other concerns have been raised regarding the project. For one, Manno worked with Public Citizen and Maryland PIRG to review a number of issues related to the financing of the project (which includes international investors and federally secured loans), which Manno raised during the hearing. Importantly, Manno's HB 522 (discussed above) would require the PSC to consider a panoply of clean and renewable energy options, including solar, geothermal, wind and hydro-electric, in formulating long-term plans for the State's growing energy needs.
(Left) State officials present Governor O'Malley's Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act; (Right) Representatives from EDF testify on Calvert Cliffs III
COUNTY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AND
THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY DELEGATION
CONTINUE HEARINGS
On Thursday the County Affairs Committee, on which Manno serves as Vice Chairman, heard MC 15-10 (Election Law - Montgomery County Republican Party Central Committee Membership) and MC 16-10 (Leghold or Body-Gripping Traps - Prohibition). In addition, on Friday the full Montgomery County Delegation held a legislative hearing and a briefing. Included were MC 18-10 (Montgomery County Department of Economic Development - Investment Authority), MC 4-10 (Tenant Credit Check Restriction Act), and an Overview of Montgomery County's Budget and Revenue Outlook, presented by Tim Firestine, Montgomery County's Chief Administrative Officer.
(center left) Tim Firestine gives overview of the County budget before the Montgomery County Delegation;
(center right) Delegates Hixson and Heller confer on the County budget
2010 STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
This Tuesday, February 2, legislators will gather in the House chamber to receive Governor O’Malley's 2010 State of the State address. The Address will begin at noon.
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