By Pat Loeb

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — U.S. Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania holds a hearing today in Washington, D.C., to investigate cuts in the federal Job Corps program.

A freeze in Job Corps spending will cost some 200 disadvantaged Philadelphia youth the opportunity to get training in employment, a situation that had Senator Casey pounding the podium, last week, when he announced he’d be demanding answers about why (see related story).

“The idea that Washington can’t get its act together to find the dollars to keep this training in place is outrageous and unacceptable.”

Casey’s convening the Senate subcommittee he chairs to grill officials. Acting Labor Secretary Seth Harris said in an interview with KYW Newsradio, yesterday, the Labor Department takes the shortfall as seriously as Casey.

“The Job Corps program is a very important program, it’s been very successful, so we think it’s very important, we’re looking forward to working with Senator Casey to help it to improve.”