By joining together in consortia of other small and medium sized businesses with similar labor needs. with the Local Workforce Investment Boards established by the Workforce Investment Partnership Act signed into law this year. with community colleges. or labor organizations. or with State or local governments. small and medium sized businesses can participate in training courses that will increase the labor pool of skilled workers needed in their region. Companies. however. do not normally cooperate in training workers. That is why the government is needed to provide the catalyst to bring companies together to cooperate on training. It is expected that the fee from the visas will generate approximately $50 million annually for the training program. It is my hope that the Secretary of Labor will consider. as she establishes these programs. requiring matching funds from the consortia. Nothing in this act precludes such matching funds.