US Reps. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Bobby Scott (D-VA), chair and ranking member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, respectively, recently introduced legislation aimed at overhauling the nation’s workforce training and development system.
“A Stronger Workforce for America Act delivers a long overdue update to the backbone of our workforce development system and will help ensure every American can benefit from our economic growth,” Scott said in a statement.
The bill is meant to improve upon the 2014 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programs by expanding and improving the quality of skills development, providing services “disconnected youth” and helping formerly incarcerated individuals released from incarceration transition back to employment.
According to a fact sheet released in conjunction with the legislation, the bill would dedicate 50% of the adult and dislocated worker funding toward upskilling workers, emphasize employer-led initiatives that equip workers with the skill sets to fill jobs in critical industries and provide “robust skill development services” to workers displaced from their jobs through no fault of their own.
Fox said the bill will “help employees compete in today’s workforce, close the skills gap, provide accountability and, most importantly, facilitate the success of America.”
The US Chamber of Commerce is in favor of the proposed bill, the business organization said Friday in a press release.
“Building a skilled workforce is a top issue for the US Chamber. With millions of unfilled jobs, a shrinking workforce, and rapidly changing skill needs it’s imperative that our nation provide more opportunities and on-ramps for those seeking to develop the skills necessary for in-demand jobs,” the chamber said.
If the proposed bill makes it out of committee, it will need to be approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate before making its way to the president’s desk, “which could be tough in a narrowly divided Congress barreling into an election year,” according to the Society for Human Resources Management.
