Last night Congressman Owens voted to approve the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), H.R. 803. The bill, which passed by a vote of 415 to 6, will streamline and update the national workforce development system by shifting greater control of programs and funding to state governments and local business leaders. It also consolidates 15 redundant programs and emphasizes employment services for veterans, rural areas, young people entering the job market, and the long-term unemployed. “Addressing our nation’s outdated workforce training system in a bipartisan, fiscally responsible manner is a critical step forward in putting Americans back to work,” said Rep. Owens. “Improvements contained in this bill will help many unemployed Americans gain the skills and experience they need to fill the millions of good jobs that are currently unfilled. American businesses cannot wait to hire skilled employees to fill the jobs they need to grow and compete globally, both now and into the future. ” Paul A. Grasso, Jr., President & CEO of The Development Corporation in Plattsburgh, NY, offered his reaction to the bill’s passage: “Today’s global economy requires a new model to address workforce needs. This legislation will give workforce development professionals a better set of tools and allow them to focus on providing the education and workforce skills that employers need. I am grateful to Representative Owens for his support of this legislation that will help the private sector grow and get unemployed Americans back to work.” Cheryl Mayforth, Executive Director of the Jefferson County Workforce Investment Board, also responded to news of the WIOA’s adoption: We have waited a long time for Congress to pass a bill that meets the demands of the modern workforce, and WIOA appears to be the answer. This bill will strengthen our One-Stop system and allow us to focus our efforts and resources on serving the needs of our local communities. I want to thank Congressman Owens for his focus on workforce issues and for supporting this legislation. Gail Breen, Executive Director of Workforce Development Board, Inc. of Fulton, Montgomery, and Schoharie Counties offered her reaction to the news: We commend both Houses of Congress for their bi-partisan support and passage of a bill that better aligns the nation’s workforce and education programs to respond to the constantly growing needs of the economy. We believe that, with this new legislation and appropriate funding, we will be able to provide businesses with a globally-competitive workforce while providing quality jobs for our jobseekers. Rep. Owens added: “This bipartisan, bicameral effort shows how the lawmaking process is supposed to work. This bill not only helps resolve the employment crisis faced by many Americans today, it also puts in place long-term guidelines to help employment offices and training specialists customize their efforts and resources to fit evolving private sector labor needs in each local community.” Among other things, the WIOA is expected to: Streamline the role of states in overseeing workforce development, and require that states develop comprehensive statewide workforce development and job tracking systems. Shift the composition of workforce investment board (WIB) by requiring that two-thirds of the board members represent area businesses. Require local WIBs to conduct and regularly update workforce research and regional labor market analysis and assist state governors in developing statewide labor market information system. Expand access to youth employment programs like Jobs Corps. Improve accountability measures that tie program performance to taxpayer funding. Improve communication, coordination and partnership with non-profit organizations that provide training and other employment-related services. Call on states to develop concrete plans for assisting veterans with employment, training, support, placement and transitional services, including for disabled and homeless veterans. Establish veteran employment specialists in each local area. Last year Congressman Owens wrote Closing the Skills Gap, a published opinion highlighting the capacity of American workers to compete with the best in the world, if we invest in them. Owens is also with a member of the New Democrat Coalition working to develop long-term investments in the nation’s workforce training system. Link to release: 1.usa.gov/W0NkeR
Posted on: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 15:51:36 +0000
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