The House of Representatives approved legislation Wednesday that includes five innovative skills-training provisions from the Senate’s Manufacturing Jobs for America campaign. U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), who leads Manufacturing Jobs for America, applauded passage of the bipartisan, bicameral Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which will reauthorize, streamline, and improve the nation’s workforce training programs for the first time since 1998. The legislation, which passed the House by a nearly unanimous vote of 415-6, was approved by the Senate in June and now heads to the President for signature.

WIOA modernizes and strengthens national workforce training programs, creating smaller, more strategic state and local workforce development boards and allowing them to tailor programs to meet local needs. The bill also eliminates 15 ineffective or underutilized programs to ensure resources are focused on the most effective initiatives.

“To keep America competitive, we have to make sure our workers have access to effective and relevant job-training,” Senator Coons said. “The most in-demand skills vary by region and industry, and training programs need to reflect these diverse and evolving needs. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act takes critical steps to better align workforce training programs with local demand and ensure workers have the skillsets manufacturers are looking for. The bipartisan action taken in both chambers to pass this important bill is proof that Congress can still come together to get things done for the middle class. I hope we can continue working together to pass more of the innovative Manufacturing Jobs for America bills that are ready for consideration today.”

Led by Senator Coons, more than 25 senators have contributed more than 30 bills to the Senate’s Manufacturing Jobs for America initiative. Roughly one-third of these bills are focused on skills training. .

By: DocMemory
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