On Wednesday, Rep. Virginia Foxx (RC) announced that the House passed the Workforce Development Act, putting more Americans on the path to successful careers.
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The Stronger Workforce for America Act would expand the skills development provided under federal law and strengthen the relationship between employers and the workforce system, Fox said.
“The American Workforce Strengthening Act is a bill for people who believe in the incredible, limitless potential of America’s workforce,” Fox said. “This legislation strengthens the efficiency of our workforce system by dedicating 50 percent of funding to upskilling workers.Skills are becoming the currency of the labor market and the key to career success, but Too little of the taxpayer dollars provided to the workforce is spent on developing workforce skills. It will provide a lot of opportunities.”
The bill would dedicate 50 percent of adult and leaver funding to upskilling workers, while directing existing funding streams to leaver ITAs to equip workers with skill sets that can be used in critical industries. Priority will be given to employer-led efforts to develop the workforce. The bill would also strengthen programs that support the return to employment of individuals released from incarceration with an emphasis on work-based learning, as well as strengthen workforce education programs at community colleges.
The bill also establishes a demonstration agency that would provide some state and local labor boards with flexibility to rethink their workforce systems and validate worker competencies accumulated through prior experience. It would promote skills-based employment by giving state and local commissions the ability to: Provide technical assistance to employers on how to implement skills-based employment practices.