Lynn C. Woolsey: “once again my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are claiming they want to help workers in this Nation. But, as…”

“once again my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are claiming they want to help workers in this Nation. But, as usual, their actions say otherwise. The newest WIA proposal does nothing more than force workers to compete with each other for services that they have come to expect and services they deserve from the WIA system. WIA one-stops provide important job training services to help those struggling to find work to get resources they need. If this bill passes, veterans and unemployed adults will be placed second to infrastructure costs. Instead of increasing funding in the bill to address infrastructure needs separately, this bill forces Governors to choose between workers and updating facilities, all from the same pot of money. Limiting this pool of funding will deny workers quality services for reemployment and adult education programs, and that is just plain and simple true. This bill also sets up a voucher system that will actually decrease the amount of services available to job seekers. Those receiving these new job vouchers will be able to pay for training courses or other job-searching expenses. That sounds great. But the catch is that once a worker takes a voucher, they will lose access to Federal job training programs through WIA for an entire year.”