On the recordApril 9, 2024
I thank Chairwoman Foxx and Ranking Member Scott for introducing H.R. 6655, A Stronger Workforce for America Act. This bipartisan legislation will address the workforce needs of our industries by making necessary updates to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, also known as WIOA. This bill accomplishes much but let me highlight four important areas. First, this bill ensures that 50 percent of adult and dislocated worker funding goes toward upskilling workers. Second, this bill strengthens the current workforce education programs at community colleges so that educational programs are tied to the needs and demands of the communities, businesses, and the free market. Third, this bill heightens accountability for the use of these funds and is more outcome based while reducing the bureaucracy of typical government programs. Fourth, this bill includes my Building Youth Workforce Skills Act, which provides eligible in-school youth access to individual training accounts for a wide range of educational programs. This creates more opportunities for youth as they look to develop their skills in a way that is aligned with their passions and that is also relevant to business. It is critical that we provide workers access to workforce development and training programs that find the sweet spot between the needs of businesses and the skills of their workers. H.R. 6655 does just that, and it brings greater accountability and value to the taxpayers. Mr.…
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