Political Quotes

“I strongly support the bicameral, bipartisan Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, WIOA. This long over-due reauthorization will help Americans to develop the skills necessary to participate in today's global economy. I would be remiss if I did not commend the leaders of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee--especially Senators Harkin, Alexander, Murray, and Isakson--for their hard work on crafting this important jobs bill which will benefit job seekers and their families, employers, and the economy. Their House counterparts--Representatives John Kline, George Miller, Virginia Foxx, and Rubeen Hinojosa of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce--also deserve our praise and thanks. Congress passed the Workforce Investment Act, WIA, in 1998. It expired in 2003, but Congress has relied on annual appropriations bills to extend WIA's authorization 1 year at a time. These appropriations bills often have made modest policy changes. Some of the policy changes have been retained in subsequent years but continuity isn't guaranteed. This patchwork approach to improving our workforce education and development system is far from ideal, especially as the labor market changes rapidly in response to the global economy.…”