Political Quotes

“I rise in strong support of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. This legislation represents a long- overdue upgrade to our workforce investment system. I wish to commend the bipartisan work of Chairman Harkin, Senator Murray, Senator Alexander, and Senator Isakson in negotiating this compromise legislation that will move our job training and adult education systems forward. The need to improve our workforce investment system has crystallized during this recovery from the great recession. My home State of Rhode Island continues to struggle with high unemployment--the highest rate in the Nation. Many of our unemployed workers have been out of work for an extended period of time. Yet employers tell me they have open positions they cannot fill because they cannot find workers with the skills they need today. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act takes important steps to help address the skills mismatch that keeps jobs open and potential workers unemployed. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act streamlines the current workforce development system by requiring a single comprehensive plan that incorporates all of the core programs and is aligned with economic development plans for the States. It also establishes shared performance metrics that apply to all of the programs in the system. In other words, it makes sure that employers, educators, and the workforce system are all on the same page.…”