Reauthorization of the Workforce Reinvestment Act (H.R. 803)
The purposes of this Act (originally passed in 1998) included the following: (1) Increase economic growth by improving education/skills of American workers. (2) To ensure middle class prosperity through strong investment in talent and workforce development. (3) To prepare the unemployed, the underemployed, and those most disadvantaged with skills to match up with employer needs. (4) To provide individuals streamlined access to in-demand skills training and employment services by aligning education, training and workforce programs. (5) To strengthen engagement with employers in in-demand industries and all sectors to meet the needs of employers. (6) To improve the competitiveness and dynamism of the Nation's future workforce by investing in college and career-ready pathways for young adults. (7) To ensure accountability and efficiency through system performance measures that incentivize continuous improvement in services for workers and employers. (8) To encourage private sector partnerships connecting employers, labor unions, community colleges, workforce boards and related stakeholders to develop workforce skills that meet employer needs.
The House of Representatives voted to reauthorize the Workforce Reinvestment Act by passing the SKILLS (Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills) Act (H.R. 803), which moved through the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. The SKILLS Act has been forwarded to the U.S. Senate and is being considered by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP). During the Legislative Symposium we thanked our House members for reauthorizing the legislation and asked our Senators to support the legislation when it comes up for action. (A second bill was also introduced in the House, H.R. 798, to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act, but has not yet been considered by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce).
Source: ASCLS GAC eNewsletter Issue 14