New Democrat Coalition Announces Support for Bipartisan Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; Forms Working Group on Workforce Development
Following a strong bipartisan vote in the Senate and in anticipation of an impending vote in the House of Representatives, the New Democrat Coalition applauded the bipartisan Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and announced the formation of a working group to advance next-generation solutions for the development of a strong and stable workforce capable of filling the high-wage jobs of the future. The group plans to meet with stakeholders in labor, industry, education, and workforce development to develop common-sense policy recommendations to build on this successful legislation and strengthen the United States’ workforce training system.
The group will be comprised of Reps. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), John Carney (D-DE), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Elizabeth Esty (D-CT), Bill Foster (D-IL), Jim Himes (D-CT), Denny Heck (D-WA), Ron Kind (D-WI), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Annie Kuster (D-NH), Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Patrick Murphy (D-FL), Bill Owens (D-NY), Scott Peters (D-CA), Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), Jared Polis (D-CO) Mike Quigley (D-IL), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), and Terri Sewell (D-AL). The leaders stressed that they would work together with their New Dem colleagues and leaders on both sides of the aisle to develop practical solutions for workforce development.
“It is time for the United States to redouble our commitment to closing the skills gap and giving every American worker the resources and job training they need to compete,” the leaders said in a statement. “By modernizing our workforce training system to couple the best of the public and private sectors and apply data-driven strategies to building career pathways for Americans, we can help to extend ladders of opportunity to all. We will work tirelessly to achieve the dream of a workforce training system that benefits workers, employers, and the American economy.”
As an initial step, the leaders applauded the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which passed the Senate in a broad, 95-3 bipartisan vote, and signaled their intention to build support for the WIOA bill in the House.
“The legislation passed by the Senate and before the House is an example of how Washington should work – with leaders on both sides putting partisanship aside to address the issues that matter most to the American people,” the leaders said. “We will work with our colleagues in both parties to pass this bill, which would bolster U.S. competitiveness by educating, training and investing in a top-quality workforce. “
The New Democrat working group will use their experience and expertise in the public and private sectors to craft recommendations for high-quality workforce development initiatives. In particular, the group will focus on how to better align local needs with workforce training and how to create comprehensive career services programs that provide workers with in-demand skills necessary for 21st century employment.
The WIOA compromise earned the support of a broad array of key stakeholders in myriad sectors representing the core components of America’s workforce development system, including: the American Association of Community Colleges; AFL-CIO; American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees; American Federation of Teachers; American Library Association; The Arc; Associated Builders and Contractors; Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs; Associated General Contractors of America; Association for Advancing Automation; Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs; Association for Career and Technical Education; Association of Community College Trustees; Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living; Association of University Centers on Disabilities; Bipartisan Policy Center’s Governors Council; Business Roundtable; Center for Law and Social Policy; Commercial Vehicle Training Association; Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities; Council for Advancement of Adult Literacy; Easter Seals; Goodwill Industries; IBM; International Economic Development Council; International Union of Painters and Allied Trades; Jobs for the Future; National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities; National Association of Counties; National Association of Development Organizations; National Association of Manufacturers; National Association of State Directors of Career and Technical Education Consortium; National Association of State Workforce Agencies; National Association of Workforce Boards; National Association of Workforce Development Professionals; National Council on Independent Living; National Council of State Directors of Adult Education; National Education Association; National Federation of the Blind; National Governors Association; National League of Cities; National Restaurant Association; National Retail Federation; National Skills Coalition; National Youth Employment Coalition; North America’s Building Trades Union; Opportunity America; Paralyzed Veterans of America; Service Employees International Union; Siemens Corporation; U.S. Chamber of Commerce; U.S. Conference of Mayors; and YouthBuild USA.
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