Perez: Senate workforce investment bill will create opportunity, strengthen middle class

Secretary of Labor Tom Perez today issued the following statement regarding Senate committee markup of the Workforce Investment Act of 2013:

"To create opportunity for the American people and ensure a better bargain for the middle class, we need strong partnerships to build a world-class workforce.

"By collaborating with business leaders, labor, workforce boards, community colleges, nonprofits and others, we can build a workforce system that ensures workers have the skills they need to succeed and employers have the workforce they need to compete in the 21st century.

"We applaud the U.S. Senate for taking a major step in that direction with the bipartisan approval by the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions of S. 1356, the Workforce Investment Act of 2013. I particularly want to thank Chairman Harkin, Ranking Member Alexander, Senator Murray and Senator Isakson for their efforts. This step to modernize the Act is long overdue — it was 15 years ago this summer that the Workforce Investment Act first became law.

"We need a demand-driven approach to workforce development, one that responds to the needs of employers and prepares people for the jobs that are actually available. We need to align the workforce system with regional economies and establish a more integrated network of American Job Centers. We need to promote innovation and strengthen performance evaluation in the system, so consumers can get information about programs and services that work and taxpayers know we are spending their dollars wisely.

"S. 1356 meets these tests, building on the strength of the current law at the same time that it updates and streamlines the system. It is a significant improvement over the partisan legislation passed by the House in March. The House bill froze funding and failed to provide many of the services needed by workers with the greatest barriers to employment, including veterans, disadvantaged youth and people with disabilities.

"We hope that S. 1356 will move quickly to the Senate floor, with Congress sending a sound, bipartisan bill to the White House for the president's signature. Reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act will grow our economy, help restore middle-class security and empower more people to live the American Dream."

Source: DOL

This information is intended to be educational and should not be considered legal advice on any specific matter.

Acting Secretary of Labor Harris: SKILLS Act the wrong way to approach workforce investment reform

Acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris today issued the following statement regarding passage in the House of Representatives of the Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills Act:

"Strengthening the American workforce development system is critical to sustaining our economic recovery and continuing the growth of middle-class jobs.

"Reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act is long overdue. But I am disappointed that the House majority chose to pass a partisan bill rather than one that builds on WIA's strengths by streamlining and improving services, providing true "one-stop shopping," employing regional and industry-driven economic development strategies, toughening accountability, and promoting and replicating best practices.

"Despite taking some positive steps, the SKILLS Act falls far short of what our workers and businesses need by freezing funding for the next seven years and eliminating or consolidating key programs in a way that would not serve job seekers with barriers to employment and specialized needs, including veterans, disadvantaged youth, people with disabilities, and migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Furthermore, the SKILLS Act doesn't ensure a voice for key stakeholders. Nor does it succeed in promoting continuous innovation or the replication of best practices. 
 
"We must modernize, streamline and strengthen this system that has done so much for so many — with more than 2,700 American Job Centers serving roughly 33 million participants a year. But there is a right way and a wrong way to approach reform. The SKILLS Act is the wrong way. The administration remains committed to working with Congress on truly bipartisan legislation to improve the nation's workforce investment system."

Source: DOL

This information is intended to be educational and should not be considered legal advice on any specific matter.