Congressman Lou Barletta, PA-11, today celebrated the signing of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WOIA -- H.R. 803) into law by President Obama. The WOIA legislation contains provisions similar to Barletta's America Works Act (H.R. 497), which he introduced last year to encourage states and localities to prioritize federal spending on education and training. The bipartisan legislation promotes recognized postsecondary credentials, including industry-recognized credentials. It also streamlines federal workforce training programs and promotes training for high-demand jobs, while also requiring accountability from the agencies involved in administration.
"The economy is still bad for many Pennsylvanians, and we have to do more to give workers better chances to get the jobs that are available," Rep. Barletta said. "This shows what we can do when we work together to help the American people. All of the available jobs in the world don't mean a thing if workers aren't qualified. This will help them along their way."
Barletta, a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, said the legislation is the result of bipartisan, bicameral agreement of both parties in the House and Senate. The effort reforms the workforce investment system.
"Right now, according to a 2011 Government Accountability Office report, the federal government spends $18 billion across 47 separate employment and training programs," Barletta said. "This money would be better spent with a tighter focus on helping people attain the expertise they will need to succeed in our evolving economy."
In May 2014, leaders in the House and Senate announced a bipartisan, bicameral agreement to reform federal workforce development services, resulting in today's legislation. WOIA streamlines a confusing maze of programs and burdensome federal mandates, while aligning workforce development programs with economic development and education initiatives to allow businesses to identify in-demand skills and connect workers with the opportunities to build those skills. Additionally, the legislation reduces administrative costs and unnecessary bureaucracy by authorizing states to develop and submit unified state plans to strategically align programs and eliminate duplicative reporting requirements. WOIA also delivers strong accountability over the use of taxpayer dollars by preventing spending workforce funds for political lobbying activities and holding state boards accountable for meeting performance requirements.