Adams Introduces Gateway to Careers Act

Statement

Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D., (NC-12) introduced the Gateway to Careers Act in the House yesterday afternoon. The bill will create a career pathway grant program for community college and career and technical education (CTE) students.

"An increasing number of jobs in the U.S. require some type of postsecondary education or training, but we're not doing enough to make sure that our workforce is ready for these jobs," said Congresswoman Adams. "Structural barriers like housing, food insecurity, childcare, and transportation exclude many skilled people -- disproportionately women -- from our nation's in-demand workforce. I introduced the Gateway to Careers Act today to provide more people with a pathway to their highest, best purpose in work and in life."

"The economy may be doing well for millionaires and billionaires, but millions of Americans are struggling to afford basic necessities like housing, healthcare, and higher education," said Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (MN-05), a cosponsor of the bill. "We need to be connect working people directly to services like childcare, housing, transportation and job training. I am proud to support the Gateway Careers Act to do just that."

"It is imperative that our young people have the skills needed for technical education to fill jobs and grow our upstate economy. However, the need for social services including child care, health care coverage, and transportation--urgent needs in our rural communities--too often force young people out of these valuable training programs." Delgado continued, "the Gateway to Careers Act will help to infuse workforce development programs with social services to help individuals find and keep jobs. Enabling more students to access career pathway programs and ensuring every young person has the skills needed to make it in America is vital for the future of our economy."

The bill also has local support from North Carolina. In a statement, the North Carolina Association of Workforce Development Boards (NCAWDB) said, "on behalf of the N.C. Workforce Development Boards, we fully and enthusiastically support Congresswomen Adams' Gateway to Careers Act, that will provide workforce development opportunities to expand local partnerships needed to grow the State's diverse economy."

H.R. 5759, the Gateway to Careers Act, would strengthen job training by supporting workforce programs at community and technical colleges. It will remove barriers that prevent people from entering or remaining in the workforce by connecting them to the services they need to participate in the workforce. The goal of this legislation is to help workers improve their ability to compete for good jobs in the 21st Century economy, while providing businesses the workforce they need to thrive.

Congresswoman Adams serves on the Education and Labor Committee in the United States House of Representatives, where she serves as Chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee.

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