Brown Introduces Learn To Earn Reemployment Training Improvement Act

Press Release

U.S. Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) has introduced the Learn to Earn Reemployment Training Improvement Act of 2011, which would consolidate 47 unproven federal job training programs into a state-run reemployment program. The legislation gives those on unemployment insurance the option to receive paid, on-the-job training at private businesses. This innovative program would help the growing ranks of long-term unemployed learn the new skills necessary to vie for more job openings or make a career change. Learn to Earn is also a key provision in President Obama's signature jobs legislation.

"The prolonged economic troubles have frozen the labor market and created a new set of challenges for today's job seekers who must learn new skills, attempt a career change, and convince employers to take on the risk of a new hire. The Learn to Earn program resolves those issues by bringing businesses and job seekers together through paid, temporary job training. As a state-run program under federal oversight, Learn to Earn will be more efficient with taxpayer dollars and tailored to market needs. Rather than continuing to spend billions of dollars on dozens of unproven programs, it's time for one federal job training program that works for the unemployed."

Background

S. 1743, the Learn to Earn Act.

Key Facts:

* The U.S. Government Accountability Office found that nine federal agencies spend $18 billion to run 47 different job training programs.

* Learn to Earn provides the White House with the authority to design a consolidation of this broken patchwork of ineffective and duplicative programs. These funds are then block granted to the states to fund their own Learn to Earn program.

* Under Learn to Earn, Americans receiving unemployment benefits can voluntarily choose to experience paid job training opportunities at a private employer.

* Trainees are provided with many benefits, including a stipend to cover their transportation and other expenses. This stipend and worker's compensation insurance is provided by the state-run Learn to Earn program.

* There is no cost to the employer to participate in the program.

* States design a program to meet their needs.

* Trainees may not displace permanent employees, must be U.S. citizens or lawful aliens, and may participate in the program for no more than 10 weeks and no more than 38 hours per week.

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