Today, members of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce introduced two additional proposals to reform the nation's workforce investment system. The federal government currently administers at least 47 separate job training and employment programs, representing an annual taxpayer investment of $18 billion. Steps are needed to reduce waste, improve accountability, and ensure services are meeting the needs of today's workers and employers. Chairman John Kline (R-MN) praised these legislative efforts by his Republicans colleagues as the next step in the committee's efforts to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act.
"Since the start of the 112th Congress, the Education and the Workforce Committee has been examining how best to strengthen the nation's job training system," said Chairman Kline. "We cannot allow a burdensome bureaucracy to undermine support for workers, frustrate employers, and waste taxpayer resources. The committee has held numerous oversight hearings to determine the challenges facing workers and employers, and the proposals my Republican colleagues introduced reflect what we've learned."
"Getting America working again requires real solutions," said Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon (R-CA), former chairman of the committee. Rep. McKeon has authored the Workforce Investment Improvement Act (H.R. 2295). The legislation, introduced in June, will increase flexibility in the services offered to job seekers and eliminate arbitrary barriers that prevent workers from accessing training immediately. "My colleagues and I are committed to legislating commonsense, conservative solutions to our nation's job crisis. These bills strengthen job training opportunities for workers and job seekers and build on reforms to improve programs and services to put Americans back to work."
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training, today introduced the Streamlining Workforce Development Programs Act (H.R. 3610). The legislation consolidates 33 of the 47 job training programs identified in a 2011 report by the Government Accountability Office. H.R. 3610 will offer greater clarity to local workforce leaders, provide better accountability, and foster an out-come driven job training system.
"Current federal workforce education programs are hopelessly redundant and expensive, offering up unnecessary confusion and bureaucracy across 47 separate programs," said Rep. Foxx. "Americans are fed up with these endless layers of complexity in the federal government and this bill streamlines the byzantine workforce training system while making the programs more responsive and accountable to taxpayers."
The third part of the committee's reform effort is championed by Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV), who introduced today the Local Job Opportunities and Business Success Act (or Local JOBS Act, H.R. 3611). Rep. Heck's proposal will strengthen the role of America's job creators in workforce investment decisions and help workers receive training for jobs that are in demand. "Washington's one-size-fits-all approach to workforce training has failed our families and our communities," said Rep. Heck. "The Local JOBS Act emphasizes workforce training based on local business needs and streamlines the bureaucracy that has hindered progress on this critical issue."
"The proposals brought forward by Reps. Buck McKeon, Virginia Foxx, and Joe Heck will serve as the foundation for the committee's work to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act in the months ahead," continued Chairman Kline. "I want to thank my colleagues for their efforts on behalf of the nation's workers, job seekers, and employers."
BACKGROUND:
Local Job Opportunities and Business Success Act -
Local JOBS Act of 2011
With the nation's unemployment rate over 9 percent and millions of unemployed Americans looking for work, Congress must ensure that the nation's job training system can effectively and efficiently serve job seekers and workers in need of retraining. Too often, business-led local workforce investment boards responsible for carrying out employment and training activities are bogged down in bureaucracy, and cannot respond quickly and effectively to the changing needs of industry. Even with the nation's jobless rate, a number of businesses also report they are unable to find people with the right skills to fill them.
THE PROBLEM:
Access to effective job training opportunities and employment services is critical to building a more competitive workforce. Unfortunately, the nation's workforce investment system is failing to meet the needs of today's workers and employers. Federal requirements have left local workforce investment boards -- which are responsible for policy and oversight of area training and employment services -- mired in bureaucracy. As a result, the boards have difficulty responding to the changing needs of area employers. Despite an annual taxpayer investment of $18 billion for job training and employment services, employers still report difficulty finding workers with skills.
THE SOLUTION:
Congress must ensure the nation's job training system can effectively provide workers with the skills necessary to compete in the local workforce. Representative Joe Heck (R-NV) has introduced commonsense reforms to the nation's current workforce investment system. The Local Job Opportunities and Business Success (JOBS) Act of 2011 (H.R. 3611) expands the role of job creators in workforce investment decisions, provides greater flexibility to help local leaders better meet the needs of their communities, and ensures workers receive training for jobs that are in demand.
Key provisions within the Local JOBS Act of 2011:
* Creates a Dynamic, Employer-Driven Job Training System. The Local JOBS Act strengthens the role of America's job creators in our workforce investment system. The bill ensures two-thirds of workforce investment board members are employers. This will allow a greater understanding of the needs of local employers and help the board quickly identify and fill gaps in the workforce. The legislation also expands the functions of the board to provide greater engagement with employers in the local area.
* Expands Decision Making at the Local Level. The legislation eliminates more than 20 specific federal mandates regarding board representation, empowering local officials to determine the composition of the remaining board members. The local workforce boards will regularly conduct analyses of area workforce needs, including economic conditions, the knowledge and skills of workers, and existing workforce development activities. This information will enhance efforts to ensure programs are benefiting local workers and employers.
* Encourages More Job Training to Meet In-Demand Job Opportunities. To help our workforce keep pace with the ever-changing economy, the Local JOBS Act requires boards to reserve a portion of resources -- which are determined by the local board -- to spend directly on training. The bill also encourages local boards to partner with entities such as higher education institutions and economic development organizations to better develop job training programs that address the workforce needs of area businesses.