[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 689 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 689
Expressing support for the designation of September 2021 as ``National
Workforce Development Month'' and recognizing the necessity of
investing in workforce development to support workers and to help
employers succeed in a global economy.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 29, 2021
Ms. Bonamici (for herself, Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr.
Brown, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Keller, Mrs. McBath, Mrs. Hayes, Ms. Adams,
Ms. Titus, Ms. Newman, Mr. Morelle, and Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for the designation of September 2021 as ``National
Workforce Development Month'' and recognizing the necessity of
investing in workforce development to support workers and to help
employers succeed in a global economy.
Whereas due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, as of June 2021 in the United
States--
(1) 9.5 million people remained unemployed;
(2) unemployment rates for Black and Hispanic adults remained well
above the rates for White adults; and
(3) employment among workers with lower levels of educational
attainment remained below prepandemic levels even as workers with higher
levels of educational attainment have nearly returned to prepandemic
employment levels;
Whereas programs that provide work experience and supportive services that
correspond with classroom instruction, known as ``workforce
development'', assist individuals with barriers to employment and help
them succeed in the labor market, and also provide employers in the
United States with the skilled workers needed to thrive in a global
economy;
Whereas collaboration among Governors, local governments, State and local
education leaders, workforce, and human services agencies, community
colleges, local businesses, employment service providers, community-
based organizations, labor organizations, and workforce development
boards provides for long-term, sustainable, and successful workforce
development across traditional sectors and emerging industries;
Whereas jobs that require more than a high school diploma but not a 4-year
degree comprise 52 percent of the labor market, but only 42 percent of
workers in the United States have been able to access training at that
level, creating a discrepancy that may limit growth in changing
industries;
Whereas, in 2014, Congress enacted the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
(29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) with overwhelming bipartisan support in
recognition of the need to strengthen the focus of the United States on
the skills necessary to fill jobs in local and regional industries and
in-demand industry sectors or occupations;
Whereas the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.)
supports employment, training, and support services for individuals with
barriers to employment, including--
(1) individuals who earn low incomes;
(2) individuals who are out of work;
(3) individuals with disabilities;
(4) individuals who are older;
(5) individuals who are facing homelessness;
(6) youth who have aged out of the foster care system;
(7) individuals who are English-language learners, individuals who have
low levels of literacy, and individuals facing substantial cultural
barriers;
(8) individuals who were formerly incarcerated; and
(9) long-term unemployed individuals;
Whereas the more than 550 workforce development boards and 2,400 American Job
Centers are a driving force behind growing regional economies because
they provide training, resources, and assistance to workers who aim to
compete in the 21st century economy;
Whereas ongoing State and local implementation of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) provides unprecedented
opportunities to develop the skills of workers in the United States
through access to effective workforce education and training, including
the development and delivery of proven strategies such as sector
partnerships, career pathways, integrated education and training, work-
based learning models, and paid internships;
Whereas, in 2019, programs authorized under the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.)--
(1) served nearly 6,300,000 young people and adults; and
(2) exceeded employment targets across all programs;
Whereas State programs established under the Wagner-Peyser Act (29 U.S.C. 49 et
seq.)--
(1) ensured that more than 3,400,000 unemployed workers, including more
than 212,000 veterans, had access to career services through American Job
Centers in 2019; and
(2) support State efforts to offer intensive reemployment services;
Whereas workforce development programs will play a critical role in addressing
the expected 2,100,000 unfilled manufacturing jobs over the next decade;
Whereas community colleges and other workforce development training providers
across the United States are well-situated--
(1) to train the next generation of workers in the United States; and
(2) to address the educational challenges created by emerging
industries and technological advancements;
Whereas participation in a career and technical education (referred to in this
preamble as ``CTE'') program decreases the risk of students dropping out
of high school, and all 50 States and the District of Columbia report
higher graduation rates for CTE students, as compared with other
students;
Whereas many community and technical colleges operate as open access
institutions serving millions of students annually at a comparatively
low cost;
Whereas the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century
Act (20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.) supports the development and implementation
of high-quality CTE programs that--
(1) combine rigorous academic content with occupational skills; and
(2) served approximately 12,500,000 high school and college students
from 2018 to 2019;
Whereas there are more than 600,000 Registered Apprentices in the United States,
and there is growing and bipartisan support for expanding paid, on-the-
job training strategies to help current and future workers gain skills
and work experience;
Whereas the federally supported workforce system and partner programs--
(1) have helped rebuild the economy of the United States and provide
increased economic opportunities;
(2) provide a pathway into jobs that support families and lead to
socioeconomic mobility while helping businesses in the United States find
the skilled workforce needed to compete in the global economy; and
(3) support individuals who have been displaced and provide
opportunities for workers to learn new skills to access better paying jobs
in a changing economy; and
Whereas workforce development is crucial to sustaining economic security for
workers in the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) expresses support for the designation of ``National
Workforce Development Month'' and recognizes that workforce
development programs assist individuals, particularly those
with barriers to employment, in accessing the education,
training, credentials, and supportive services they need to
secure good paying jobs and allows employers to align training
with the skills they need;
(2) affirms that maintaining funding and authorization for
the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et
seq.) is necessary for States to fully carry out congressional
reforms;
(3) recognizes the importance of the Carl D. Perkins Career
and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.),
and supports further Federal initiatives to promote workforce
development; and
(4) commits to increasing investment of Federal funds to
better address the employment and skills needs of workers and
employers.
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