Today, America Achieves and 17 other workforce-related nonprofits and local, business-led regional impact groups involving small and medium sized businesses released a joint letter calling on Congress to urgently pass the bipartisan, bicameral substitute to the House passed H.R. 6655, A Stronger Workforce for America Act. This bill is otherwise known as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Reauthorization.
First signed into law in 2014, WIOA is the primary federal law that funds and authorizes our nation’s workforce development system providing career and skilling opportunities to adults, dislocated workers and youth.
The proposed reauthorization includes key provisions that the coalition believes can help states and local communities address these challenges — and modernize and align the program to better meet the needs of workers and employers alike. Specific provisions of the reauthorization that the coalition supports include:
People and employers in communities across the U.S are experiencing a profound shift to an innovation and knowledge economy. With automation, digitalization, and other trends poised to further disrupt the labor market, it is more important than ever to help many more Americans have pathways to good jobs with upward mobility — and to align the supply of talent to in-demand good jobs. The coalition welcomes public and private efforts that effectively address these important nationwide challenges.
The bipartisan reauthorization of WIOA is a chance for Congress to play a role in helping communities and states to address critical skills gaps, empower displaced workers, and promote economic mobility while driving national competitiveness.
America Achieves is a leading nonprofit organization that supports a national network of communities and states that are working to ensure every American has a clear path to a good job with upward mobility.
The full text of the letter can be found here.
The full list of signatories is below:
Director of Policy Advocacy
