WASHINGTON – President Obama signed bipartisan legislation Tuesday that includes five innovative skills-training provisions from the Senate’s Manufacturing Jobs for America campaign.
U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), who leads Manufacturing Jobs for America, joined the President and Vice President at the White House for the bill signing. The bipartisan, bicameral Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) will reauthorize, streamline, and improve the nation’s workforce training programs for the first time since 1998. The legislation passed the House and Senate with nearly unanimous approval.
“To keep America competitive, we have to make sure our workers have access to effective and relevant job-training,” Senator Coons said. “The most in-demand skills vary by region and industry, and training programs need to reflect those diverse and evolving needs. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act will better align workforce training programs with local demand and ensure workers have the skills manufacturers are looking for. The bipartisan action taken in both chambers to pass this important bill is proof that Congress can still come together to get things done for the middle class. I hope we can deliver more innovative manufacturing bills to the President’s desk in the coming months.”
WIOA modernizes and strengthens workforce training programs by creating smaller, more strategic state and local workforce development boards and allowing them to tailor programs to meet local needs. The bill also eliminates 15 ineffective or underutilized programs to ensure resources are focused on the most effective initiatives.
“To maintain our place in the world, we need to keep the world’s most skilled workforce right here in America,” Vice President Biden said. “In order to thrive, their education and training has to be just as dynamic and adaptable as our economy.”
