News Articles

In Missouri and beyond, businesses stand eager to expand job growth, seek out new opportunities, and in the process, create better prospects for American workers. However, after eight years of Washington, D.C., policies that worked against employers, there’s a lot of regulatory red tape to clear out of the way. Read more »

The Higher Education Act of 1965 was promised to be a reliable pathway for students and families to receive a high-quality education and equip themselves with the skills needed to find a good-paying job. Read more »

Today, the House of Representatives voted to pass the budget. This is not only a major win for the American people, but it also signals that the road ahead is clear for the first comprehensive tax reform since 1986. A report from the Council of Economic Advisers found that American families can anticipate an average $4,000 annual wage increase under the Republican pro-growth tax framework. $4,000 is no small pay raise. With more wages back in the pockets of American workers and their families, it’s irresistible to start thinking of the possibilities. So as the finish line for tax reform comes into sight, ask yourself: what will your family do with an extra $4,000? Read more »

When Americans think of data breaches and cyber-attacks, names like Equifax come to mind. This and other recent high profile data breaches have made private and sensitive information vulnerable to identity theft as well as other cyber-crimes. Read more »

Let me begin by welcoming our witness panel and our guests today. Thank you for taking the time away from your important work to testify and help Congress better understand these workforce issues. I am especially grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the Members of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee to hold this joint hearing on developing our nation’s cyber wo... Read more »

The Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, chaired by Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), and the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection of the Committee on Homeland Security, chaired by Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX), today held a joint hearing on “Public-Private Solutions to Educating a Cyber Workforce”. At the opening of the hearing, Chairman Guthrie discussed the critical nature of strengthening public-private cybersecurity partnerships and educating today’s professionals in order to fill the existing cybersecurity skills gap. “Organizations in the public and private sectors are actively seeking skilled professionals to fill the numerous jobs available in the growing cybersecurity field, and are coming up short in the number of Americans able to fill these essential positions that ensure our American cyber-infrastructure is safe,” Chairman Guthrie said. “This skills gap is not unique to the cybersecurity sector,” the chairman continued. “Many other industries such as manufacturing and transportation are facing a shortage of skilled workers to fill good-paying jobs. However, when dealing with cybersecurity, the stakes are even higher because we are dealing with national security.” Read more »

On October 24 at 2 p.m., the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development and the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies will hold a joint hearing on "Public-Private Solutions to Educating a Cyber Workforce". The hearing will take place in room 210 of the House Capitol Visitor's Center. The joint subcommittee hearing will examine best practices for cybersecurity workforce development to narrow the gap of qualified cybersecurity professionals. Witnesses Name Position Organization Location Name Position Organization Location Name Position Organization Location Name Position Organization Location For more information and to view a live webcast, click here. Read more »

After years of slow wage growth, how can we turn things around for America’s workers? The answer isn’t more mandates and big-government policies. That’s what we got during eight years of the Obama administration, and the results weren’t good for anybody. Read more »

5 Reasons Small Businesses Need Association Health Plans This week, Chairwoman Foxx joined President Trump at the White House as he signed an executive order to allow small businesses to join together through association health plans (AHPs). House Republicans have been fighting for this type of free-market reform for years. In fact, the Committee on Education and the Workforce advanced and the House passed legislation earlier this year to expand access to affordable health care for small business employees through AHPs. The President’s action is certainly a victory for small businesses and their employees, and here’s why: 1. 56,800,000. That’s the number of workers employed by a small business, representing nearly half of the private-sector workforce. And it’s the number of people who stand to benefit from association health plans. 2. Small businesses need more options. Obamacare has hit small businesses especially hard, leaving them with fewer choices. As one small business owner explained to Congress: “As a small business owner, I recall the days before the ACA when we would receive a 2-inch notebook that contained multiple quotes from different health insurance companies. Now, our options are listed on a single legal sized sheet of paper.” 3. Small businesses face soaring health care costs. According to the National Federation of Independent Business, the cost of health care was the top concern to small businesses in 2016. Because of rising costs, many small businesses have been forced to stop providing coverage to their employees. In fact, since 2008, the share of small businesses with fewer than 10 employees offering health coverage has declined by 36 percent. 4. Jobs are at stake. Because of soaring costs under Obamacare, small businesses have lost 300,000 jobs and $19 billion in lost wages. At least 10,000 small businesses have closed their doors, according to the American Action Forum. 5. It’s about fairness. Due to their size and economies of scale, large businesses and labor organizations are able to negotiate for high-quality health care at a more affordable cost for their employees. Small businesses don’t have the same bargaining power. Relief is on the way. AHPs will make a real difference in the lives of millions of small business employees by leveling the playing field, expanding affordable health care options, and promoting a more competitive health insurance marketplace. Learn more here. Read more »

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) issued the following joint statement after President Trump signed an executive order to help expand affordable health care options for small businesses and their employees. Read more »