The Trump administration’s Department of Labor (DOL) has spearheaded a positive agenda to free businesses from burdensome government overreach. So it came as welcome news when Secretary Scalia made the decision to drop an Obama-era DOL lawsuit against Oracle after an administrative law judge found that DOL did not establish any of its claims and recommended dismissal of the case. Unfortunately, a ... Read more »
It’s been a busy news week, but one item hasn’t received the attention it deserves. The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) at the Department of Labor (DOL) issued guidance earlier this week regarding the use of “Pay for Performance” funds under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). What is WIOA? WIOA is bipartisan, bicameral legislation that streamlines America’s workforce... Read more »
On Monday, the House passed S. 1153, the Stop Student Debt Relief Scams Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill that will crack down on third-party debt collection scammers who exploit vulnerable students. The Problem Over 40 million Americans owe $1.5 trillion in federal student loan debt. Hundreds of malicious third-party debt collection companies are selling students on the notion that their company ... Read more »
During the Federal Student Aid office’s virtual conference held on Tuesday, Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos exposed the push for free college for what it is: a socialist takeover of higher education. Democrats have long pushed for free college at the expense of American taxpayers and students who are truly in need of assistance. Unlike Democrats, Committee Republicans and the Departm... Read more »
2020 has been a year of adversity. The strength of communities, businesses, and families alike have been tested in ways unseen before because of the coronavirus pandemic. We’ve witnessed frontline workers, job creators, and local community members step up in extraordinary ways to help our country heal. Throughout these difficult times, Committee Republicans remain committed to helping workers, job... Read more »
Tomorrow, the House will vote on H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020. At the expense of job creators and workers, H.R. 8294 doubles down on a flawed 80-year-old system, mandates union giveaways, and limits employers’ abilities to create apprenticeship programs that meet the unique needs of their workers. H.R. 8294 will close potential pathways to work hurting our nation’s economic r... Read more »
“Like coronavirus, the skills gap is mutating, in potentially dangerous ways.” The Financial Times hit the nail on the head with that line. In 2019, seven in ten employers reported talent shortages, according to a job placement firm. CNBC reported that’s “more than three times higher than a decade ago.” Unfortunately, COVID-19 has compounded this problem. One in five small businesses pointed to “l... Read more »
This week marks the sixth annual National Apprenticeship Week—a week dedicated to showcasing the opportunity and success apprenticeship programs have provided for workers and businesses across the country. The apprenticeship model arms students and workers with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in today’s global economy. Apprenticeships are needed now more than ever because millions of ... Read more »
The Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to improve our nation’s health care have centered around one overarching goal – empowering patients. Last week, President Trump announced a rule that includes pro-patient, pro-consumer provisions that will provide increased price transparency in our health care system. Last week’s rule, issued by the Department of Labor, the Department of Health and Human... Read more »
We all agree that the safety of our children must be prioritized when discussing reopening plans. Encouragingly, recent studies have found a minimal link between opening schools and COVID-19 cases. In fact, health professionals are pointing to mounting health consequences—due to school closures—for students who miss out on vital services provided by in-person instruction. NPR recently published an... Read more »
