Committee Statements

Good morning, and welcome to the third district of Nevada. I am very pleased we are hosting the latest in a series of field hearings by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. I’d like to thank our witnesses for joining us; your testimony will be very valuable as we examine ways to improve job-training opportunities both here in the Silver State and across the nation.

It goes without saying that America is struggling with high unemployment and economic uncertainty. Jobs are scarce, and competition for employment is strong. In Nevada, more than one in 10 citizens is jobless. In fact, our state has had the highest unemployment rate in the nation for more than a year. Across the country, the unemployment rate has remained above 8 percent for 30 months, but here in Nevada unemployment has remained above 10 percent for 30 months. And although the national unemployment rate is 9.1 percent, here in southern Nevada it is 13.8 percent. This stark reality highlights the reason southern Nevada was chosen for this hearing.

As policymakers, we must do everything possible to foster a strong and competitive workforce. Right now, millions of out-of-work Americans are desperate for opportunities and assistance as they try to build a better future for their families. For these Americans, employment assistance and job-training services can be invaluable. Unfortunately, too many of these important programs are not working efficiently.

A recent report by the non-partisan Government Accountability Office found 47 separate and distinct job-training programs administered by 9 federal agencies. Of these 47 programs, 44 overlap, offering similar services to the same disadvantaged workers. Despite the $18 billion price tag for these programs, very few have been evaluated for effectiveness. There is an obvious need to reduce costs and streamline support in federal workforce training services.

In an effort to provide better support to the state’s struggling workforce, the Southern Nevada Workforce Investment Board, also known as Workforce Connections, recently took steps to engage with the local business community. This burgeoning relationship helps Workforce Connections ensure effective job training is available for employment in the region’s high-growth job sectors, including healthcare and renewable energy. The advice the board solicits from employers enhances the services offered, improves job placement opportunities, and encourages a more strategic and effective use of taxpayer resources.

The efforts underway in Southern Nevada can serve as a guideline as we work to modernize the Workforce Investment Act, and that’s why members of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce are here in Las Vegas today. We want to hear from business and community leaders about the local economic climate and the workforce’s needs. We want to learn from employment and job-training officials about the ways they are helping job seekers, and where they see a need for improvement.

As we work to build a stronger, more competitive workforce, ensuring access to effective job-training opportunities and employment services is critical. Your thoughts and insight will help us modernize federal job training programs to ensure they are more effective, more constructive, and more resourceful in the future. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.