House Republicans have been working to provide Americans A Better Way, moving forward with a bold policy agenda to tackle the country’s challenges. September was no exception, with the Committee on Education and the Workforce advancing positive solutions that will help individuals compete in the workforce, prepare for the future, and achieve a lifetime of success. Here are a few things we’ve been up to:
Preparing Students to Compete in the Workforce – Career and technical education has helped countless individuals compete for high-skilled, good-paying jobs, but more can be done to deliver students the tools they need to succeed in today’s workforce. That’s why Reps. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) and Katherine Clark (D-MA) introduced the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 5587). This bipartisan legislation—which the House passed earlier this month—will empower state and local community leaders, improve alignment with in-demand jobs, increase transparency and accountability, and ensure a limited federal role to help more students pursue successful and fulfilling careers.
Strengthening Retirement Security – Too many Americans are retiring without financial security and peace of mind. To help strengthen retirement security for hardworking men and women, Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN) released a discussion draft of a proposal to modernize the nation’s multiemployer pension system. The proposal would provide a new retirement option that will protect workers and retirees in traditional multiemployer pensions, improve the competitiveness of American businesses, and protect taxpayers.
Giving Vulnerable Children a Second Chance – All children should have access to the opportunities necessary to achieve their goals and build fulfilling futures. Unfortunately, many children don’t realize success is an option for them. Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) and Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) introduced—and the House passed—the Supporting Youth Opportunity and Preventing Delinquency Act (H.R. 5963) to help state and local leaders better serve at-risk youth and juvenile offenders and put them on the pathway to success. This bipartisan legislation includes reforms that will benefit communities across the country and give some of our most vulnerable children a second chance to turn their lives around.
Helping More Americans Pursue Higher Education – A quality education is crucial to success, but our costly, bureaucratic, and outdated higher education system is leaving too many Americans behind. At The Atlantic’s Next America Forum event, “The Changing Face of Higher Education,” Chairman Kline discussed steps the committee is taking to make it easier for more Americans to earn a college degree. Passed by the House in July, these bipartisan reforms will empower students and families to make informed decisions, simplify and improve the financial aid process, and enhance existing support and accountability for institutions serving minority students.
Providing Relief for Small Businesses, Colleges and Universities, and Nonprofit Organizations – Federal overtime rules need to be modernized to strengthen protections for workers and provide more clarity and certainty for employers, but the Department of Labor is going about it all wrong. This week, the House passed Workforce Protections Subcommittee Chairman Tim Walberg’s (R-MI) Regulatory Relief for Small Businesses, Schools, and Nonprofits Act (H.R. 6094), legislation to require a six-month delay in the effective date of the department’s new overtime rule. The bill will provide workers, employers, colleges and universities, and charitable organizations more time to prepare for dramatic changes resulting from the department’s final rule and help mitigate its harmful effects.
All of these reforms will provide Americans A Better Way to pursue successful, fulfilling lives and work toward a brighter future. And there’s more where these came from. September may be drawing to a close, but House Republicans know there is more work to be done.
