Education and Labor Committee Republican Leader Virginia Foxx (R-NC) issued the following statement after the Committee passed workforce development and retirement legislation:
“Education and Labor Committee Democrats keep missing opportunities to work across the aisle. These bills, however well-intentioned, do not work for workers, job creators, or retirees; not to mention, they hasten the creep of the federal government into the individual decisions of Americans. We should be trying to preserve self-government in this country, not expand the federal government’s control over the workforce or the retirement system. I hope my Democrat colleagues will reconsider these bills.”
H.R. 7309, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022:
Fails to protect taxpayers at a time of rampant inflation by expanding supportive services, which risks turning the workforce system into a welfare program, and opening taxpayer funding of WIOA up to fraud and abuse.
Pushes a radical left-wing agenda that promotes progressive gender ideology and critical race theory.
Expands federal control over workforce standards and limits the rights of job-seekers to determine worthwhile employment while expanding union representation on state and local workforce boards.
Makes Job Corps less accountable, a program with rampant safety, security, and performance concerns.
Makes damaging changes to the list of providers approved to offer skills education.
Overemphasizes the burdensome registered apprenticeship program and fails to expand access for job seekers to innovative work-based learning opportunities.
H.R. 7310, the Protecting America’s Retirement Security Act:
Makes it more difficult for retirees to withdraw their own money during emergencies and hardships.
Expands the role of the federal government in retirement planning.
Establishes new grant programs that direct taxpayer dollars to specific types of retirement plan programs over others.
Allows funds to be used on annual conferences and sent to unions and worker centers.
Fails to address the Department of Labor’s overzealous enforcement against employee stock ownership plans.
Forces automatic re-enrollment upon American workers who have already opted out.
