WASHINGTON –Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) spoke on the House Floor in support of H.R. 6655, A Stronger Workforce for America Act.T he bipartisan legislation provides essential updates and improvements to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act that will expand skills development and help put more Americans on the pathway to successful careers.
Chairwoman Foxx’s remarks (as prepared for delivery):
“Thank you, Ranking Member Bobby Scott, for your bipartisan work on behalf of America’s workforce, without which this bill would not be on the Floor today.
“Bobby and I decided on day one, while we will not always agree on every issue, we will work diligently in the areas in which we find common ground. It’s safe to say we both agree that workforce development is too important an issue not to get something done.
“Thank you to each and every Member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce. Due to their efforts, we were able to pass the bill through the Committee on a wide, bipartisan vote.
“Now, it is the turn of the full House.
“My fellow Members, A Stronger Workforce for America Act owes its bipartisan appeal to two main features: its principles and its promises.
“The principles of this bill are firmly rooted in increased efficiency, innovation, and accountability in the workforce system.
“A Stronger Workforce for America Act will bolster the efficiency of the workforce system by dedicating 50 percent of funding to upskilling workers. Skills are becoming the currency of the labor market and the key to unlocking career success, yet too few of the taxpayer dollars provided to the workforce system are being spent developing the skills of our workforce. By elevating skills development, this bill will deliver more opportunities for Americans to prepare for good-paying jobs.
“Moreover, this bill will give states more flexibility to innovate and to support employer-led initiatives. Empowering states and employers is the best way to ensure the workforce system is nimble and adaptive in the modern economy.
“Also, it will enhance the performance accountability system in the law that has suffered from nearly a decade of delayed implementation and low expectations, meaning states and local workforce boards will truly be held accountable for the labor market outcomes they produce.
“Efficiency. Innovation. Accountability. A Stronger Workforce for America Act rests on these shared, bipartisan principles.
“Now, for the promises.
“A Stronger Workforce for America Act is a bill for those who believe in the incredible, boundless potential of the American workforce.
“This is the American workforce that smelted the steel that built the engine that propelled man to the moon in a Saturn V rocket.
“This is the American workforce that has repeatedly dropped its tools and its livelihoods on a moment’s notice to go fight in service to our country.
"This is the American workforce that ‘put the world in our pocket’ when it created the iPhone—a transformational tool that’s revolutionized the way we communicate and enabled drones, smart homes, self-driving cars, and more.
“It is our constant duty—and our promise—to never forget, neglect, or discount the American workforce.
“American workers built this great nation. They deserve nothing but the best opportunity to succeed as rapid changes in the modern economy necessitate new skills in order to keep pace.
“Therefore, the legislation before us today should be seen in that light. It is a promise that as the economy changes we will always ensure that workers have an opportunity to gain the right skills for the job.
“Therefore, I urge passage of A Stronger Workforce for America Act.”
