Press Releases

Today, Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) delivered the following statement, as prepared for delivery, at a markup of H.R. 8210, A Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026, a practical, targeted approach to modernizing our workforce system—focused on improving outcomes for workers, strengthening our economy, and ensuring accountability for taxpayer dollars:

"Today we are considering A Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026, legislation to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, or WIOA, the primary federal law governing our nation’s workforce development system. Each year, this system serves millions of Americans, helping connect workers to jobs and employers to the talent they need.

"But the system is not working as well as it should. Too often, it is fragmented, overly bureaucratic, and disconnected from the needs of today’s economy. Employers struggle to find skilled workers, while too many individuals remain stuck in programs that do not lead to real job opportunities. 

"That is why this reauthorization effort is so important.

"This bill takes a practical, targeted approach to modernizing our workforce system—focused on improving outcomes for workers, strengthening our economy, and ensuring accountability for taxpayer dollars.

"At its core, the bill gives states more flexibility to innovate and respond to the needs of their workers and employers, while holding them accountable for results. It expands access to high-quality, short-term training that is directly connected to in-demand jobs, so more individuals can gain the skills that lead directly to employment.

"It also strengthens employer engagement by supporting partnerships, work-based learning, and upskilling efforts that are tied to real job opportunities, not theoretical ones.

"At the same time, the bill begins to modernize how the workforce system operates by improving data and tools so workers can better understand the value of credentials and connect more effectively to available jobs.

"And as our economy evolves, this bill supports engagement with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to ensure workers are prepared for the jobs of the future.

"Just as importantly, it places a stronger focus on outcomes. It measures success by whether individuals are getting jobs, keeping jobs, and increasing their earnings.

"This bill also takes an important step to better align our workforce and education systems. It formalizes the interagency agreement by moving responsibility for adult education under Title II to the Department of Labor.

"This builds on work that is already underway and helps reduce fragmentation by bringing adult education closer to workforce programs to make it easier for individuals to move from basic skills to training to employment within a more coordinated system. While I am disappointed that our Democrat colleagues chose not to continue the bipartisan process from last Congress or engage on any of the other reforms in the bill, the need to prepare workers and learners for the future is too urgent to do nothing. 

"We chose to keep what works from the prior reauthorization effort, move forward, and deliver results. 

"At the end of the day, the choice before us is simple: we can defend an outdated status quo, or we can take meaningful steps to modernize our workforce system and improve outcomes for workers and employers.

"We chose to act.

"I urge my colleagues to support this bill."
 

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