[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1100 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1100

Designating September 2018 as ``National Workforce Development Month'' 
and recognizing the necessity of investing in workforce development to 
   support workers and to help employers succeed in a global economy.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 28, 2018

    Ms. Bonamici (for herself, Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. 
  Barletta, Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Vela, Mr. 
Fitzpatrick, Mr. Brown of Maryland, Ms. Jackson Lee, Mr. Lowenthal, and 
Mr. Mitchell) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
              the Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Designating September 2018 as ``National Workforce Development Month'' 
and recognizing the necessity of investing in workforce development to 
   support workers and to help employers succeed in a global economy.

Whereas programs that provide work experience and support services that 
        correspond with classroom instruction, known as ``workforce 
        development,'' assist individuals with barriers to employment and help 
        them succeed in the labor market, and also provide employers in the 
        United States with the skilled workers needed to thrive in a global 
        economy;
Whereas collaboration among Governors, local governments, State and local 
        education leaders, workforce, and human services agencies, community 
        colleges, local businesses, employment service providers, community-
        based organizations, and workforce development boards provides for long-
        term, sustainable, and successful workforce development across 
        traditional sectors and emerging industries;
Whereas middle-skill jobs, those that require more than a high school diploma 
        but not a four-year degree, comprise 53 percent of the labor market, but 
        only 43 percent of workers in the United States are trained at that 
        level, creating a discrepancy that may limit growth in changing 
        industries such as health care, manufacturing, and information 
        technology;
Whereas in 2014, Congress reauthorized the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
        Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) with overwhelming bipartisan support in 
        recognition of the need to strengthen the focus of the United States on 
        the skills necessary to fill jobs in local and regional industries;
Whereas the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) 
        supports employment, training, and support services for individuals with 
        barriers to employment, including--

    (1) individuals who are low-income;

    (2) individuals who are out of work;

    (3) individuals with disabilities;

    (4) individuals who are older;

    (5) individuals who are facing homelessness;

    (6) youth who have aged out of the foster care system;

    (7) individuals who are English language learners, individuals who have 
low levels of literacy, and individuals facing substantial cultural 
barriers; and

    (8) individuals who were formerly incarcerated;

Whereas the more than 550 workforce development boards and 2,500 American Job 
        Centers are a driving force behind growing regional economies because 
        they provide training, resources, and assistance to workers who aim to 
        compete in the 21st century economy;
Whereas ongoing State and local implementation of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) provides unprecedented 
        opportunities to develop the skills of workers in the United States 
        through access to effective workforce education and training, including 
        the development and delivery of proven strategies such as sector 
        partnerships, career pathways, integrated education and training, work-
        based learning models, and paid internships;
Whereas in 2016, programs authorized under the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.)--

    (1) served more than 7,000,000 young people and adults;

    (2) exceeded employment targets across all programs; and

    (3) helped more than 1,300,000 individuals, including English language 
learners, gain skills and credentials to help the individuals succeed in 
the labor market;

Whereas State programs established under the Wagner-Peyser Act (29 U.S.C. 49 et 
        seq.)--

    (1) ensured that more than 5,400,000 unemployed workers, including more 
than 800,000 veterans, had access to career services through American Job 
Centers in 2016; and

    (2) support state efforts to offer intensive reemployment services;

Whereas workforce development programs will play a critical role in addressing 
        the expected 2,000,000 unfilled manufacturing jobs over the next decade;
Whereas community colleges and other workforce development training providers 
        across the United States are well-situated--

    (1) to train the next generation of workers in the United States; and

    (2) to address the educational challenges created by emerging 
industries and technological advancements;

Whereas participation in a career and technical education (referred to in this 
        preamble as ``CTE'') program decreases the risk of students dropping out 
        of high school, and all 50 States and the District of Columbia report 
        higher graduation rates for CTE students, as compared with other 
        students;
Whereas community and technical colleges operate as open access institutions 
        serving millions of students annually at a comparatively low cost;
Whereas the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 
        U.S.C. 2301 et seq.) supports the development and implementation of 
        high-quality CTE programs that--

    (1) combine rigorous academic content with occupational skills; and

    (2) served approximately 11,000,000 high school and college students 
from 2016 to 2017;

Whereas there are more than 500,000 registered apprentices in the United States, 
        and there is growing and bipartisan support for expanding earn-and-learn 
        strategies to help current and future workers gain skills and work 
        experience;
Whereas the federally supported workforce system and partner programs--

    (1) have helped rebuild the economy of the United States and provide 
increased economic opportunities;

    (2) provide a pathway into jobs that support families while helping 
businesses in the United States find the skilled workforce needed to 
compete in the global economy; and

    (3) support individuals who have been displaced by outsourcing and 
provide opportunities for workers to learn new skills to access better 
paying jobs; and

Whereas workforce development is crucial to sustaining economic security for 
        workers in the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) celebrates ``National Workforce Development Month'' and 
        recognizes that workforce development programs assist 
        individuals (particularly individuals with barriers to 
        employment) access the education, training, credentials, and 
        support services such individuals need to secure good paying 
        jobs, and allows employers to align training with the skills 
        such employers need;
            (2) affirms that maintaining funding and authorization for 
        the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et 
        seq.) is necessary for states to fully carry out congressional 
        reforms;
            (3) recognizes the importance of the recent reauthorization 
        of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 
        2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.), and supports further Federal 
        initiatives to promote workforce development; and
            (4) commits to increasing investment of Federal funds to 
        better address the employment and skills needs of workers and 
        employers.
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