[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 689 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 689

Expressing support for the designation of September 2021 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 29, 2021

 Ms. Bonamici (for herself, Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. 
Brown, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Keller, Mrs. McBath, Mrs. Hayes, Ms. Adams, 
 Ms. Titus, Ms. Newman, Mr. Morelle, and Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                         on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for the designation of September 2021 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 due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, as of June 2021 in the United 
        States--

    (1) 9.5 million people remained unemployed;

    (2) unemployment rates for Black and Hispanic adults remained well 
above the rates for White adults; and

    (3) employment among workers with lower levels of educational 
attainment remained below prepandemic levels even as workers with higher 
levels of educational attainment have nearly returned to prepandemic 
employment levels;

Whereas programs that provide work experience and supportive 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, labor organizations, and workforce development 
        boards provides for long-term, sustainable, and successful workforce 
        development across traditional sectors and emerging industries;
Whereas jobs that require more than a high school diploma but not a 4-year 
        degree comprise 52 percent of the labor market, but only 42 percent of 
        workers in the United States have been able to access training at that 
        level, creating a discrepancy that may limit growth in changing 
        industries;
Whereas, in 2014, Congress enacted 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 and 
        in-demand industry sectors or occupations;
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 earn low incomes;

    (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;

    (8) individuals who were formerly incarcerated; and

    (9) long-term unemployed individuals;

Whereas the more than 550 workforce development boards and 2,400 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 2019, programs authorized under the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.)--

    (1) served nearly 6,300,000 young people and adults; and

    (2) exceeded employment targets across all programs;

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

    (1) ensured that more than 3,400,000 unemployed workers, including more 
than 212,000 veterans, had access to career services through American Job 
Centers in 2019; and

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

Whereas workforce development programs will play a critical role in addressing 
        the expected 2,100,000 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 many community and technical colleges operate as open access 
        institutions serving millions of students annually at a comparatively 
        low cost;
Whereas the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century 
        Act (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 12,500,000 high school and college students 
from 2018 to 2019;

Whereas there are more than 600,000 Registered Apprentices in the United States, 
        and there is growing and bipartisan support for expanding paid, on-the-
        job training 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 and lead to 
socioeconomic mobility 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 and provide 
opportunities for workers to learn new skills to access better paying jobs 
in a changing economy; 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) expresses support for the designation of ``National 
        Workforce Development Month'' and recognizes that workforce 
        development programs assist individuals, particularly those 
        with barriers to employment, in accessing the education, 
        training, credentials, and supportive services they need to 
        secure good paying jobs and allows employers to align training 
        with the skills they 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 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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