[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 780 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 780

Designating September 2022 as ``National Workforce Development Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 20, 2022

Mrs. Feinstein (for herself, Mr. Young, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Scott of South 
 Carolina, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Casey, Mr. Daines, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. Hyde-
 Smith, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Braun, Ms. Klobuchar, 
 Mr. Padilla, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Coons, Mrs. Capito, Mr. 
    Lujan, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. Peters, Ms. Smith, Mr. Kelly, Mr. 
 Blumenthal, Ms. Collins, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Murphy, and Ms. Cortez Masto) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Designating September 2022 as ``National Workforce Development Month''.

Whereas investment in the education, training, and career advancement of the 
        workforce in the United States, known as ``workforce development'', is 
        crucial to the ability of the United States to compete in the global 
        economy;
Whereas collaboration among Governors, local governments, State and local 
        education, 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 the number of jobs that require more than a high school diploma, but not 
        a 4-year degree, is projected to increase by approximately 23 percent by 
        2030;
Whereas 76 percent of business leaders say greater investment in skills training 
        would help their businesses;
Whereas, in 2021, a record 47,400,000 individuals in the United States quit 
        their jobs, many of whom did so to improve their employment situation;
Whereas, as of July 2022 in the United States--

    (1) approximately 5,700,000 individuals are unemployed;

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

    (3) workers without postsecondary education and training are more 
likely to be unemployed;

    (4) more than \1/2\ of the jobs lost due to the Coronavirus Disease 
2019 (COVID-19) pandemic were by workers earning less than $40,000 per 
year; and

    (5) according to a recent poll, 44 percent of United States workers 
said their current job may be at risk due to new developments in technology 
and automation, while 50 percent said they would retrain for a career in a 
different field or industry if they had the opportunity;

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 effectively prepare individuals for employment 
        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 earn low incomes;

    (2) individuals who are out of work, including the long-term 
unemployed;

    (3) individuals displaced by outsourcing;

    (4) individuals living in rural areas or areas with persistently high 
unemployment;

    (5) individuals looking to learn new skills; and

    (6) individuals with disabilities;

Whereas the more than 550 workforce development boards and 2,400 American Job 
        Centers are a driving force behind growing regional economies by 
        providing 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, quality 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 2022, programs authorized under the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) are projected to serve more 
        than 5,000,000 young people and adults;
Whereas State programs established under the Wagner-Peyser Act (29 U.S.C. 49 et 
        seq.)--

    (1) ensured that approximately 2,500,000 workers, including more than 
146,000 veterans and more than 120,000 individuals with disabilities, had 
access to career services virtually and through American Job Centers during 
the 2020 program year; and

    (2) are a foundational part of the workforce development system;

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 compared to other students;
Whereas 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 (Public Law 115-224; 132 Stat. 1563) supports the development and 
        implementation of high-quality CTE programs that--

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

    (2) serve approximately 12,300,000 high school and college students 
across the United States;

Whereas there are approximately 600,000 registered apprentices in the United 
        States, and there is growing and bipartisan support for expanding 
        quality 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; and

    (2) provide a pathway into 21st century jobs that support families 
while ensuring that businesses in the United States find the skilled 
workforce needed to compete in the global economy; and

Whereas workforce development is crucial to sustaining economic security for 
        workers in the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates September 2022 as ``National Workforce 
        Development Month'';
            (2) supports Federal initiatives to promote workforce 
        development; and
            (3) acknowledges that workforce development plays a crucial 
        role in supporting workers and growing the economy.
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