[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 12 (Wednesday, February 9, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 9, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
               SCHOOL-TO-WORK OPPORTUNITIES ACT, S. 1361

  Mr. CHAFEE. Madam President, yesterday the Senate adopted a 
substitute version of the School-To-Work Opportunities Act, S. 1361. 
This is a positive step in our efforts to develop a national strategy 
to train noncollege bound students in the job skills needed to keep 
America competitive. It is good news for our young people, who need the 
skills and training to market themselves in this tight economy. 
Moreover, it is good for industry, which is struggling with a skills 
gap that is hampering its competitive posture in the global 
marketplace.
  The School-To-Work Opportunities Act would establish a program of 
grants to States and to eligible private partnerships to implement 
school-to-work programs. The legislation emphasizes the need for active 
employer involvement in the training of our young people through the 
establishment of partnerships between educational and business 
interests. To be successful, a strong training program must include 
school-based learning, work-based learning and connecting activities 
that bring the two experiences together. S. 1361 takes a needed step in 
this direction by providing Federal guidance and direction to the 
States--not mandates.
  Madam President, I would offer only two additional observations. 
First, I was pleased Senator Thurmond and I were able to work out 
language with the managers of S. 1361 and the administration to drop 
the paid work requirement. This provision would have precluded many 
existing programs from participating in school-to-work partnerships 
that will result with this legislation. Not all programs in place today 
have paid work participation from employers. In fact, many employers 
lack the resources to make such a commitment, despite their willingness 
to provide critically-needed training to our young people.
  In my State, the Rhode Island Tech Prep Program is a partnership that 
includes the Community College of Rhode Island [CCRI], 32 secondary 
high schools and vocational technical facilities, and representatives 
from industry. This program serves 1,400 students, and has both a 
secondary and postsecondary component. While the high school component 
has no paid work participation, there is some at the postsecondary 
level.
  Given the lack of employers with the resources to satisfy a paid work 
requirement, Senator Thurmond and I felt this provision should be 
deleted. Again, I want to thank the managers of this bill, and the 
administration for working with us to remove this obstacle. With the 
acceptance of the Thurmond-Chafee amendment, programs like Rhode Island 
Tech Prep will be able to take full advantage of this new program.
  Second, I share Senator Kassebaum's concern about the proliferation 
of job training programs and the lack of a comprehensive strategy. As 
the distinguished ranking member of the Labor and Human Resources 
Committee correctly pointed out, we currently have some 154 separate 
training programs. While school-to-work is an excellent and needed 
step, it falls short of the real consolidation needed. It is my 
recommendation that we revisit this issue of consolidation to ensure 
the most effective use of our scarce budgetary resources.
  In the interim, I hope the waiver provisions contained in S. 1361 
will give States the needed flexibility to combine funds and 
consolidate activities where it is logical to do so.

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