[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 57 (Wednesday, May 8, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S4057]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THE SECTORAL MARKET ASSESSMENT FOR REGIONAL TRAINING ENHANCEMENT AND 
                           REVITALIZATION ACT

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to speak on a bill that 
Senator Cantwell and I introduced yesterday that will make it easier 
for States and localities to secure meaningful work for dislocated 
workers. Senator Cantwell is a true advocate for unemployed workers and 
for economic development, and it has been a pleasure to work with her 
on this and other initiatives designed to strengthen our workers and 
our communities.
  This is designed to increase the ability of States and local 
workforce investment boards, under the Workforce Investment Act, WIA, 
to match trained workers with productive jobs and also to create 
systematic change in a targeted industry or occupation. Our bill 
creates a three-step process for States and local workforce boards to 
accomplish this goal:
  The first step involves a study. Using the latest labor market and 
economic information, States or local workforce boards will prepare 
detailed assessments of local areas that identify the gaps between the 
expected and demand and supply of labor in industry sectors. The second 
step involves plan. Local workforce boards will join with partners from 
industry, labor, and the economic development and training sectors to 
develop comprehensive plans for implementing the assessments, in order 
to fill the gap between supply and demand. The third and final step 
involves grants. The local boards will make seed grants for training 
individuals to meet the demand for workers in certain industries.
  In my home State of Maine, I have worked with local workforce boards, 
regional technical colleges and high schools, businesses, workers and 
community leaders to develop training programs that focus on particular 
market sectors within a particular region. I secured federal 
appropriations for programs to train workers in the metal trades in 
northern and western Maine. Today, dislocated workers in Aroostook 
County and Rumford, Maine are being trained as metal workers.
  I also secured funding for a training pilot project in the Central 
Maine area that will introduce a photonics curriculum in the regional 
technical high school to train students for careers in the growing 
field of photonics. This year I am hopeful that a request to fund a 
program targeted at training in the health care area in Southern Maine 
will be granted.
  This bill takes an innovative approach and provides tools to states, 
localities and regions to implement the provisions of the Workforce 
Investment Act more effectively. By retraining dislocated workers, we 
give them access to productive and well-paying work. We also make our 
workforce stronger to face the challenges of the global marketplace.

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