[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 107 (Thursday, July 10, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1137]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       SUPPORTING KNOWLEDGE AND INVESTING IN LIFELONG SKILLS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                      HON. CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 9, 2014

  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H.R. 803, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. I supported 
this legislation when it first passed the House last March, and I'm 
proud to stand here today as we vote to send to the President a 
bipartisan, bicameral agreement that will reform the nation's broken 
job training system and help put Americans back to work.
  This legislation makes the necessary reforms to make our job training 
programs more efficient and effective. The bill empowers local boards 
to customize the services they provide to better reflect their region's 
employment and workforce needs and aligns workforce training and 
development programs with the needs of the local economy and education 
level of applicants.
  Equally important, H.R. 803 takes important steps to ensure that 
Americans with disabilities have both the opportunity to develop the 
skills they need to succeed and have access to competitive and 
integrated workplaces. Too often, we overlook the fact that Americans 
with disabilities experience an unemployment rate that is double that 
of able-bodied Americans. More troubling is the fact that most of these 
Americans want to work and have the ability to work but don't have the 
opportunity. This bill starts to change the status quo. But, we can do 
more to empower all individuals with disabilities to fulfill their 
potential just like every American.
  Finally, I would like to thank Chairman Kline for his good work on 
this and all disability issues.

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