[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 158 (Monday, September 14, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5574-S5575]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 690--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 2020 AS ``NATIONAL 
                     WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MONTH''

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. Enzi, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Young, Ms. 
Cortez Masto, Mr. Carper, Mr. Braun, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Hassan, Mr. 
Van Hollen, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Hirono, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Murphy, Ms. 
Rosen, Mr. Barrasso, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Manchin, Mr. 
Kaine, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. Duckworth, Ms. Smith, Mr. Cardin, Mr. 
Merkley, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Peters, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Scott of South 
Carolina, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Cramer, and Mr. Daines) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 690

       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 middle-skill jobs, which 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

[[Page S5575]]

     training at that level, creating a discrepancy that may limit 
     growth in changing industries such as health care, 
     manufacturing, and information technology;
       Whereas 76 percent of business leaders say greater 
     investment in skills training would help their businesses;
       Whereas, during the first 6 months of 2020 in the United 
     States--
       (1) tens of millions of individuals filed for unemployment 
     benefits;
       (2) more than 50 percent of job losses were concentrated 
     among workers earning less than $40,000 per year; and
       (3) workers with a high school diploma or a lower level of 
     educational attainment were displaced from jobs at nearly 3 
     times the rate of workers with a bachelor's degree;
       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 fill jobs 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 are low-income;
       (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 
     2,500 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 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 2018, programs authorized under the Workforce 
     Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.)--
       (1) served nearly 6,000,000 young people and adults;
       (2) exceeded employment targets across all programs; and
       (3) helped more than 1,500,000 individuals, including 
     English language learners, gain skills and credentials to 
     help the individuals succeed in the labor market;
       Whereas State programs established under the Wagner-Peyser 
     Act (29 U.S.C. 49 et seq.)--
       (1) ensured that more than 5,400,000 unemployed workers, 
     including more than 500,000 veterans, had access to career 
     services through American Job Centers in 2018; and
       (2) are a foundational part of the workforce development 
     system;
       Whereas workforce development programs will play a critical 
     role in addressing the expected 2,400,000 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 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) served approximately 12,500,000 high school and college 
     students between 2018 and 2019;
       Whereas there are more than 500,000 registered apprentices 
     in the United States, and there is growing and bipartisan 
     support for expanding 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 2020 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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