Giving the control to the local level is also extraordinarily important. The suits in Washington don't have all the answers… The SKILLS Act gives a great deal more autonomy at the local level…The status quo is not an option.– Rep.
Visit to Community College Highlights Urgent Need for Workforce Development Reform House Republicans discuss #SKILLSAct with workforce development leaders
House Republicans today visited a workforce development center at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) to discuss the need to reform the nation’s broken employment education system.
House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN), Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC), and Representative Susan Brooks (R-IN) listened to NOVA officials explain the challenges they face under the current workforce investment system and the ways the SKILLS Act (H.R. 803) will help prepare workers and students for today’s in-demand jobs.
Watch a video of remarks from the members and community college leaders and read highlights below:
On connecting workers with available jobs:
We are trying to streamline things and make it so people that are out of work, desirous of changing a career, wanting to access some of these jobs that need technical training can do so. And that’s plain and simple the goal.– Majority Leader Cantor
On clearing up the current job training maze:
We listened to the President of the United States when he said we need to clear this maze in the federal workforce training system and make it simpler… Our bill empowers [community colleges and education leaders] to more efficiently, effectively, and rapidly take people who need the skills and training and get them those skills so they can go to work.– Chairman Kline
On empowering local workforce development leaders:
Giving the control to the local level is also extraordinarily important. The suits in Washington don’t have all the answers… The SKILLS Act gives a great deal more autonomy at the local level…The status quo is not an option.– Rep. Foxx
On strengthening the role of community colleges:
I am pleased to be a part of this bill [that] we hope will… give community colleges the standing they deserve in the workforce investment system. Not just to be seen as another vendor providing services, but to be seen as the true resource that they are with the skills, the faculty, and the staff providing these services.– Rep. Brooks
NOTE: The House is expected to vote on the SKILLS Act tomorrow. Watch the debate here.
