|
|
| |
| Foxx Report |
|
|
On Thursday the House approved bipartisan legislation to strengthen career and technical education. H.R. 2353, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, updates federal policies to help more students gain the knowledge and skills they need to compete for in-demand jobs.
Specifically the bill empowers state and local community leaders by simplifying the application process for receiving federal funds and providing more flexibility to use federal resources to respond to changing education and economic needs. It also improves alignment with in-demand jobs by supporting innovative learning opportunities, building better community partnerships and encouraging stronger engagement with employers. Additionally the legislation increases transparency and accountability by streamlining performance measures to ensure these programs deliver results, empowering parents, students and stakeholders with a voice in setting performance goals and evaluating the effectiveness of local programs. Finally it ensures a limited federal role by reining in the secretary of education’s authority, limiting federal intervention and preventing political favoritism.
All education is career education. Our nation’s career and technical education programs prepare many Americans to enter the workforce with the skills they need to succeed and help close our nation’s skills gap. This bipartisan bill opens the door for more innovation in workforce development with the help of community leaders, educational institutions and private business. We must continue to promote demand-driven workforce development that aligns education with the needs of employers who are anxious to hire American workers.
Accelerating Individuals into the Workforce
Today the House passed bipartisan legislation that encourages employer-led partnerships with state and local agencies to hire recipients from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. H.R. 2842, the Accelerating Individuals into the Workforce Act, will provide recipients with highly-valued work experience and on-the-job training, including apprenticeships.
The bill includes language I authored to encourage the demonstration projects created under this bill to direct beneficiaries toward jobs in an in-demand industry sector or occupation, as identified by workforce boards in their states and local communities. If we want to help participants move from government assistance and hold a job, then we must set them on a path toward jobs and industries that will remain competitive in the evolving 21st century economy.
Strengthening Families and Communities
Today’s child welfare system focuses on using foster care as the ultimate solution – instead of keeping families together and delivering the best results for children. This week the House approved five bipartisan bills that take action to improve the system so that it strengthens families and keeps more children safely at home, rather than in foster care.
H.R. 2742, the Modernizing the Interstate Placement of Children in Foster Care Act, reduces the time it takes to place foster children across state lines with a family member, foster parent or adoptive parent by requiring states to implement the National Electronic Interstate Compact Enterprise (NEICE) system for exchanging information. H.R. 2866, the Reducing Barriers for Relative Foster Parents Act, reinforces flexibility in foster care licensing rules to place more children with relatives rather than with foster parents.
H.R. 2847, the Improving Services for Older Youth in Foster Care Act, maximizes the availability of support for older foster youth making the transition to adulthood by updating the Chafee Foster Care program. H.R. 2857, the Supporting Families in Substance Abuse Treatment Act, allows children to remain with a parent who is in a residential-based family substance abuse treatment facility. H.R. 2834, the Partnership Grants to Strengthen Families Affected by Parental Substance Abuse Act, strengthens regional partnership grants to more effectively help communities address the impacts of substance abuse.
What’s Coming Up?
Next week the House will consider legislation to help law enforcement tackle illegal immigration. H.R. 3003, the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act, will hold back federal assistance to states and localities that are found to be in noncompliance with enforcement of national immigration law. H.R. 3004, or Kate’s Law, will establish fines and prison sentences for illegal aliens who re-enter the country after they have been removed by authorities.
Sincerely,
|
|
|
|
NOTE: Please DO NOT respond to this email as this inbox is unattended. To contact my office please click here
|
|
|
