House Committee on Education and Labor
U.S. House of Representatives

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Republican members of the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor today unveiled a postsecondary education and training agenda aimed at strengthening American competitiveness. The plan includes reforms to the Higher Education Act (HEA) and Workforce Investment Act (WIA), statutes that play a critical role in fostering access to higher education and job training.

“The nation’s higher education and job training systems must be updated to meet the changing needs of students and job seekers,” said the Committee’s Senior Republican Member, Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA).  “The reforms we are proposing today will go a long way toward ensuring American competitiveness now and into the future.”

Committee Republicans introduced H.R. 3746, the College Access and Opportunity Act, and H.R. 3747, the Workforce Investment Improvement Act.  The legislation offered today builds upon reforms proposed by Republicans in recent years to expand college access, accountability, and affordability, and to strengthen and improve America’s job training system.

“The agenda we’ve introduced provides common-sense reforms that are long overdue,” stated Ric Keller, senior Republican on the Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness Subcommittee. “Our plans are good news for the workforce and good news for families making important choices about higher education.  Our comprehensive approach recognizes the fact that American competitiveness is dependent upon creative ideas in education and job training initiatives.”

The College Access and Opportunity Act

Republicans have long advocated for greater sunshine in order to empower higher education consumers; common sense reforms to student financial aid programs that will better serve changing student populations; and collaborative strategies to address rising college costs.  The College Access and Opportunity Act would achieve these goals and more, helping to turn the dream of a college education into a reality for millions of students and families.  A summary of the College Access and Opportunity Act of 2007 can be found online here.

The Workforce Investment Improvement Act

The Workforce Investment Improvement Act would help improve job training opportunities for Americans striving to get back to work by streamlining unnecessary bureaucracy, increasing cooperation among workforce development partners, allowing faith-based service providers to participate in the job training system, and promoting the development of regional strategies to foster economic development, expand employment and advancement opportunities for workers, and promote the creation of high-skill and high-wage opportunities.  A summary of the Workforce Investment Improvement Act of 2007 can be found online here.