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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. House Education and Labor Committee Senior Republican Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) today called on Democrats to enact comprehensive job training reform, saying it was the most effective step that could be taken to assist job seekers and workers in need of retraining. McKeon plans to offer a job training reform proposal as an amendment to the “Early Warning and Health Care for Workers Affected by Globalization Act,” to be considered today by the Committee.

“Earlier this month, Republicans unveiled a comprehensive roadmap for reforming both job training and higher education.  The Higher Education Act and Workforce Investment Act each play a critical role in keeping Americans competitive by developing the skills and knowledge necessary in a changing economy.  Unfortunately, Democrats have not offered proposals to strengthen either of these critical programs,” said McKeon.

The bill scheduled for consideration today purports to assist workers affected by globalization, yet it does nothing to renew job training programs that help workers who have lost their jobs to retrain and find new opportunities, McKeon noted.

“Instead of offering proactive solutions that will allow American workers to compete and thrive, this legislation does nothing more than layer on additional federal red tape for employers while offering only incremental steps for workers that would do nothing to help them adjust to the changing workplace,” said McKeon.  “In offering this amendment today, I hope to restart a dialogue about how we can improve the services available to assist dislocated workers.  This Committee has an obligation to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act.  I hope today we can make a firm commitment to work together and finally take action.”

NOTE:  On October 4, 2007, Education and Labor Committee Republicans unveiled a postsecondary education and training agenda aimed at strengthening American competitiveness. The Workforce Investment Improvement Act (H.R. 3747) would 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, 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.

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