Congressman Larson Introduces Bill To Train Workers For the Jobs of the Future

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 23, 2009

CONTACT: Emily Barocas/202.225.7295

CONGRESSMAN LARSON INTRODUCES BILL TO TRAIN WORKERS FOR THE JOBS OF THEFUTURE

Washington, DC - Today, Congressman John B.Larson (CT-01), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, along with morethan 15 other members of Congress, introduced legislation that will help trainour workforce for the jobs of the future and boost our economy. The CommunityCollege Technology Access Act will open the doors of community collegetechnology labs and training opportunities to the public in order to provideworkers who are lacking key computer skills the opportunity to attainthem.

Congressman Larson said, "By broadening their mission,community colleges have the potential to be a hub to train our workforce forthe jobs of the future. With this legislation we are helping them fulfill theirpotential and boost local economies around the country."

Community colleges can reach every corner of this countrywith more than 1100 campuses in rural, urban and suburban areas.

Congressman Larson's legislation is based on a proposaldeveloped by Dr. Rob Shapiro, Chair of NDN's Globalization Initiative, to useour community colleges as efficient, cost-effective training grounds for ourworkforce.

"Chairman Larson has again shown that he understandsthe need to provide America's workers with the skills to succeed in thecompetitive global economy, particularly during these tough economictimes," Shapiro said. "The Community College Technology AccessAct is a cost-effective investment that will help workers get ahead. Tens ofmillions of Americans graduated high school or even attended college in theyears before computers and the Internet became ubiquitous. Many of them are nowentering, or are already in, what should be their most productive and highest-earning years. But without basic information technology skills, many workersare trapped in dead-end jobs, and as non-wired employment becomes obsolete,they face being locked out of the mainstream workforce entirely."

The legislation would provide funding to community collegesthat offer technology training and open their computer labs to the public forat least 30 hours each week. The legislation has the support of theAssociation of Community College Trustees and the American Association ofCommunity Colleges. Then- Senator Barack Obama included a similar idea aspart of his platform during the campaign for the presidency.

A recent poll shows that only 53 percent of low-incomeAmericans use the internet or email. Without the skills to use thistechnology, these workers are boxed out of opportunities in the high growthindustries that will lead the country out of this recession. By providingthem with training opportunities we are opening doors to fulfilling careers,while boosting our local economies.

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