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Larson Applauds Bipartisan Passage of Workforce Development Act

July 9, 2014

Washington - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 803, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA):

“I applaud my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for coming together to reinvest in our country’s best resource – our workforce," said Larson. "By retaining flexibility and dedicated funding to respond to both regional needs and employers, this legislation will help us in our fight to provide job-seekers with the opportunity to achieve the simple dignity of meaningful employment.

"As Connecticut and the First District bring together our manufacturing, aerospace, health care, and financial industries with universities and community colleges dedicated to overcoming the skills gap, we are quickly becoming a hub of innovation for the region and the country. With passage of this bipartisan measure, we are strengthening that effort in our state and will help keep our nation's workforce competitive in the 21st century."

“We believe this bill will open doors for innovation in the workforce system and better alignment with job creation strategies to produce more impactful outcomes, so that we can get people back to work, efficiently, with the skills businesses need today and in the future," said Thomas Phillips, President and CEO of Capital Workforce Partners.

This bill reauthorizes and reforms career development programs to get Americans back to work and prepare the incoming generation of the workforce to succeed. WIOA will create:

  • A more efficient workforce development system by eliminating duplicative federal programs;
  • State and local boards that are more responsive to the needs of regional employers and the tools to help job-seekers develop those in-demand skills/credentials;
  • Better outreach for individuals with disabilities and disconnected youth seeking educational or vocational opportunities; and
  • More support for Connecticut’s long-term unemployed and aging workforce.

WIOA has already passed the Senate and the President is expected to sign it into law shortly.

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