Third Way’s Statement on House Passage of A Stronger Workforce for America Act

WASHINGTON—Third Way issued the following statement from Gabe Horwitz, Senior Vice President for the Economic Program, on the passage of the bipartisan A Stronger Workforce for America Act in the House:

“There are 109 million working-age adults without a college degree in this country, and far too many of them don’t have access to the skills needed for good-paying jobs. That’s why Third Way is thrilled to see both sides of the aisle come together to pass A Stronger Workforce for America Act in the House of Representatives. This bill makes essential improvements to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and is a critical first step towards making the middle class more attainable for non-college America.

“This bill from Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) is a much-needed commitment to upskill American workers for the jobs of the future. We are also proud that the bill takes numerous ideas that Third Way and other advocates have long championed. For example, the bill would expand sector partnerships and increase the accessibility of workforce training programs. Re-entry employment opportunities would be bolstered, as would work-based learning for young adults and partnerships between employers and community colleges. The bill also makes meaningful strides towards supporting employers in skills-based hiring efforts. And an emphasis on accountability, quality, and transparency in training programs means workers can more easily acquire the high-quality credentials they need to access good-paying jobs.

“As public and private investments continue to pour into communities to improve roads and bridges, revitalize manufacturing, and transform our clean energy economy, it is imperative that we supply workers with the training they need to find good-paying jobs. This piece of legislation makes key reforms today while laying the foundation for more comprehensive efforts down the line. We applaud Chairwoman Foxx and Ranking Member Scott on the bill’s successful passage, and we encourage the Senate to quickly pass this essential piece of legislation.”