Washington, D.C. – A major jobs-training bill, the bi-partisan AMERICA Works Act authored by Congressman Walt Minnick, was debated on the House floor today without opposition. A vote is expected later this week.
The bill makes sure workers receive education that is in demand from American industries. The education includes certifications that are readily accepted by employers nationwide, allowing workers to find jobs anywhere in the country.
“American workers are the best in the world,” Minnick told his colleagues (full statement pasted below). “They are resilient, innovative and hardworking. But they must be properly trained and have widely accepted and understood credentials making them employable anywhere.”
The legislation creates an essential link between workers seeking jobs and skills sought by employers.
“This bill will ensure that federal job training assistance is used to provide hard working Americans desiring training with the certificates, degrees and credentials American industry needs to fill the sophisticated technical jobs available in today’s business world,” Minnick continued.
This bill, HR 4072, is titled the American Manufacturing Efficiency and Retraining Investment Collaboration (AMERICA) Works Act. Cosponsors include Reps. Mike Simpson of Idaho, Frank Kratovil of Maryland, Debbie Halvorson of Illinois, Bobby Bright of Alabama, Allen Boyd of Florida, John Barrow of Georgia, Kathleen Dahlkemper of Pennsylvania, Baron Hill of Indiana, Christopher Lee of New York and Mike McIntyre of North Carolina.
Minnick crafted the bill with input from a coalition of leaders in manufacturing, business, labor and education. The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) has identified the bill as a top priority.
“... this bill stands out for embracing an important approach toward training that offers opportunities both to manufacturers and manufacturing employees,” reads a NAM press release that exhorts the House and Senate to pass the bill.
Key Points on the AMERICA Works Act:
• The Act directs use of public funds for designated programs in the Carl D. Perkins Vocational-Technical Education Act and Workforce Investment Act to develop necessary skills.
• It amends the Perkins Act by assuring programs of study that receive federal funds result in nationally portable, industry-recognized credentials within the career and technical education section of the bill.
• It amends the Training Activities and Youth Activities sections of WIA to give priority to training programs resulting in nationally portable, industry-recognized credentials.
• It brings local manufacturers in closer contact with local training programs and builds the credibility of publicly funded training programs with employers all over the country.
Walt Minnick’s Statement on the AMERICA Works Act read on the House Floor:
Madam Speaker:
I rise in support of H.R. 4072. The AMERICA Works Act. This bill would direct the use of already appropriated funds within the Carl Perkins Vocational–Technical Education Act to prepare American workers with the skills necessary to qualify for the increasingly high tech jobs available in the 21st century. It would do so by making federal funds authorized in these programs available to obtain national industry-recognized credentials acceptable anywhere in the country.
Under this bill, this training would continue to be done by one-stop shops, technical schools and universities in coordination with companies and business groups. A welder trained in a junior college in Maryland would have a certificate qualifying him to work in a machine shop in Idaho. An AmeriCorps trained diesel mechanic in my state could get an auto mechanics job in yours.
American workers are the best in the world. They are resilient, innovative and hardworking. But they must be properly trained and have widely accepted and understood credentials making them employable anywhere. This bill will ensure that federal job training assistance is used to provide hard working Americans desiring training with the certificates, degrees and credentials American industry needs to fill the sophisticated technical jobs available in today’s business world.
I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan, common sense legislation.
I yield back the balance of my time