Legislation would fund programs that retrain displaced workers for health care professions

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson today introduced the Community-Based Health Care Retraining Act, legislation that would fund programs to retrain displaced workers for careers in health care jobs.  The Community-Based Health Care Retraining Act would amend the Workforce Investment Act to provide $25 million in funding for qualifying community partnerships to create retraining programs or expand those already in existence.

“Displaced workers in the manufacturing, construction and service sectors need jobs, particularly now, during the most severe economic downturn in decades,” Congresswoman Johnson said.  “While some industries continue to contract, the health services sector remains robust.  Funding programs that retrain workers for the health care professions is not only the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do.”

Congresswoman Johnson’s bill is a companion bill to S. 1173, which Senator Russell Feingold introduced in June.  Congresswoman Johnson also introduced the Community-Based Health Care Retraining Act in the 110th Congress.

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and a senior member of the Science Committee. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which, includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla.