FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2014   

Hudson Votes to Invest in Workforce

WASHINGTON- Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08), member of the Education and Workforce Committee, released the following statement after voting in favor of The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (H.R. 803), a bipartisan, bicameral agreement to reform federal workforce development programs.

“With millions of Americans unemployed and millions of jobs unfilled, it’s clear our job-training system is broken. We must invest in our workforce to ensure that folks have the skills they need to get the jobs that are out there.

“This legislation eliminates roadblocks that prevent workers from accessing job-training immediately and prepares them for the high-skilled jobs of tomorrow. Further, it consolidates and streamlines workforce development programs, protecting taxpayer dollars and giving more control to local officials who know the needs of their workforce much better than Washington bureaucrats.

“While I had hoped the Conference Committee would maintain all reforms found in the House-passed SKILLS Act, our job-seekers can’t afford the status quo. I will continue my work to get government out of the way of jobs and help unemployed North Carolinians access the skills needed to get back to work.”

In March 2013, the House passed the Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills (SKILLS) Act, a bill to help workers acquire the skills and education needed to succeed in today’s economy. On May 21, leaders in the House and Senate announced an agreement to ensure a more effective, efficient and accountable workforce development system.

More information on The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (H.R. 803) can be found here.

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