Education and Skills
The changing economy is creating new kinds of work and opportunities, requiring policymakers to improve the role and structure of learning for students and workers. The skills needed for students and workers to achieve the American Dream have changed. Skills also have a much shorter shelf-life than in the past. Learning and training is becoming a lifelong necessity to keep up with changing technology and demands. We must implement policies to help students and workers adapt, including modernizing and expanding access to career and technical education, traditional educational institutions, and skills training to help workers upskill or change occupations.
New Democrats are committed to making higher education more accessible and affordable, fully preparing students for higher education and the workforce, and making higher education more effective, accountable, and inclusive. The New Democrat Coalition released Higher Education Priorities detailing how Congress can ensure Americans have access to one of the most powerful tools for upward mobility. The priorities represent a set of policy ideas that can bring quality education and training programs to more Americans by making higher education more accessible and innovative.
See more:
- New Democrat Coalition’s Higher Education Priorities
- New Democrat Coalition’s Future of Work Task Force
More on Education and Skills
New Democrat Coalition Lays Out New Economic Opportunity Agenda: A Future that Works
New Democrat Coalition announces policy priorities that will help make sure our workers are prepared for the jobs of the future
Today, New Democrat Coalition Chair Emeritus Ron Kind (WI-03) introduced the bipartisan Exploring the Future of Work Act, which would review the workforce challenges that exist due to technological advances. The bill will lead to policy recommendations to help make sure American workers are prepared and trained for jobs in the 21st century economy.
Washington, DC – This week, 48 Members of the New Democrat Coalition sent a letter to President Trump calling for a robust commitment to apprenticeship programs. The letter, led by Reps. Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02), and Donald Norcross (NJ-01), outlines the importance of apprenticeships and urges the administration to maintain strong levels of funding for apprenticeship initiatives across the country.
Today, the New Democrat Coalition launched seven policy task forces which will be led by New Dem issue area experts in order to develop policies to help Americans get ahead in a changing economy and make America more secure. The revamped task forces are charged with meeting with stakeholders and developing policy positions for the Coalition to advance in both the near term and long term. The Coalition will continue to assess the policy challenges that lie ahead and create additional task forces as needed.
Washington, DC – Yesterday Co-Chairs Jared Polis (CO-02), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), and Elizabeth Esty (CT-05) of the New Democrat Coalition 21st Century Education, Immigration, and Workforce Task Force sent a letter to leadership of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, outlining the New Dem Higher Education Priorities. The priorities represent a set of policy ideas that can bring quality education and training programs to more American
Michael Stratford, Education Reporter for POLITICO Pro, speaks with New Dem Vice-Chair Rep. Polis about the New Dem Higher Education Priorities, released September 15th, 2016. Read more below:
Heather Caygle, Congressional Reporter at POLITICO, provides a first look at the recently released Higher Education Priorities unveiled by the New Dems. Read more below:
Washington, DC – Today, the New Democrat Coalition released Higher Education Priorities detailing how we can ensure Americans have access to one of the most powerful tools for upward mobility. The priorities represent a set of policy ideas that can bring quality education and training programs to more Americans by making higher education more accessible and innovative.
New Dem Reps. Jared Polis (CO-02) and Ami Bera (CA-07) authored an op-ed about the need to make higher education more accessible and affordable for all Americans. They recognize education as the great equalizer and foundation of our economy and outline policies ideas to ensure success for future generations.
Today, the New Democrat Coalition hosted a meeting with Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker to discuss the Obama Administration’s efforts to create jobs and expand economic opportunities for all Americans. Secretary Pritzker expressed the Administration’s commitment to securing new trade agreements that will support economic growth and help create good, high-paying jobs in the U.S. The leaders reiterated their shared commitment to a robust trade policy to ensure that products shipped around the world are stamped ‘Made in the USA.’