H.R. 6655 "A Stronger Workforce for America Act" - A bipartisan upgrade of WIOA
How the Stronger Workforce for America Act Will Boost Skills and Jobs
The American workforce is facing unprecedented challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, automation, and globalization. Millions of workers have lost their jobs or seen their incomes decline, while employers struggle to find skilled talent to fill critical roles in key industries. To address these challenges, Congress needs to update and improve the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the main federal law that supports workforce development programs and services.
That’s why a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced the Stronger Workforce for America Act (H.R.6655) in December 2023. This bill aims to make WIOA more responsive to the needs of workers and employers, and to foster innovation and accountability in the workforce system. Here are some of the key features and benefits of the bill:
- It upgrades the skills of American workers by dedicating 50 percent of the adult and dislocated worker funding toward upskilling workers through “individual training accounts” (ITAs) and on-the-job learning. ITAs are vouchers that workers can use to pay for training programs that match their interests and goals. On-the-job learning includes apprenticeships, internships, and other forms of work-based learning that combine instruction and practice.
- It creates an emphasis on employer-led initiatives that equip workers with the skill sets to fill jobs in critical industries and help the currently employed workforce upskill to avoid displacement and advance their careers. The bill encourages employers to partner with local workforce boards, education providers, and community organizations to design and deliver training programs that meet their specific needs. It also provides technical assistance to employers on implementing skills-based hiring practices, which focus on competencies rather than credentials.
- It ensures workers displaced from their jobs through no fault of their own can access robust skill development services, including through ITAs. The bill redirects an existing funding stream toward ITAs for displaced workers, and allows them to use their unemployment benefits to pay for training without losing eligibility. It also expands the eligibility criteria for dislocated worker services to include workers who are at risk of losing their jobs due to automation, trade, or natural disasters.
- It increases accountability, quality, and efficiency by streamlining the “eligible training provider list” to ensure programs are aligned with the skill and hiring demands of employers. The bill requires states and local boards to use data on employment outcomes, earnings, and customer satisfaction to evaluate and approve training providers. It also fully implements the performance accountability system to hold states and local boards accountable for achieving positive outcomes for program participants.
- It strengthens pathways to continued economic opportunity by emphasizing work-based learning for youth, codifying a program to help individuals released from incarceration transition back to employment, and enhancing workforce education programs at community colleges that align with in-demand jobs. The bill increases the minimum percentage of youth funding that must be spent on work-based learning from 20 to 30 percent, and requires local boards to provide career guidance and supportive services to youth participants. It also establishes a national reentry employment program that provides grants to states and local boards to help formerly incarcerated individuals find and retain jobs. Additionally, it authorizes a new grant program to support community colleges in developing and expanding workforce education programs that lead to industry-recognized credentials and degrees.
- It fuels innovation for a skills-based economy by creating a demonstration authority for targeted state and local boards to reimagine their workforce systems and providing technical assistance to employers on implementing skills-based hiring practices. The bill allows the Secretary of Labor to waive certain statutory and regulatory requirements for up to 10 state and local boards that propose innovative and evidence-based approaches to improve their workforce systems. It also directs the Secretary of Labor to establish a technical assistance center to help employers adopt skills-based hiring practices, such as competency assessments, skill gap analyses, and career pathways.
The Stronger Workforce for America Act is a timely and necessary legislation that will modernize and strengthen the workforce development system, encourage innovation, and offer career opportunities for millions of Americans. By investing in the skills and talents of our workers, and aligning them with the needs of our employers, we can build a more resilient, competitive, and inclusive economy for the 21st century.
For more information read H.R 6655
Lori G. Fisher, PMP, PCHRA Social Media Chair
