Press Releases

Jun 25 2014

McConnell Supports Job Training Legislation; Applauds Senate Passage

In FY’14, Kentucky received more than $129 million to be used for education and job training services and help prepare individuals for today’s workforce.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell applauded passage of a bipartisan bill, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which promotes job training and workforce development programs. The legislation, which Senator McConnell supported, reauthorizes the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and eliminates and streamlines several ineffective and duplicative programs to make job training and workforce development systems more effective. It was last reauthorized in 1998.

“This bipartisan legislation will help ensure the job training programs in Kentucky and across the country are effective and provide the support people need to help get them back to work,” Senator McConnell said. “The Commonwealth, not unlike the rest of our nation, is facing a skills gap and too many people are unemployed or underemployed. While there are job openings in several sectors such as manufacturing, employers are having difficulty finding workers who have the skills to fill those vacancies. This bill takes the right steps to help strengthen job training programs to help fill these gaps and get people back to work in good paying jobs.”

In FY 2014, $9.5 billion was provided to WIA programs to be used for education and job training services and help prepare individuals for today’s workforce, including more than $129 million to assist citizens in the Commonwealth.

Greg Higdon, President & CEO of the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers said, “The Kentucky Association of Manufacturers supports the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), known as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). One of the key improvements to the WIOA is that it strengthens the alignment between local workforce areas/labor markets and economic development regions, which is needed to improve collaboration around workforce development in local Kentucky communities. This legislation will both help prepare workers for the workforce as well as helping manufacturers and other businesses find the skilled employees they need to compete and create jobs here at home. We thank Senator McConnell and the other members of the U.S. Senate who have supported this legislation.”

The bipartisan legislation is supported by various business and trade groups, including U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, Associated Builders and Contractors, National Youth Employment Coalition, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Associated General Contractors of America, National Association of Workforce Boards, National Governors Association, National Federation of the Blind, Youth Build USA, and Easter Seals.

The House is expected to vote on the measure in July.  Once passed in the House, the legislation will go to the President for his signature.