The House Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee of the Education and the Workforce Committee recently held a hearing on strengthening the workforce system and improving outcomes for job seekers, employers, and taxpayers through the reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
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The Senate returned from the August recess on the 5th while the House is back in session on the 12th. Both chambers have a busy schedule ahead not only for the remainder of the calendar year, but certainly for the weeks ahead.
For many Americans, Labor Day marks the end of summer, the start of a new school year, and one last chance to enjoy the nice weather while gathered with family and friends over the long weekend. It’s also a time to take stock of the state of our nation’s workforce and how we can collectively work to improve employment and economic outcomes for all job seekers and career advancers.
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This week marks the first anniversary of the signing of the CHIPS and Science Act, the bipartisan legislation that invests in domestic semiconductor research, development, and manufacturing to promote America’s global competitiveness. The law also seeks to create job opportunities in high-growth industries and upskill workers to meet the demand.
READ MORE from CHIPS Act Anniversary Spotlights Good Jobs and Workforce Partnerships
As Congress enters the August recess, Members have a limited window to pass critical fiscal year 2024 (FY24) appropriations bills before the September 30th deadline. However, significant disagreements between the House and Senate on funding levels are putting the future of essential programs of importance to Goodwill and the people we serve in jeopardy.
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This week, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted to advance its Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill. The annual spending measure proposes funding levels for many of the federal workforce development programs that help support the training and employment services offered by local Goodwill® organizations.
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Initially announced by First Lady Jill Biden in May at an invite only event attended by Goodwill Industries International, the Biden administration has begun hosting kickoff events for Workforce Hub cities. The hubs will bring together employers, labor, worker groups, community colleges, k-12, NGOs, and local governments to create new sectoral partnerships to scale quality training pathways to ensure a diverse and skilled workforce can meet the demand for labor. The first five hubs include: Baltimore, MD; Phoenix, AZ; Columbus, OH; Pittsburgh, PA; and Augusta, GA. There are plans to replicate the work with partners across the country.
Congress returned to DC following a two-week recess around the 4th of July and there are few legislative days left before they break again for the August recess. Both chambers have long lists of priority legislation that they would like to advance before they depart.
The House Education and Labor Committee recently held a hearing titled “Competencies Over Degrees: Transitioning to a Skills-Based Economy” that examined how federal policies could help facilitate skills-focused education and hiring. In her opening statement, Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) argued for building up alternative pathways for learning and skills attainment, as well as prioritizing skills-based hiring across industry sectors and occupations.
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Goodwill Industries International (GII) representatives joined other stakeholders for a Nonprofit Partnerships Summit at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Officials from the Commerce Department and other federal agencies shared information about their programs, resources, technical assistance, and funding opportunities for nonprofit partners to explore.
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The lack of affordable high-speed internet service in many households has made it difficult for millions of Americans to access virtual learning, find jobs, and participate in the digital economy. Data from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration shows that about one in five U.S. households have no home internet connection. Moreover, historically underserved populations and communities are most acutely impacted by the nation’s digital divide. The Pew Research Center finds that around 40 percent of adults with lower incomes do not have home broadband service or a computer, one quarter of black teenagers say they are at least sometimes unable to complete their homework due to a lack of digital access, and 25 percent of adults ages 65 and older report never going online.
READ MORE from Join the Affordable Connectivity Week of Action
A group of bipartisan lawmakers including Reps. Blake Moore (R-UT), Danny Davis (D-IL), Michele Steel (R-CA) and Chris Pappas (D-NH) recently introduced the Charitable Act (HR 3435) in the House. An identical version of the Senate bill (S 566), the bill would allow all taxpayers, including non-itemizers, to deduct up to one-third of the value
