Friday, May 29, 2009

Henderson, NV – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District participated in a field hearing today for the House Education and Labor Committee’s Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness Subcommittee.  The hearing, held at Nevada State College, examined ways to improve the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) in order to educate and retrain workers.  Below are her opening remarks as prepared.  Testimony from the witnesses is available here.

“Thank you, Chairman Hinojosa, for calling for today’s Congressional hearing to explore new innovations and best practices for the Workforce Investment Act.  It is an honor to host the Committee here in Henderson, especially on a topic that is so critical to Nevadans.

“Since the economic recession began in December of 2007, Nevada has endured a record number of foreclosures and an unemployment rate that is now in the double digits – the highest it has been in 25 years.  This Congress inherited a deep economic crisis that will not turn around over night.  We have already taken critical steps to put our nation on the path to recovery by passing a recovery package that will create or save millions of jobs, including 34,000 jobs in Nevada.  While recent economic statistics provide a small glimmer of hope that we are getting close to the bottom of this recession, with more than half a million jobs lost last month and Nevada still facing record unemployment, our work is far from done.  Creating jobs in Southern Nevada remains one of my top priorities and this Congress must take bold action to put Americans back to work.

“I am encouraged by the enthusiasm with which the Education and Labor Committee has taken on the task of reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act.  This important legislation is one of our many efforts to fix the economy, and I stand committed to work with my colleagues on the Committee and in the spirit of bipartisanship to take Nevada and our nation in a new direction.

“The Workforce Investment Act was designed to consolidate, coordinate, and improve employment, training, literacy, and vocational rehabilitation programs.  It provides job training and related services to unemployed and underemployed individuals and is the federal government’s primary support for Americans seeking assistance to obtain, retain, or change employment.  Today’s hearing will explore many topics including clean energy jobs, youth activities and services, training for health care professions, and vocational rehabilitation, or job training and placement for individuals with disabilities. 

“Thank you to everyone attending today’s hearing on the Workforce Investment Act; it is an honor to have you here.  Unlike many Nevada State Legislature hearings, at today’s hearing we will not be able to allow public comment.  However, for the Committee to be successful in reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act, Members of Congress must listen to a broad range of voices and ideas in addition to the testimony of today’s expert witnesses.  While those of you in attendance we will not be able to provide public comment today, I would greatly appreciate your input and will take your comments back to Washington and to the Education and Labor Committee.  Upon arriving today you should have received a handout with instructions on how to provide your comments, and I will look forward to reading your feedback.

“Thank you again to Chairman Hinojosa, to those of you in the audience, and to our distinguished panel of witnesses.  I look forward to an insightful and thought-provoking discussion today.”

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Tags: Education and Labor, Henderson, jobs, Workforce Investment Act