Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
With two years of private-sector job growth, there are signs that the nation’s economy is on the road to recovery. Despite the improved economy, more than 13 million Americans remain unemployed, 40 percent of whom have been looking for work for six months or more. At the same time, many employers in health care, advanced manufacturing, and other high-growth sectors report that they cannot find the skilled workers needed to fill up to 3.5 million current job openings across the country.
That’s why the current workforce investment system needs to be modernized to assist these out-of-work Americans, including the long-term unemployed, acquire the skills that growing industries desire. Real investments in our workforce are not only critical for maintaining momentum for the current recovery, but also for our long term global competitiveness.
The Workforce Investment Act of 2012 (H.R. 4227) – introduced by Reps. John Tierney (D-MA), Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX) and George Miller (D-CA) – will improve the nation’s workforce investment infrastructure, focusing on finding workers jobs and careers through strategic partnerships with in-demand sector employers, community colleges, labor organizations, and non-profits.
The Democratic approach to WIA reauthorization is driven by three core principles:
- Streamlining and improving workforce investment system programs.
- Strengthening workforce investment system accountability.
- Promoting innovation and best practices within the workforce investment system.
Learn More About the Workforce Investment Act of 2012 (H.R. 4227)
Read Letters of Support for the bill
Read letters of opposition to or concern with the Republican WIA bill, H.R. 4297
Democratic Members Introduce WIA Modernization Legislation
Audio of Press Conference at Introduction of WIA Modernization Legislation