Today, Representatives Andy Levin (D-MI), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL) led 45 House Members in calling on President Joe Biden to make workforce training a central part of his recovery agenda and include a $50 billion investment in the U.S. workforce system in the next recovery package.
The investment would help the more than 4 million people who are now classified as long-term unemployed after being out of work for more than six months. It is estimated that 7 million jobs may not return to the labor market after the COVID-19 pandemic. The economic consequences of the last year have exacerbated inequities, but even before the pandemic our economy was not working for many American families.
"Through the American Rescue Plan, your Administration has demonstrated the importance of returning the U.S. to full employment as soon as possible," the Members wrote. "But many workers will find that their pre-pandemic job is no longer there, and they may need more or different skills to rejoin the workforce… Building back better means restoring economic fairness with better wages, stronger benefits, and fair and safe workplaces."
The Members advocated for inclusion of the Relaunching America's Workforce Act, which would provide immediate relief by investing $15 billion in the workforce training system to help dislocated workers. They also called for a $35 billion workforce title in the upcoming infrastructure package to provide workers, especially those who have historically faced barriers to employment and those most affected by the pandemic, with the pathways and support needed to access good-paying infrastructure, manufacturing, and clean energy jobs. President Biden called for investing $50 billion in high-quality training programs as part of his "Made in All of America" agenda.
"Infrastructure investments have not always been paired with support for training and services that help individuals take advantage of new employment opportunities," the Members wrote. "Investments in our aging infrastructure are critical and the investments in our people who will repair and rebuild it are just as important. The transition to a clean energy economy will require training a new generation of workers in their communities. By directing these investments to employers that maintain robust labor standards and high-quality jobs, we can make sure that individuals can provide for themselves and their families."
The full letter can be found here. In addition to Levin, Bonamici and Wilson, the letter was signed by Representatives Alma S. Adams, Ph.D, Jake Auchincloss, Earl Blumenauer, Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D., Joaquin Castro, David N. Cicilline, Joe Courtney, Angie Craig, Peter A. DeFazio, Mark DeSaulnier, Debbie Dingell, Adriano Espaillat, Bill Foster, Jesús G. "Chuy" García, Raúl M. Grijalva, Jahana Hayes, Brian Higgins, Steven Horsford, Henry C. "Hank", Johnson, Jr., Mondaire Jones, William R. Keating, James R. Langevin, Barbara Lee,Teresa Leger Fernandez, Alan Lowenthal, Stephen Lynch, Kathy Manning, Lucy McBath, Joe Neguse, Marie Newman, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Ilhan Omar, Scott H. Peters, Mark Pocan, Tim Ryan, Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Jan Schakowsky, Mikie Sherrill, Adam Smith, Thomas R. Suozzi, Bennie G. Thompson, Paul D. Tonko, Lori Trahan, Nydia M. Velázquez, and Susan Wild.
Source:https://andylevin.house.gov/media/press-releases/levin-bonamici-wilson-lead-45-members-calling-50b-workforce-investment
