Media Contact: Patrick Wright -- Patrick.Wright@mail.house.gov
Washington, D.C. — Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. helped pass the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act today to help Americans get the training necessary to enter or re-enter the workforce. The bill, H.R. 7309, provides $80 million over six years to train one million workers per year until 2028. It establishes a permanent Department of Labor program to help former prison inmates find jobs and sustainable careers and a jobs program for youth that would operate all year. The bill strengthens the Job Corps program and creates more established relationships between employers and community colleges to provide high-quality job training. In addition, the bill includes an amendment co-sponsored by Rep. Payne, Jr. to make communities affected by gun violence a high priority for job training and assistance from this bill.
“We need to make sure American workers are prepared for the jobs of the future,” said Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. “American job training is at a high-risk of falling behind other countries in how we train workers for jobs in communications, energy and other high-technology industries. I am proud the bill contains provisions to help Americans who were incarcerated get training to help them become productive citizens again. Also, I am pleased that our amendment prioritizes training for people in communities affected by gun violence so they can find stable careers that might assist their recovery.”
Original source can be found here.
