Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved an amendment authored by Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) to boost funding for career skills training programs at community colleges to help workers displaced by COVID-19-related economic downturn and other layoffs.
The Axne amendment, which increases funding for these programs at community colleges to $105 million for the upcoming fiscal year, was added to the House appropriations bill that increases federal funding for job skills training programs at the U.S. Department of Labor by more than 10%.
“After a tough year of economic turmoil and labor market shifts, I want Iowa workers to have the support of their local educators to acquire new skills that could lead to a good-paying job and a successful new career,” said Rep. Axne. “I’m pleased to see my colleagues approve my amendment to increase grants for our community colleges to run these skills training programs, and I’m proud to add to the robust increase in support we’re seeing for these career training programs in this year’s budget. Since coming to Congress, I’ve been committed to ensuring that we support programs that recognize that a four-year college degree isn’t the only pathway to success in our economy. And after a difficult year, there is no better time to see this substantial increase in resources for these critical grants and programs.”
The House’s proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 budget for the U.S. Department of Labor includes:
- $3.1 billion for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act State Grants, an increase of $250 million over last year’s funding level.
- $1.83 billion for Job Corps, an increase of $81.4 million over last year’s funding level.
- $285 million for Registered Apprenticeships, a more than 50% increase over last year’s budget.
- $200 million for dislocated worker training, including $100 million set aside for dislocated worker training in community colleges – a level increased by Rep. Axne’s amendment.
This week, the House is considering appropriations bills to set funding levels for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2021.
The bills cover annual funding for the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Energy, Interior, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
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