Platts Pushes Legislation to Help Job Creators Find Skilled Workers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – America’s job creators would get better access to skilled workers and some of our Nation’s most critical industries would have an opportunity to boost their competitiveness under a pair of bills being championed this week by U.S. Congressman Todd Platts (R-PA-19).  Introduction of these bills is part of Congressman Platts’ continuing effort to provide businesses the opportunity to create jobs and help strengthen our economy.

The AMERICA Works Act

The American Manufacturing Efficiency and Retraining Investment Collaboration Achievement (AMERICA) Works Act, introduced by U.S. Congressman Joe Donnelly (D-IN-2) and Congressman Platts, would prioritize existing federal workforce training funds for programs that include skills credentials sought by American industries.  This legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives during the 111th Congress but was not considered by the U.S. Senate.

Each year, the federal government invests billions of dollars in workforce training programs with a limited impact.  A recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) noted the federal government currently operates 47 different job-training programs.  This legislation responds by prioritizing existing funding for education and training programs (the Carl D. Perkins Vocational–Technical Education Act and the Workforce Investment Act) towards those that include industry-recognized, nationally portable skill credentials.

“Manufacturers throughout the 19th Congressional District regularly tell me that one of their top priorities is to have better access to skilled workers,” said Congressman Platts. “Employers rely on a skilled workforce to drive innovation, increase productivity and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global economy.  Likewise, workers need technical skills to access new employment opportunities. This legislation allows us to more efficiently connect skilled job seekers with the employers who need them”

The SECTORS Act

The Strengthening Employment Clusters to Organize Regional Success (SECTORS) Act, introduced by U.S. Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA-2) and Congressman Platts, would facilitate sector partnerships to allow businesses and education and training providers implement plans to help workers succeed in high-demand and emerging industries.  This bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives during the 111th Congress but was not considered by the U.S. Senate.

A large portion of America’s labor market is comprised of jobs which require more than a high-school education, but less than a four-year degree.  Despite unacceptably high unemployment rates, industries crucial to our nation’s economy often have difficulty finding sufficiently trained workers for such jobs.  These sector partnerships would advance employment opportunities for workers and promote the long-term competitiveness of critical industries - such as manufacturing, information technology, and healthcare – by identifying their education and training needs, focusing on skill gaps that are critical to competitiveness, and helping postsecondary educational institutions and other training providers align their programs to industry demand, particularly for higher skill, high-priority occupations.