Passage of Workforce Training Package

Floor Speech

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, we must achieve stronger economic growth, and we must train and educate Americans to succeed in a modern economy.

Last year, the House advanced the Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills, or SKILLS, Act, another House-passed jobs bill which reforms our Federal workforce development programs and will help Americans acquire the skills, education, and training that they need to climb the ladder of opportunity.

Despite Senate Leader Reid's opposition to acting on any of the more than 40 House-passed jobs bills, we recently saw light at the end of the tunnel when movement began on a compromise package of Federal job training reforms. In late May, congressional leaders announced a bipartisan agreement on this package, which passed the Senate in June, and will be considered by the House today.

As a member of the House Education Committee's Higher Education and Workforce Training Subcommittee, I am proud to have worked to help advance these commonsense reforms. I also want to thank my friend and colleague, subcommittee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, for her tireless work on this legislation.

Job training is the best strategy and solution for opportunity and access to jobs. America's competitiveness depends on a qualified and trained workforce.

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