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Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) voted in favor of H.R. 803, the SKILLS Act (Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills), a bill to reform and modernize federal workforce development programs.

“Workforce development is critical to revitalizing America’s economy, especially in northwest and west central Ohio, where many small businesses and world-class manufacturing facilities are located,” Latta said. “Reauthorization and reform of the Workforce Investment Act will enable our job creators and workforce leaders to continue to develop training programs that meet the specific needs of individual workers and focus on in-demand industries.”

The SKILLS Act will provide commonsense reforms that are needed to fix our workforce development system. Specifically, the bill would:

• Reduce government mandates and arbitrary roadblocks that prevent workers from accessing job training immediately.
• Consolidate programs to create a new, single Workforce Investment Fund that reduces red tape and provides more accountability for taxpayer dollars.
• Increase the role of business and local employers in the state and local governance of the workforce development system and establishes new standards for evaluating the effectiveness of those programs.
• Allow states to determine the standards required for eligible training providers, facilitating great collaboration with community colleges.

“The SKILLS Act will simplify the process for eligible unemployed and under-employed individuals to receive assistance. Northwest State Community College has and will continue to train people to fill current and anticipated job openings,” said Dr. Thomas L. Stuckey, President of Northwest State Community College.

Last week, Congressman Latta sent a letter to workforce development leaders in Ohio’s Fifth Congressional District with details on the legislation. For a copy of the letter click here.

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