Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mrs. HAYES. Madam Speaker, I rise to support the passage of this bill, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, a historic, $78 billion investment, which will provide training for 1 million workers per year by 2028. This package includes my bill, the YouthBuild for the Future Act, which would invest $1 billion into YouthBuild over 6 years.

YouthBuild is a crucial program that is specifically built to help young people who have not completed their high school degree train for a high-wage, stable career. But most importantly, it helps those young people regain their confidence and their ability to be self-sufficient and contribute to our communities.

My bill makes critical investments to the program, such as reserving grant funds for rural areas, extending the period of follow-up services to 2 years, and allowing YouthBuild to fund meals for participants. These improvements will expand opportunity for young adults and employers who are clamoring to fill skilled positions that too often remain vacant.

These are meaningful, life-changing investments for Americans searching for long-term, high-wage employment. I know that these programs work because the one in my district and my hometown has young kids building homes.

Madam Speaker, as an original cosponsor of this reauthorization, I am proud to support passage, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source