Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the bipartisan Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. This bill shows that we can work together to adopt policies that will put our constituents back to work, give them opportunity, and keep our economy on the road to recovery.

One of the first bills I introduced in Congress was the WISE Investment Act that was designed to address the skills gap challenge by matching local businesses with workforce boards and community colleges to train our out-of-work constituents for in-demand occupations.

Although I was disappointed that that act was not included within this bill, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the bill does take steps to ensure that local businesses have a role in job training by including an important focus on sector partnerships.

Madam Speaker, this bill represents a strong step forward for our Nation's unemployed and for our economy. I commend Chairman Kline, Ranking Member Miller, and my colleagues on the committee for their work to bring this bill to the floor, and I urge its adoption.

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