III 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 304 

Designating September 2019 as ‘‘National Workforce Development Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

AUGUST 1, 2019 

Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. ENZI, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. YOUNG, Ms. HASSAN, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. CARPER, Ms. CORTEZ

MASTO, Ms. STABENOW, Ms. HARRIS, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. COONS, Mr. 

KAINE, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. CARDIN, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. BARRASSO, 

Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. DURBIN, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Ms. MCSALLY, Mr. 

HOEVEN, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. MANCHIN, Mr. PETERS, Ms. ROSEN, Mrs. 

CAPITO, Mrs. HYDE-SMITH, and Ms. SMITH) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating September 2019 as ‘‘National Workforce 

Development Month’’. 

Whereas investment in the education, training, and career advancement of the workforce in the United States, known 

as ‘‘workforce development’’, is crucial to the ability of 

the United States to compete in the global economy; 

Whereas collaboration among Governors, local governments, 

State and local education, workforce, and human services 

agencies, community colleges, local businesses, employment service providers, community-based organizations, 

and workforce development boards provides for longVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:43 Aug 01, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR304.ATS SR304

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
2 

•SRES 304 ATS 

term, sustainable, and successful workforce development 

across traditional sectors and emerging industries; 

Whereas middle-skill jobs, which require more than a high 

school diploma but not a 4-year degree, comprise 53 percent of the labor market, but only 43 percent of workers 

in the United States are trained at that level, creating a 

discrepancy that may limit growth in changing industries 

such as health care, manufacturing, and information 

technology; 

Whereas 76 percent of business leaders say that greater investment in skills training would help their business; 

Whereas, in 2014, Congress passed the Workforce Innovation 

and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) with overwhelming bipartisan support in recognition of the need to 

strengthen the focus of the United States on the skills 

necessary to fill jobs in local and regional industries; 

Whereas the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 

U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) supports employment, training, and 

support services for individuals with barriers to employment, including— 

(1) individuals who are low-income; 

(2) individuals who are out of work, including the 

long-term unemployed; 

(3) individuals displaced by outsourcing; 

(4) individuals living in rural areas or areas with 

persistently high unemployment; 

(5) individuals looking to learn new skills; and 

(6) individuals with disabilities; 

Whereas the more than 550 workforce development boards 

and 2,500 American Job Centers are a driving force behind growing regional economies by providing training, 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
3 

•SRES 304 ATS 

resources, and assistance to workers who aim to compete 

in the 21st century economy; 

Whereas ongoing State and local implementation of the 

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 

3101 et seq.) provides unprecedented opportunities to develop the skills of workers in the United States through 

access to effective workforce education and training, including the development and delivery of proven strategies 

such as sector partnerships, career pathways, integrated 

education and training, work-based learning models, and 

paid internships; 

Whereas, in 2018, programs authorized under the Workforce 

Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et 

seq.)— 

(1) served nearly 6,000,000 young people and 

adults; 

(2) exceeded employment targets across all programs; and 

(3) helped more than 1,500,000 individuals, including English language learners, gain skills and credentials 

to help the individuals succeed in the labor market; 

Whereas State programs established under the WagnerPeyser Act (29 U.S.C. 49 et seq.)— 

(1) ensured that more than 5,400,000 unemployed 

workers, including more than 500,000 veterans, had access to career services through American Job Centers in 

2018; and 

(2) are a foundational part of the workforce development system; 

Whereas workforce development programs will play a critical 

role in addressing the expected 2,400,000 unfilled manuVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:43 Aug 01, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR304.ATS SR304

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
4 

•SRES 304 ATS 

facturing jobs during the 10-year period following the 

adoption of this resolution; 

Whereas community colleges and other workforce development training providers across the United States are 

well-situated— 

(1) to train the next generation of workers in the 

United States; and 

(2) to address the educational challenges created by 

emerging industries and technological advancements; 

Whereas participation in a career and technical education (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘CTE’’) program decreases 

the risk of students dropping out of high school, and all 

50 States and the District of Columbia report higher 

graduation rates for CTE students, as compared to other 

students; 

Whereas community and technical colleges operate as open 

access institutions serving millions of students annually 

at a comparatively low cost; 

Whereas the Strengthening Career and Technical Education 

for the 21st Century Act (Public Law 115–224) supports 

the development and implementation of high-quality CTE 

programs that— 

(1) combine rigorous academic content with occupational skills; and 

(2) served approximately 12,000,000 high school 

and college students from 2016 to 2017; 

Whereas there are more than 500,000 registered apprentices 

in the United States, and there is growing and bipartisan 

support for expanding earn-and-learn strategies to help 

current and future workers gain skills and work experience; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
5 

•SRES 304 ATS 

Whereas the federally supported workforce system and partner programs— 

(1) have helped rebuild the economy of the United 

States and provide increased economic opportunities; and 

(2) provide a pathway into 21st century jobs that 

support families while ensuring that businesses in the 

United States find the skilled workforce needed to compete in the global economy; and 

Whereas workforce development is crucial to sustaining economic security for workers in the United States: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates September 2019 as ‘‘National 

3 Workforce Development Month’’; 

4 (2) supports Federal initiatives to promote 

5 workforce development; and 

6 (3) acknowledges that workforce development 

7 plays a crucial role in supporting workers and grow8 ing the economy. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS