III 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 690 

Designating September 2020 as ‘‘National Workforce Development Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 

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

Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. DURBIN, Ms. HIRONO, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. MURPHY, Ms. ROSEN, Mr. BARRASSO, Ms. CANTWELL, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. 

MANCHIN, Mr. KAINE, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Ms. SMITH, 

Mr. CARDIN, Mr. MERKLEY, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. PETERS, Mrs. HYDESMITH, Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. CRAMER, and 

Mr. DAINES) submitted the following resolution; which was considered 

and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating September 2020 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 23:31 Sep 14, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR690.ATS SR690

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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 52 percent of the labor market, but only 42 percent of workers 

in the United States have been able to access training 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 greater investment in skills training would help their businesses; 

Whereas, during the first 6 months of 2020 in the United 

States— 

(1) tens of millions of individuals filed for unemployment benefits; 

(2) more than 50 percent of job losses were concentrated among workers earning less than $40,000 per 

year; and 

(3) workers with a high school diploma or a lower 

level of educational attainment were displaced from jobs 

at nearly 3 times the rate of workers with a bachelor’s 

degree; 

Whereas, in 2014, Congress reauthorized 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 


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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, 

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 


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(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 manufacturing jobs over the next decade; 

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; 


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Whereas the Strengthening Career and Technical Education 

for the 21st Century Act (Public Law 115–224; 132 

Stat. 1563) supports the development and implementation of high-quality CTE programs that— 

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

(2) served approximately 12,500,000 high school 

and college students between 2018 and 2019; 

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; 

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 2020 as ‘‘National 

3 Workforce Development Month’’; 

4 (2) supports Federal initiatives to promote 

5 workforce development; and 


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1 (3) acknowledges that workforce development 

2 plays a crucial role in supporting workers and grow3 ing the economy. 

Æ 


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