III 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 780 

Designating September 2022 as ‘‘National Workforce Development Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 20, 2022 

Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. YOUNG, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. SCOTT of South 

Carolina, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. CASEY, Mr. DAINES, Ms. CANTWELL, Mrs. 

HYDE-SMITH, Ms. HASSAN, Mr. CRAMER, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. BRAUN, Ms. 

KLOBUCHAR, Mr. PADILLA, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. WICKER, Mr. COONS, 

Mrs. CAPITO, Mr. LUJA ́N, Mr. HICKENLOOPER, Mr. PETERS, Ms. SMITH, 

Mr. KELLY, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. MURPHY, 

and Ms. CORTEZ MASTO) submitted the following resolution; which was 

considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating September 2022 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 00:38 Sep 21, 2022 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR780.ATS SR780

pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•SRES 780 ATS 

term, sustainable, and successful workforce development 

across traditional sectors and emerging industries; 

Whereas the number of jobs that require more than a high 

school diploma, but not a 4-year degree, is projected to 

increase by approximately 23 percent by 2030; 

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

Whereas, in 2021, a record 47,400,000 individuals in the 

United States quit their jobs, many of whom did so to 

improve their employment situation; 

Whereas, as of July 2022 in the United States— 

(1) approximately 5,700,000 individuals are unemployed; 

(2) unemployment rates for Black and Hispanic 

adults are well above the unemployment rates for White 

adults; 

(3) workers without postsecondary education and 

training are more likely to be unemployed; 

(4) more than 1⁄2 of the jobs lost due to the 

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) pandemic were 

by workers earning less than $40,000 per year; and 

(5) according to a recent poll, 44 percent of United 

States workers said their current job may be at risk due 

to new developments in technology and automation, while 

50 percent said they would retrain for a career in a different field or industry if they had the opportunity; 

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 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•SRES 780 ATS 

the skills necessary to effectively prepare individuals for 

employment 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 earn low incomes; 

(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 2,400 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, quality 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 2022, programs authorized under the Workforce 

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

are projected to serve more than 5,000,000 young people 

and adults; 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
4 

•SRES 780 ATS 

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

(1) ensured that approximately 2,500,000 workers, 

including more than 146,000 veterans and more than 

120,000 individuals with disabilities, had access to career 

services virtually and through American Job Centers during the 2020 program year; and 

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

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 compared to other 

students; 

Whereas community and technical colleges operate as openaccess 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; 132 

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

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


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
5 

•SRES 780 ATS 

(2) serve approximately 12,300,000 high school and 

college students across the United States; 

Whereas there are approximately 600,000 registered apprentices in the United States, and there is growing and bipartisan support for expanding quality 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 2022 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 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB