IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 578 

Expressing support for the designation of September 2019 as ‘‘National 

Workforce Development Month’’ and recognizing the necessity of investing in workforce development to support workers and to help employers 

succeed in a global economy. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 

Ms. BONAMICI (for herself, Mr. GUTHRIE, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. BROWN of 

Maryland, Mr. PAPPAS, Mr. BALDERSON, Mrs. AXNE, Mr. MORELLE, Mr. 

MEUSER, Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania, Mr. COMER, Mr. 

DESAULNIER, Ms. FUDGE, Mr. TIMMONS, Mr. SMITH of Washington, 

Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. KELLER, and Mr. RICHMOND) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and 

Labor 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of September 2019 

as ‘‘National Workforce Development Month’’ and recognizing the necessity of investing in workforce development to support workers and to help employers succeed 

in a global economy. 

Whereas programs that provide work experience and supportive services that correspond with classroom instruction, known as ‘‘workforce development’’, assist individuals with barriers to employment and help them succeed 

in the labor market, and also provide employers in the 


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United States with the skilled workers needed to thrive 

in a global economy; 

Whereas collaboration among Governors, local governments, 

State and local education leaders, workforce, and human 

services agencies, community colleges, local businesses, 

employment service providers, community-based organizations, labor organizations, and workforce development 

boards provides for long-term, sustainable, and successful 

workforce development across traditional sectors and 

emerging industries; 

Whereas middle-skill jobs, those that require more than a 

high school diploma but not a 4-year degree, comprise 53 

percent of the labor market, and our workforce system is 

tasked with making sure that all workers, particularly 

those with barriers to employment, access the skills they 

need for these jobs and employment; 

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 and in-demand industry sectors or occupations; 

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, but not limited to— 

(1) individuals who are low-income; 

(2) individuals who are out of work; 

(3) individuals with disabilities; 

(4) individuals who are older; 

(5) individuals who are facing homelessness; 


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(6) youth who have aged out of the foster care system; 

(7) individuals who are English-language learners, 

individuals who have low levels of literacy, and individuals facing substantial cultural barriers; 

(8) individuals who were formerly incarcerated; and 

(9) long-term unemployed individuals; 

Whereas the more than 550 workforce development boards 

and 2,500 American Job Centers are a driving force behind growing regional economies because they provide 

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 more than 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; 


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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) support State efforts to offer intensive reemployment services; 

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 with 

other students; 

Whereas many 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 (20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.) supports the development and implementation of high-quality 

CTE programs that— 


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

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

and college students from 2017 to 2018; 

Whereas there are more than 500,000 Registered Apprentices 

in the United States, and there is growing and bipartisan 

support for expanding paid, on-the-job training 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; 

(2) provide a pathway into jobs that support families 

and lead to socioeconomic mobility while helping businesses in the United States find the skilled workforce 

needed to compete in the global economy; and 

(3) support individuals who have been displaced and 

provide opportunities for workers to learn new skills to 

access better paying jobs in a changing 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 House of Representatives — 

2 (1) expresses support for the designation of 

3 ‘‘National Workforce Development Month’’ and rec4 ognizes that workforce development programs assist 

5 individuals, particularly those with barriers to em6 ployment, in accessing the education, training, cre7 dentials, and supportive services they need to secure 


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1 good paying jobs and allows employers to align 

2 training with the skills they need; 

3 (2) affirms that maintaining funding and au4 thorization for the Workforce Innovation and Oppor5 tunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) is necessary for 

6 States to fully carry out congressional reforms; 

7 (3) recognizes the importance of the recent re8 authorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 

9 Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301 

10 et seq.), and supports further Federal initiatives to 

11 promote workforce development; and 

12 (4) commits to increasing investment of Federal 

13 funds to better address the employment and skills 

14 needs of workers and employers. 

Æ 


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