Today, the House passed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), bipartisan, bicameral legislation reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) on a bipartisan basis, 415-6. The legislation, authored by Senators Harkin, Alexander, Murray, and Isakson and Representatives Kline, Miller, Foxx, and Hinojosa, was previously approved overwhelmingly by the Senate, 95-3. It now moves to the President’s desk for his signature.
Read NSC’s summary analysis of WIOA. For more detailed information on the contents of the bill, see NSC’s side-by-side analysis, or watch NSC’s recent webinar, Unpacking WIOA.
WIOA’s passage will generate a substantial amount of implementation work at both the state and federal levels. National Skills Coalition will be weighing in with the agencies and the states as the implementation phase moves forward.
It has been 16 years since WIA was initially passed, and 11 since it was due to be reauthorized. NSC applauds Congress for taking this important step to modernize our nation’s workforce system and ensure that all U.S. workers and businesses have the skills they need to succeed in today’s economy.
