“
Today, Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI), chairman of the House Budget Committee released the House Republican’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2014. Similar to previous budget proposals, the Republican’s budget would cut billions of dollars to federal education and workforce programs. It uses the Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Learning (SKILLS) Act (H.R. 803), legislation reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), as one of the drivers in consolidating workforce programs to continue disinvesting in America’s workers and employers.
National Skills Coalition (NSC) released the following statement by Rachel Gragg, federal policy director for National Skills Coalition, on the release of the House Republican Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year 2014:
“The House Republican budget makes deep cuts in job training and postsecondary education. The proposal disinvests in job training by consolidating programs and services into one block grant and making detrimental cuts to student aid programs. This disinvestment in America’s workforce will not solve the skills gap that impacts workers, employers, and our economy. In fact, it will make it more difficult for those most in need to get the skills to obtain a job or advance at work.
America’s workers need lawmakers to come together to invest in a federal workforce system that is effective, accountable, and innovative. Lawmakers should agree upon a budget that enhances the effectiveness of our workforce system to meet the skill needs of all U.S. workers and businesses; strengthens accountability; and promotes innovation by building on the lessons learned and best practices developed over the past 15 years by the workforce field. Unfortunately, the House Republican budget proposal fails to do that. National Skills Coalition hopes that members of Congress will work together to advance a bipartisan budget that addresses our nation’s skills gap and invests in America’s workers. ”
“
