Breaking WIOA News: Senate Deal
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We have some encouraging news to share with you on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Last night a deal was reached in the Senate that should move this important bill forward as early as next week.
WIOA reauthorizes the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), a $3 billion a year program that funds critical job training programs for displaced adults and youth.
The agreement allows for three amendments to be considered on the Senate floor. The Flake amendment makes the appointment and certification of a new local board permissible instead of required, the Lee amendment is on evaluation report requirements and a managers’ technical amendment.
Next steps will be for the Senate to take up the House passed WIA bill (SKILLs Act) and substitute the text of WIOA. The three amendments will be considered and added to the substitute text if they are passed. The Senate would then vote to pass the House bill as amended by the WIOA agreement (and any of the amendments) and send it over to the House for passage.
In case you missed it, here is an overview of our recent call with key Republican and Democratic Hill staffers working on WIOA. We will keep you posted on further developments as they become available.
Melanie Anderson
Melanie Anderson is the Director of Government and External Affairs at Opportunity Nation. She directs the campaign’s government relations and policy efforts. Read Melanie's bio.
