American workers built this great nation. They deserve nothing but the best opportunity to succeed as rapid changes in the modern economy necessitate new skills in order to keep pace. On Tuesday, the House passed A Stronger Workforce for America Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation that I was proud to author alongside Representative Bobby Scott of Virginia. This legislation provides essential updates and improvements to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act that will expand skills development and help put more Americans on the pathway to successful careers. The principles of this bill are firmly rooted in increased efficiency, innovation, and accountability in the workforce system.

Right now, employers across the nation are struggling to fill the jobs they need to grow their businesses and meet the upskilling needs of workers. As a result, critical industries face a sizable disadvantage, and the nation’s economic competitiveness continues to be undermined. A Stronger Workforce for America Act is the answer. Click here to read a fact sheet that details the solutions found within this bill.

A Stronger Workforce for America Act is a bill for those who believe in the incredible, boundless potential of the American workforce. This is the American workforce that smelted the steel that built the engine that propelled man to the moon in a Saturn V rocket. This is the American workforce that has repeatedly dropped its tools and its livelihoods on a moment’s notice to go fight in service to our country. This is the American workforce that ‘put the world in our pocket’ when it created the iPhone—a transformational tool that’s revolutionized the way we communicate and enabled drones, smart homes, self-driving cars, and more. It is our constant duty—and our promise—to never forget, neglect, or discount the American workforce.

 $127,000,000

I have important news: thanks to the diligence and oversight of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, $127 million in precious taxpayer dollars has been clawed back from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). This federal agency had previously allocated this money to a pension fund for participants who were already deceased. For months, this agency dragged its feet in addressing this error. And the same error may have affected special financial assistance sent to more than 60 other multiemployer pension plans. Getting this money back to the taxpayers is a huge win and an important first step, but it means nothing if the problem continues to happen in the future. Our investigation into this matter will continue.

 Our Investigation Continues

Next Wednesday, April 17^th, at 10:15 AM, the Committee on Education and the Workforce will hold a full Committee hearing titled “Columbia in Crisis: Columbia University’s Response to Antisemitism”. Some of the worst cases of antisemitic assaults, harassment, and vandalism on campus have occurred at Columbia University. Due to the severe and pervasive nature of these cases, and the Columbia administration’s failure to enforce its own policies to protect Jewish students, the Committee must hear from Columbia’s leadership in person to learn how the school is addressing antisemitism on its campus.

To view this hearing next Wednesday, click here to be directed to the Committee’s YouTube page.

Quote of The Week

“Our policy has been and will continue to be: What is good for the American worker is good for America.”

­-Ronald Reagan

Have a blessed weekend,