Rep. Kelly Supports Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen America’s Workforce
Bicameral bill will help Americans secure good-paying jobs while eliminating 15 ineffective federal programs
WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) – a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce – delivered remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives today in support of H.R. 803, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, of which he is a co-sponsor. The legislation will modernize and improve existing federal workforce development programs, help workers attain skills for 21st century jobs, and foster the modern workforce on which evolving American businesses rely to compete. The House passed H.R. 803 this evening by a bipartisan vote of 415-6
Rep. Kelly’s floor remarks:
“I’m so glad to be here today talking about the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act … as we congratulate each other on this great work, this bipartisan work, and bicameral … because what we’re really trying to do is get people back to work.”
“But you know who the biggest winner in this program is? The hardworking American taxpayers who fund every penny of these programs. I think sometimes we forget about who it is that does this; we think it actually takes place in this House. It doesn’t — it takes place in houses. But it’s the homes around the United States — it’s these hardworking American taxpayers that deserve a much better return on their investment. It’s just that simple.”
“So if we’re going to get people ready for the labor market, let’s redirect those funds, let’s make sure that it’s more effective, and more efficient, and something that people look at and they say, ‘You know what? I didn’t mind putting money in those programs because there was a positive result from it.’”
“So, from the standpoint of congratulating each other, and patting each other on the back … what I really want to do is take this moment to thank the hardworking American taxpayers who fund every single penny of these programs. I thank you all for your work on it.”
NOTE: The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act represents a compromise between the SKILLS Act (H.R. 803), which was passed by the House of Representatives in March 2013 with bipartisan support, and the Workforce Investment Act of 2013 (S. 1356), which was passed through the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee with a bipartisan vote of 18-3 in July of 2013.
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