Blue Dogs urge House consideration of AMERICA Works Act following meeting of President’s Jobs and Competitiveness Council
June 13, 2011
Today, following the President's meeting with leaders of his Jobs and Competitiveness Council, the Blue Dogs once again urged consideration of the AMERICA Works Act, legislation introduced by Indiana Congressman Joe Donnelly and included in the bipartisan House "Make it in America" agenda. The bill, which has also been endorsed by the National Association of Manufacturers, would take significant steps to better match career training with real-world hiring needs, a stated objective of General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt and American Express CEO Ken Chenault, who are leading the Council's efforts.
"I'm pleased that the President's Jobs and Competitiveness Council has noted the importance of matching employers with qualified workers who have in-demand skills," said Donnelly. "With the creation of a national registry of skill credentials, we can make life a little easier for Americans who are trained and ready to work, for example, on advanced pieces of machinery. My legislation would ensure that there is one, reliable resource for industry-recognized, nationally-portable credentials. I'll continue to push for support of my bill in the House because while we still have a lot of work to do to make sure that there is a job for every American, this will help skilled job-seekers more efficiently market their skills and find the employers who need them."
Specifically the AMERICA Works Act would better equip skilled workers to successfully connect with the employers who need them by creating a national registry of skill credentials and re-direct existing worker training resources to prioritize programs that lead to the credentials listed on the registry.
"I'm pleased that the President's Jobs and Competitiveness Council has noted the importance of matching employers with qualified workers who have in-demand skills," said Donnelly. "With the creation of a national registry of skill credentials, we can make life a little easier for Americans who are trained and ready to work, for example, on advanced pieces of machinery. My legislation would ensure that there is one, reliable resource for industry-recognized, nationally-portable credentials. I'll continue to push for support of my bill in the House because while we still have a lot of work to do to make sure that there is a job for every American, this will help skilled job-seekers more efficiently market their skills and find the employers who need them."
Specifically the AMERICA Works Act would better equip skilled workers to successfully connect with the employers who need them by creating a national registry of skill credentials and re-direct existing worker training resources to prioritize programs that lead to the credentials listed on the registry.
The Blue Dog Task Force on Economic Growth is primarily focused on creating a positive economic climate geared toward bolstering growth and promoting innovation. Under the leadership of Chair Joe Donnelly (IN-02) and Vice-Chair Dan Boren (OK-02), the Task Force works to advance policies that accelerate the economic recovery, create opportunities for middle class Americans to rejoin the workforce and assist small business owners grow their companies.
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