On March 15, the House narrowly passed the Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills (SKILLS) Act (HR 803) by a vote of 215-202 to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and overhaul the nation’s workforce development system. The measure would consolidate 35 employment and training programs into a single “Workforce Investment Fund,” and then provide merged funding for these programs via block grants to states. In addition to consolidating and streamlining programs, the measure would increase the involvement of employers in workforce development programs and establish a set of common performance measures for state and local leaders. The White House released a statement earlier last week expressing strong opposition to the bill, saying it “would eliminate, or allow the consolidation of, many targeted programs, without providing the critical assistance needed by vulnerable populations.” Democrats in Congress echo the White House’s concerns, saying that the overhaul would lead to less funding for certain populations with barriers to employment, such as the homeless and workers with disabilities. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the bill’s implementation would cost $26 billion over the fiscal 2014-2018 period.

Link: HR 803; Administration Statement