Local WIOA Constituency Group Reauthorization Letter

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NAWB partnered with US Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, and US Workforce Associations on this letter to Senate HELP Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders and Ranking Member Cassidy on current WIOA reauthorization proposals.

August 12, 2024

TO:

The Honorable Bernie Sanders
Chairman, U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Washington, D.C., 20510

The Honorable Bill Cassidy
Ranking Member, U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Washington, D.C., 20510

Dear Chairman Sanders and Ranking Member Cassidy,

On behalf of the National Association of Counties (NACo), National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB), National League of Cities (NLC), U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM), and U.S. Workforce Associations (USWA), we are writing to provide recommendations for the reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA is a critical tool that empowers local governments, workforce boards, and other local stakeholders to connect individuals with in-demand skills training and education needed by employers.

A thoughtful reauthorization of WIOA—one that balances the needs of workers, learners, employers, and their communities—is crucial to our members, who play an integral role in the legislation’s implementation.

As the committee continues to discuss the best way to modernize our nation’s workforce system, we urge you to consider the following:

1. Sufficiently Resource the Public Workforce System

Currently, there are about 6.5 million Americans seeking employment, with an estimated 8.7 million job openings that businesses are struggling to fill. Through Local Workforce Development Boards (LWDBs) and more than 2,000 American Job Centers across the nation, our members are helping nearly 3 million jobseekers access quality training and services. Unfortunately, funding for core Title I WIOA programs has steadily eroded over time, and inflation has compounded these challenges. Increasing the investment in WIOA is essential to ensure that employers have the skilled talent they need while also supporting vulnerable populations’ participation in the economy. This is especially critical as the labor force participation rate has not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels.

Adequate funding will also help achieve other goals of reauthorization, including increasing access to high-quality training and ensuring state and local systems can respond to both immediate and long-term challenges.

As discussed in the Senate’s hearing on WIOA reauthorization, we must substantially strengthen the investment in our public workforce system. Unfortunately, the House’s WIOA reauthorization proposal (H.R. 6655) proposes only a 3% increase in WIOA funding. We urge the Senate to authorize at least $15 billion annually for core WIOA Title I programs to meet current and future demand for skilled talent. These proposed funding levels are supported by several analyses and would help the U.S. keep pace with other developed nations investing more in workforce development.

2. Training Requirement for Adult and Dislocated Worker Formula Funds

We commend the committee for excluding a federal training mandate in its recent discussion draft. A federal mandate would be counterproductive, especially for underserved populations, and it contradicts the core principle of WIOA, which allows local entities to tailor services to the unique needs of their communities. Mandating training services without considering the importance of supportive services could harm vulnerable populations. We also caution that funds from H-1B visa fees are insufficient to meet the demands of such a mandate, especially given the uncertainty of this funding source.

3. Local Workforce Development Area (LWDA) Redesignation and Single-State Designations

We strongly oppose the current structure for LWDA redesignation and single-state designations, which bypass the voice of local stakeholders. If redesignation provisions must remain, a “fallback” option should be included that allows local stakeholders to negotiate alternative LWDAs. Any redesignation efforts should prioritize local community needs and require states to demonstrate that their actions will improve outcomes for participants and employers.

4. State-Level Set-Asides

We are concerned about the proposal to increase the state-level set-aside allowance to 25%, which could leave fewer resources for local entities to implement WIOA programs. We recommend maintaining the existing 15% Governor’s Reserve Fund to ensure that local systems have adequate resources to serve jobseekers and employers.

5. Digital Literacy

We support expanding the definition of foundational skills to explicitly include digital literacy, ensuring that individuals can adapt to the evolving technological landscape.

6. Eligible Training Provider Lists (ETPL)

We recommend clearer and more consistent criteria for Eligible Training Providers (ETPs) to ensure that training programs prepare participants for quality jobs. These criteria should be attainable, applicable to all ETPs, and reflective of the diverse populations served by WIOA.

7. Additional Flexibility for Local Governments and Workforce Boards

Flexibility is essential for local governments and workforce boards to respond to changing economic conditions. We support greater flexibility in LWDBs’ budgetary authority and in the use of training funds for incumbent workers. We also encourage flexibility in implementing youth work experiences and public outreach to raise awareness of federally funded workforce initiatives.

8. One-Stop Delivery System

We support the inclusion of provisions allowing LWDBs to serve as one-stop operators and greater flexibility to expand access through affiliated locations, such as libraries and community colleges. Additionally, dedicated funding for the physical infrastructure costs of one-stop centers is essential to free up more resources for training and support services.

We appreciate the Senate’s work to reauthorize WIOA and look forward to continuing to collaborate with you to update the nation’s workforce system. If you have any questions or would like to discuss these recommendations further, please feel free to reach out to our staff:

Mike Matthews (NACo) at mmatthews@naco.org
Gail Ravnitzky Silberglied (NAWB) at silbergliedg@nawb.org
Stephanie Martinez-Ruckman (NLC) at martinez-ruckman@nlc.org
Kathy Amoroso (USCM) at kamoroso@usmayors.org
Chris Andresen at Chris.Andresen@dutkogr.com

Sincerely,

 

A Message of Gratitude to Our Members

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Nearly twenty years ago, our family shifted from sending Holiday season cards to sending Thanksgiving cards. Not only did this shift take some pressure off during very busy Decembers, it encouraged us to pause and appreciate all that the year had gifted us AND express our gratitude to the many people who have contributed to our annual journeys.

This year’s card was full of gratitude for transitions – our son who graduated from high school, our daughter who graduated from college, my wife who finished her PhD in Higher Education. . . and my beginning a new job as President and CEO here at the National Association of Workforce Boards.

Having reached nearly three months here at NAWB, I can truly say how grateful I am to be in this role at this time. So many of you have taken the time to send me notes of both welcome and encouragement – I deeply appreciate each one. For you to take the time to reach out speaks to who you are, and I am honored and humbled to lead an organization dedicated to supporting you.

So, this season, I am grateful for such an amazing, dedicated Board of Directors. They have supported not just my onboarding but have also provided invaluable counsel as I craft a vision for NAWB’s next chapter.

I am grateful for my NAWB colleagues, each one so deeply committed to providing high quality support for you as you seek to serve your respective communities. Their creativity, passion and thoughtfulness give me energy each and every day.

And lastly, I am grateful for you – NAWB’s members. I am thankful that you are so deeply committed to your communities, that you are constantly seeking new ways to better connect people to trajectory-changing careers and bringing about economic vitality for business and neighbor alike. Your work is critical and vastly important – you sit at the epicenter of so much transformation taking place in economies, and lead as communities navigate that transformation. I am grateful for your belief in the dignity of work and the power it has to change not just lives but also transform communities.

May this Thanksgiving for you be one filled with a deep sense of both appreciation for the gifts and blessings in your life and being appreciated for the important work you do.

-Brad

A letter to our members

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A letter to our members

Greetings NAWB members,

What a privilege for me to be drafting this note. It is truly an honor to have been asked by the National Association of Workforce Boards Board of Directors to serve as NAWB’s next President and CEO. Over my 25+ year career with both Goodwill Industries and Easterseals, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to see firsthand the power and importance of local workforce development boards and your life-changing, community-centered mission. Now, I am thrilled to engage with this work through a fresh lens, working in collaboration with you — our members — to make our vision of sustainable careers for the American workforce a reality. 

The workforce development system is graced with your passion and willingness to dive into the deep end to help local communities and economies thrive. I am eager to channel this energy with purpose and contribute to this community through NAWB and its meaningful work by both supporting and representing you. Together, we will help individuals change the narrative of who they think they are and who they believe they can become.  

A key part of facilitating change is advocacy. As we represent your voice and press for national policy initiatives on Capitol Hill, NAWB is in a unique position to advance the interests of the workforce development system. Be assured that we will continue our drumbeat in the halls of Congress seeking greater flexibility, less onerous regulation, and more resources that are so needed to support you as you journey alongside people as they navigate an ever-changing economic landscape. 

To maximize NAWB’s supportive efforts, I know we must listen to your needs first. The team has already shared with me your desire for professional development and services that are relevant and of high value. Over the next weeks and months, I look forward to spending time with you — in your communities — so I can learn firsthand your challenges and your aspirations. Then, working together, we will strive to both strengthen our relationship with you and ensure that the resources we deliver are aligned with your priorities.  

As a valued member of NAWB, you are at the heart of your community, helping provide guidance to job-seeking individuals and families struggling against barriers to employment. Creating pathways to sustainable careers with purposeful work – that is what we are here to do. I am confident that together we can achieve just that.  

 

Sincerely,

Brad Turner-Little

President & CEO