CEOs Applaud Senate Vote to Reauthorize Workforce Investment Act; Urge House to Follow Suit

Washington – Business Roundtable, an association of business leaders representing every sector of the economy, today applauded Senate passage of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The Senate-House bill, which was introduced last month to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), is an important first step toward better aligning federal workforce development programs with employer needs.

“Business Roundtable CEOs thank Senators Harkin, Alexander, Murray and Isakson for their exemplary leadership in reaching agreements on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and commend Senate passage of this important legislation that will narrow the skills gap and prepare American workers for the jobs of today and tomorrow,” said Eric Spiegel, President & CEO, Siemens Corporation, and Vice Chair, Business Roundtable’s Education and Workforce Committee. “We urge the House to act swiftly on this legislation and encourage members of Congress to continue working in a bipartisan, bicameral fashion so that other important policies can become law.”

To help address America’s persistent skills and training gap, legislation that reauthorizes WIA must contain the right mix of programs to train Americans with the skills employers need. It has been 14 years since WIA was last authorized. Click here to read Business Roundtable’s principles for WIA reauthorization.

Business Roundtable earlier this year released a policy agenda for supporting additional U.S. jobs and economic growth. Training America’s workers to fill the jobs of today and tomorrow is important for U.S. competitiveness and growing the economy.