On June 27, 11 National Association of Workforce Board (NAWB) staff and members, including San Diego Workforce Partnership COO Andy Hall, visited Capitol Hill to meet with 11 members of Congress, including Representative John Moolenaar (R-MI).
The delegation promoted the funding and policy priorities developed with NAWB members:
- Reject the deep funding cuts in Department of Labor and Education programs proposed in the Administration’s budget and provide stable funding for programs authorized under WIOA.
- Ensure that any increased funding for infrastructure includes funding for workforce development programs, preparing individuals to take advantage of the new construction jobs.
- Provide maximum flexibility and minimum regulation at the local level to ensure that workforce development programs meet the economic needs specific to each local area.
- Expand the use of Pell Grants to workforce development programs that are less than 600 clock hours or 15 weeks in length.
“It’s important to tell the story of our workforce development customers—both businesses and job seekers—to lawmakers in Washington D.C.,” says Hall. “We must continue to share our successes and advocate for investment in San Diego’s workforce. A big thanks to NAWB for arranging these meetings to help us tell San Diego’s workforce development story on Capitol Hill.”
NAWB will continue to make the case, to both Congress and the Administration, that workforce development boards are best placed to align workforce development efforts with a region’s economic strategies and ensure our nation has a world-class, competitive workforce.
Photo courtesy of NAWB.