Washington, D.C. – Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01) and Congressman Lloyd Smucker (R-PA-11) today reintroduced their Building Youth Workforce Skills Act, legislation to expand workforce training opportunities to eligible in-school youth.
“By investing in young people, we can empower the next generation with the tools they need to succeed as productive, thriving members of the future workforce,” said Congressman Moran.“Our legislation will allow local workforce development boards to use their allotment of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds to provide Individual Training Accounts (ITAs) for eligible in-school youth from ages 16 to 21 to access high-quality skills training programs. Ultimately, this legislation provides vital opportunities for students to access youth-workforce development and training programs in order to advance their careers, bolster their professional skills, and stand prepared to succeed despite the challenges they may face.”
“Expanding students’ access to skills training and workforce development programs will give the next generation of workers the opportunity to live their American Dreams,” said Congressman Smucker. “As students learn about pathways to a successful career, these critical programs will equip them with the skills necessary to excel in in-demand and high-paying jobs.”
Background:
Skills development in WIOA Adult and Dislocated Worker programs are built on the concept of customer choice and are provided through ITA vouchers, which allow an individual to access training services from a provider on a state’s eligible training providers list. Under current law, only out-of-school youth are eligible to use ITAs.
This bill allows local workforce boards the flexibility to use their previously allocated funds to provide in-school-youths with ITAs, creating more opportunities for in-school youth who face barriers to have access to skills development programs. This bill does not increase current spending levels under WIOA. Rather, it provides flexibility for existing WIOA Youth Program resources to be used to upskill the next generation.
Currently, there are 19 states, including Texas, that have received a waiver from the Department of Labor that allows them to use ITA accounts for in-school-youth to receive training. According to the Texas Workforce Commission, “30 percent of in-school-youth enrolled in postsecondary training programs used ITAs to help fund their training.”
