In a rare act of bipartisan cooperation, the Senate on Wednesday approved by a vote of 95-3 a bill that reauthorizes and consolidates a number of federal job training programs. Among other things, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) amends and reauthorizes the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), eliminates 15 existing federal workforce programs and streamlines others, and allows businesses to provide greater input at the local level regarding the types of skills needed in today’s economy. Sponsored by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Tom Harkin (D-IA), and Lamar Alexander (R-TN), the WIOA blends provisions of the House-passed Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills (SKILLS) Act, and the Workforce Investment Act of 2013 (S. 1356), which has been pending in the Senate. The legislation reflects months of bipartisan and bicameral negotiations to reach an agreement on improvements to the workforce development system.
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