Letters of Support for H.R. 798 The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 2013

The Workforce Investment Act of 2013 – introduced by Reps. John Tierney (D-MA), Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX) and George Miller (D-CA) – will improve the nation’s workforce investment infrastructure, focusing on finding workers jobs and careers through strategic partnerships with in-demand sector employers, community colleges, labor organizations, and non-profits. 

The Democratic approach to WIA reauthorization is driven by three core principles:

• Streamlining and improving workforce investment system programs.
• Strengthening workforce investment system accountability.
• Promoting innovation and best practices within the workforce investment system.

Read letters of support for the bill below:

• Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP)
• American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
  • American Federation of Teachers
  • Building and Construction Trades Department
  • International Union of Operating Engineers
  • International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
  • National Education Association
  • United Autoworkers
  • United Steelworkers
• CLASP
• Collaboration to Promote Self-Determination
• The Corps Network: "We are again happy to offer our support for Workforce Investment Act of 2013 and look forward to working with you and members of the Education and the Workforce Committee to achieve the goal of strengthening our workforce and economic development system."
• The Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation: "We trust that the introduction of this legislation will begin a dialogue on the critical need to strengthen the workforce system by reauthorizing this long awaited legislation."
• The Department of Labor
• The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights 
• The National Coalition for Literacy
• The National Council on Independent Living: "This system critically needs an update because without reauthorization, we are seeing an increasing number of individuals being harmed by the system rather than helped."
• National Council of La Raza

• The National Disability Rights Network: "NDRN thanks you for introducing the Workforce Investment Act of 2013 and looks forward to working with you and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce to improve employment services for people with disabilities and support greater transition to competitive, integrated employment through enactment of this legislation."
• The National Down Syndrome Congress: "Vocational Rehabilitation is an essential Federal disability program and improving its effectiveness for all people with disabilities, including people with significant disabilities will surely advance our goals. Thank you again for your commitment to all people with disabilities."
• The National Skills Coalition: "Again, we appreciate your ongoing commitment to investing in the skills of the U.S. workforce, and we look forward to working with you to ensure that any final WIA reauthorization enhances the effectiveness and accountability of the system while continuing to encourage innovation on the state and local level."
• The National Transitional Jobs Network
• The National Youth Employment Coalition: "Reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act offers an opportunity to address the challenges facing our emerging workforce and to make improvements to the workforce development system. The provisions in this bill present a chance to streamline and improve workforce investment system programs, without consolidation and to engage youth through multiple pathways to success."
• Paralyzed Veterans of America: "This latest version of WIA reauthorization contains many positive provisions that continue and improve key programs that would assist people with disabilities in finding and maintaining employment."   
• United Steelworkers
• Wider Opportunities for Women