Miller Statement on Department of Labor Grants to Community Colleges to Expand Education and Job Training
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Labor awarded nearly $500 million to community colleges across the country. As part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) initiative, these grants support job training and workforce development opportunities in fields such as manufacturing, science, transportation and technology, and were authorized by the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA) at no new cost to taxpayers.
This is the second installment of the $2 billion, four-year investment. The next round of awards is expected in 2013.
“The grants announced today by the Department of Labor are a continued reminder and clear demonstration of the vital role community colleges play in fueling the American economy,” said Miller. “Through innovative programs, these grants will help community colleges and businesses work together to give students and workers the skills they need to compete for new careers in growing industries.”
In 2010, the Democratic Congress enacted a law that put a college education within reach for students who rely on grants, student loans and access to community colleges for their degree. The SAFRA, championed by Miller, did this at no new costs to taxpayers by ending unnecessary subsidies for banks and instead investing those dollars directly in students’ education.
For more information about the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, click here.
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