WGBA -Money for Job Training in Economic Stimulus Bill

Money for Job Training in Economic Stimulus Bill

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Today, the U.S. Senate passed the economic stimulus package with $1 billion for job training that Senator Herb Kohl worked to include in the legislation.  Kohl is a member of the Appropriations Committee and worked with the Democratic Committee Chairman and the Republican Ranking Member, as well as President Obama's Administration, to include this funding in the Senate version of the stimulus plan.  These funds will help approximately 260,000 unemployed workers retrain for new job opportunities.  Last June, Kohl led a coalition of 32 bipartisan Senators who called for a restoration of job training funds that had been rescinded by the Department of Labor.  In December, Kohl contacted then President-elect Obama to request that additional funds for employment and training activities for dislocated workers be included in the economic stimulus bill. 

"In this tight job market, job seekers must have the updated occupational skills employers seek" Kohl said.  "These resources ensure the health and availability of job training initiatives that can lead to well paying jobs for displaced workers and better efficiency for employers so they both can compete globally."

Kohl, in his December 11^th letter to then President-Elect Obama, said an investment in job training funds would have the immediate benefit of stimulating the economy and a long-lasting impact in helping communities around the country weather the economic storm by putting people back to work. 

Kohl also noted that over 14 million workers, or one in 10 workers nationally, are expected to seek assistance from the nation's 3,200 one-stop career centers.  However, states are in desperate need of job training dollars and may be forced to close or reduce services at these offices.  The federal job training funding included in the economic stimulus package will help alleviate some of the burden on state budgets.       

The measure must now be reconciled with the economic recovery bill passed previously by the House of Representatives.