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In Light of COVID Jobs Crisis, Chair Murray, Ranking Member Burr Seek Input from Stakeholders on Workforce Policies

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, at the direction of Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC), the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee is requesting input from stakeholders on policy ideas on workforce development.

 

The Senators announced they intend to work together to develop bipartisan solutions to update and expand workforce training programs, support and expand the National Apprenticeship Act, and encourage innovation. Senators Murray and Burr encourage comments from all stakeholders on how to achieve these goals by April 9, 2021 and intend to move forward with legislation by early summer.

 

“Workers are struggling through the most unequal economic and jobs crisis in modern American history. Our country cannot truly recover unless we rebuild an economy that works for working families—which means investing in job-creating priorities like public health and transportation infrastructure, child care, and the health care workforce—but also, making sure workers have the training to take on jobs in high-demand sectors like these and others. I’m looking forward to hearing innovative ideas, and working with Ranking Member Burr and our committee members on legislation that helps every worker and family share in our economic recovery,” said Chair Murray.

 

“I’m glad the Committee is going to be tackling the issue of updating our workforce training programs and I look forward to working with Senator Murray. American workers and businesses have faced extraordinary challenges throughout the pandemic, but they have also shown incredible resilience, creativity, and grit. This is the time to ask ourselves how we can better help Americans looking to start or change careers at this critical moment, and to bring the best, bipartisan, and more effective ideas to the table,” said Ranking Member Burr.

 

The call for public comment can be found below:

 

Senator Patty Murray, Chair of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and Senator Richard Burr, Ranking Member are pleased to announce the beginning of bipartisan discussions to support, update and expand workforce training programs, support and expand the National Apprenticeship Act, and encourage innovation.  Senators Murray and Burr encourage comments from all stakeholders on how to achieve these goals by April 9, 2021.

 

Specifically, Senators Murray and Burr would like to hear from stakeholders with proposals regarding:

  • how to enhance or improve workforce training in direct relation to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery, including ways to address workforce needs of the health care and public health sectors;
  • reforms to programs authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act;
  • ways to develop, modernize, and diversify the national apprenticeship system, including innovative approaches such as youth apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship; and
  • strategies to encourage innovation to address worker and industry needs.

 

In the coming weeks, the Senate HELP Committee will consider these proposals as part of its efforts to bring forth a bipartisan workforce package.  Senators Murray and Burr intend to markup this package in early summer.

 

All proposals may be submitted to HELPWorkforceComments@help.senate.gov.

 

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