{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140627041817/http://www.collins.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=10d8e1f8-7c63-4556-a961-6b7c0a5c639f", "Senator Collins Lauds Passage of Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act", "2014-06-25", "2014", "2014-06", "Republican", "House", "ME", "Susan Collins", "C001035", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 With the strong support of U.S. Senator Susan Collins, today the Senate overwhelmingly passed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), job training legislation that would replace the Workforce Investment Act with targeted reforms that aim to improve services for unemployed and underemployed workers.\u00a0\n\u201cDespite our nation\u2019s unemployment rate remaining unacceptably high, job openings in high-growth industries remain unfulfilled.\u00a0 This bill would streamline federal job training programs and narrow the \u2018skills gap\u2019 by helping those seeking work to learn the skills that are required for the jobs that are available,\u201d Senator Collins said.\u00a0 \u201cIt would reform and improve programs that I have long supported while eliminating others that are ineffective or duplicative, establish new public-private partnerships, and put in place new tough financial responsibility requirements at the Department of Labor\u00a0 to protect effective programs like Job Corps and YouthBuild.\u00a0 The bill would also set standard performance measurements for all programs, with a focus on employment outcomes, employer satisfaction, and increased accountability for taxpayer dollars.\u201d\nA summary of the legislation can be found below:   \u00a0   The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act would improve the workforce development system by:\n \nEliminating 15 existing duplicative programs;\nCreating nimbler and more strategic state and local workforce development boards;\nStrengthening program evaluations;\nStreamlining services and providing additional program flexibilities so local areas\u00a0can better meet the unique needs of individuals;\nEmpowering local boards to tailor services to their region\u2019s employment and workforce needs; and\nSupporting access to real-world education and workforce development opportunities.\n \n\u00a0   WIOA would achieve better coordination by:\n \nBetter aligning workforce development programs with economic development and education initiatives;\nEnabling businesses to identify in-demand skills and connecting workers with the opportunities to build those skills; and\nEnsuring individuals with disabilities have the skills necessary to be successful in businesses that provide competitive, integrated employment.\n \n\u00a0   And it would improve outreach to disconnected youth by:\n \nFocusing youth program services on out-of-school youth, high school dropout recovery efforts, and attainment of recognized postsecondary credentials; and\nProviding youth with disabilities the services and support they need to be successful in competitive, integrated employment.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140627041817/http://www.collins.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=10d8e1f8-7c63-4556-a961-6b7c0a5c639f"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0124510154128075, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}