CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE TAKES ACTION TO REINVEST IN WORKING FAMILIES

(Washington, D.C.) — Today, Congressman Joe Morelle voted to pass the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022 (WIOA), reauthorizing the federal program for the first time since 2020.  

“Since the expiration of WIOA in 2020, federal investments in workforce development have drastically decreased, and communities—like my own of Rochester, NY—have suffered the consequences,” said Rep. Joe Morelle. “This program provides more than just job training and employment opportunities—it provides hope and support to the people and families who need it most. I am proud to have worked with my colleagues on the House Committee on Education & Labor to advance this critical legislation and demonstrate my continued support of working families in local communities across the country.”  

“The reauthorization and enhancement of WIOA sends a strong message that we are committed to investing in the people who comprise our current and future workforce,” said Dave Seeley, Executive Director at RochesterWorks! “Our community is fortunate to have an advocate like Rep. Morelle who listened to the feedback of the workforce development stakeholders at the ground level striving to provide economic opportunity for all by fueling our economy with a stronger workforce.”

“The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) provides hundreds of millions of dollars for critical job training and employment opportunities in sectors of our state,” said Melinda Mack, Executive Director at New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals (NYATEP). “We appreciate Congressman Morelle’s partnership and dedication to workforce issues and the millions of New Yorkers in need of skills for better jobs.” 

In 2014, the first Workplace Innovation and Opportunity Act was passed, creating the nation’s public workforce development system. The original legislation was designed to strengthen our nation’s workforce and help all Americans, including youth and those with significant barriers to employment, secure high-quality jobs. The authorization for this legislation expired in 2020, and the lack of authorization only compounded the workforce development issues stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Specifically, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022 will: 

• Authorize $78 billion for WIOA programs over six years, resulting in the training of one million workers per year by 2028. 
• Establishes a permanent federal Department of Labor program to help individuals released from incarceration transition back to the workforce. 
• Reauthorizes the YouthBuild program and expands subsidized employment for youth who are neither already working nor in school.
• Bolsters community colleges’ capacity to provide employment and training programs in in-demand industries.

For more information on this legislation, read the full text of the bill here.