Congressman Cleaver Votes for Workforce Investments to Fill Job Openings and Lower Costs

May 18, 2022
Press Release

(Washington, D.C.) – Last night, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of H.R. 7309, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022. The bill would strengthen the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 and make long overdue investments in our nation's workforce development programs, helping to fill job openings in Missouri's Fifth Congressional District with qualified, capable workers—which will address supply chain disruptions and lower costs for hardworking Missouri families. Included in the bill was an amendment sponsored by Congressman Cleaver, along with several other Democratic lawmakers, that would authorize federal funding for competitive grants to provide employment programs for youth in communities disproportionately impacted by gun violence.

"With 8.3 million jobs created since January 2021, we have witnessed an unprecedented economic recovery from the global pandemic due to President Biden's American Rescue Plan," said Congressman Cleaver. "However, with job openings currently exceeding applications, small businesses in Western Missouri are pleading for more skilled workers that can fill positions critical to the success of their operations. This week, the House of Representatives took an important step toward empowering workers all over the nation to fill these essential positions—which will also help to alleviate supply chain delays and lower costs for families in the Fifth Congressional District. Additionally, I'm thrilled that my amendment supporting job training programs for young Americans in communities impacted by gun violence was included in the legislation, which will help to keep kids on the right path toward a successful future. As this bill heads to the Senate—and, hopefully, the President's desk—I will continue seeking ways in which we can support American workers and small businesses simultaneously."

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), signed into law by President Obama in 2014, is essential to the United States' workforce development system. The law provides training and career services that help working people across the country obtain the skills needed to help employers secure a qualified workforce in a multitude of industries. WIOA includes funding for job training for adults, dislocated workers, and youth, as well as supportive services to help participants complete training and join the workforce.

Authorization for WIOA expired in 2020 under the Trump administration, and federal investment in workforce development has fallen markedly over time. While the U.S. labor force has grown by roughly half over the past four decades, federal spending on workforce development has fallen by two-thirds. Since 2002, workforce formula programs have seen a roughly 45 percent decline in federal funding, when adjusted for inflation. As a result, critical workforce development services are frequently unavailable to Americans who need them the most and small businesses struggle to find maintain a qualified workforce.

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022 would address these challenges by:

  • Fully funding WIOA programs by authorizing approximately $80 billion over six years, which will allow the workforce system to train one million workers per year by 2028;
  • Establishing a permanent Department of Labor program to help individuals released from incarceration transition back to employment and access sustainable career pathways;
  • Expanding summer and year-round jobs programs for youth;
  • Strengthening the quality of the Jobs Corps program;
  • Codifying partnerships between employers and community colleges to provide high-quality job training;
  • Strengthening industry and sector partnerships to better meet the needs of both employers and job seekers; and
  • Providing funding for innovative approaches to workforce development.

A section-by-section breakdown of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022 is available here.

Official text of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022 is available here.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.