Owens Empowers States to Tackle Worker Shortage
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Education and Workforce Committee Vice Chair Burgess Owens (R-UT) introduced the One Door to Work Act to establish a state innovation demonstration authority in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). This legislation gives states and local workforce boards the flexibility to implement innovative reforms aimed at improving outcomes for job seekers, employers, and taxpayers.
“For too long, the federal government has stood in the way as states work to modernize their workforce and address the worker shortage slowing economic growth,” said Rep. Owens. “With millions of jobs unfilled and too many Americans sidelined, it’s clear our workforce systems are outdated. The One Door to Work Act empowers states to integrate workforce and welfare systems, streamlining access to jobs, training, and education. Utah has proven this model works—it’s time to give every state the tools to help their people get back to work.”
Background:
- Federal law prevents the effective integration of workforce and safety net programs. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) allocates the majority of funds directly to the local level, bypassing state governments that oversee temporary assistance programs such as food stamps, TANF, and Medicaid. Consequently, these two systems operate independently.
- When temporary assistance and workforce systems are disconnected, it is difficult to track success and ensure that everyone can access opportunities for work, training, or education. The complex array of programs creates a difficult and time-consuming process for recipients to navigate.
- The One Door to Work Act is modeled after the Utah system, which received an exception under the Workforce Innovation Act in 1998, allowing it to innovate and integrate its system into one unified Department of Workforce Services. As a result, Utah rebounded most swiftly from COVID-19 job losses and consistently ranks near the top of the nation in terms of workforce participation and health.
The full text of the legislation is available here.
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