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Remarks Prepared for U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine
L. Chao
U.S. Senate Republican Conference
Legislative Agenda to Create and Protect Jobs
Washington, DC
Monday, April 12, 2005
Thank you Senator Hutchison, Chairman Santorum and all the Members of the
Senate who are here today.
Your call for a pro-growth agenda comes at a crucial time for our economy.
We've had 22 straight months of job growth and more Americans are working
than ever before. 3.1 million jobs have been created since the up tick in
job growth began in June 2003. And the unemployment rate is 5.2%.
This kind of steady, consistent growth is great news for America's workers.
But we all know that America faces many challenges in the worldwide economy.
We need to retrain our workers and remake our companies so they can compete
successfully, grow and create more jobs here at home.
The best way to do that, as the President has said many times, is to create
the environment in which new jobs can be created.
You've already led the way by curbing law suit abuse through class action
reform. I'm delighted that your impressive agenda includes reforming and
reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).
The Administration has an ambitious proposal (WIA Plus) to remake this important
worker training program into a client-centered powerhouse that helps more
workers land high-skilled, good-paying jobs. The House has already passed
WIA reform (H.R. 27) with some important reforms.
I look forward to working with Chairman Enzi, the HELP Committee, Republican
Conference and Governors to incorporate the Administration's additional WIA
reforms in the Senate.
We must improve the outcomes for workers by updating the design of the current
Workforce Investment System. We know that a system with over a dozen different
funding streams—each with separate rules, reports and definitions—is not
effective in meeting the needs of individual workers. The current system
is too focused on bureaucracy and processes. It should be more worker-centered
and focused on better outcomes for the people it serves.
The principles underlying the President's reforms reflect a new vision and
new approach to workforce investment that will bring the system into the
21st century and better serve our workers.
The first principle is to give state and local communities maximum
flexibility to design a workforce investment system that
meets their needs.
Second, in exchange for greater flexibility, this Administration will require greater
accountability.
Third, multiple layers of bureaucracy eat up too much of the available resources.
So this Administration proposes to spend more workforce
investment system resources on actual worker training.
Fourth, this Administration proposes to create a more effective governance
structure by enhancing the role of state and local
officials.
Fifth, this Administration proposes to strengthen the
One-Stop Career Center System.
Finally, this Administration proposes to enhance individual
choice through Innovation Training Accounts. These accounts
will allow individual workers to create their own customized training
program, using a broad range of public and private training resources.
In addition to reforming the Workforce Investment System, we need to recognize
that the world of work has changed. Workers need flexible workplace arrangements
that allow them to balance work and family needs. And we owe it to workers
to ensure that they have a safe workplace environment.
So, on behalf of this Administration, I look forward to working with the
Conference on a comprehensive, pro-growth agenda for America's workers.
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