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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219-8211 x 114
I want to congratulate Congress on winning the votes to pass landmark
legislation to reform our nation's job training system--but the real winners
today are job seekers across America.
This has been a long road. President Clinton first proposed a G.I. Bill
for America's Workers more than three years ago--and thanks to strong
bipartisan leadership, we have reached our destination. The President soon will
sign the Workforce Investment Act and deliver a job training system that gives
all Americans the tools to stay ahead in today's fast changing economy.
I want to thank Congressmen Goodling, McKeon, Clay and Kildee--and
Senators DeWine, Kennedy, Jeffords, and Wellstone for their leadership in
passing this legislation.
The Workforce Investment Act recognizes that the old ways won't work in
the new economy. It streamlines over 70 training programs into a seamless
system; institutionalizes and expands One-Stop Centers; provides skills grants
so adults can make their own job training decisions instead of having them made
through a bureaucratic system; and holds training providers accountable by
providing consumers with report cards on the effectiveness of job programs.
I am also pleased that the legislation includes the President's Youth
Opportunities Areas Initiative, which takes a creative new approach to helping
young people in enterprise zones and empowerment communities find jobs. It
provides critical resources to high poverty areas and invests in opportunity
for the most disadvantaged young people in central cities and rural communities
across America.
This bill is tailored to meet the local needs of both workers and
business for years to come. It will help all Americans who want to take
advantage of the new high paying jobs that our economy is creating. It will
provide businesses with the skilled employees they need to compete in the
global high tech economy. Above all, it will make sure that as our economy
moves into the 21st century, our job training system does, too.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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