Statement on Introduction of Relaunching America's Workforce Act

WASHINGTON - The National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) issued the following statement following the introduction of H.R. 6646, referred to as the Relaunching America's Workforce Act (RAWA).

"We support the introduction of this important legislation as it invests in America's workers and businesses. These critical funds are needed for successful reemployment and recovery during the immediate crisis and beyond. The Act proposes use of existing, proven funding streams that promote state innovation, flexibility and accountability. This is similar to effective reemployment and upskilling solutions implemented during the Great Recession.

Now is the time to prepare to assist our workforce system's priority populations, which include young and low-income workers, dislocated workers, and workers with barriers to employment. It is critical to help these individuals find a foothold in the economy that emerges following the COVID-19 economic downturn, which has had a disproportionate impact on many of them. Increasing access to upskilling opportunities, such as on-the-job and incumbent worker training and transitional jobs, is important to their success. The RAWA empowers states and their local partners to expand access to these and other successful education and training models based on local needs. 

The bill also invests in critical areas of need related to enhancing and using labor market and administrative data associated with COVID-19 impacts. This will enable policymakers, businesses, jobseekers, researchers and program analysts to have more real-time, actionable intelligence for defining challenges, tailoring reemployment solutions and measuring outcomes."