U.S. Congress Reauthorizes Workforce Investment Act

President Barack Obama is expected to sign the bill into law.

Showing overwhelming bipartisan support, both chambers of the U.S. Congress voted to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). This development comes with the passage of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA modernizes and improves existing U.S. workforce development programs and replaces WIA, originally passed in 1998, which has been awaiting reauthorization for 11 years.

WIOA passed the U.S. Senate on June 25 by a near-unanimous vote of 95-3. The House of Representatives voted on July 9, passing the measure by a vote of 415-6. The new legislation reauthorizes the program for six years. President Barack Obama is expected to sign the bill into law, although as of press time the timing is unknown.

The Association for Talent Development, formerly ASTD, has advocated for reauthorization of this legislation for several years, participating in a coalition of organizations involved in workforce development. Tony Bingham, ATD president and CEO, and Bill Docalovich, chairman of ATD's Public Policy Council, sent a letter of support for WIOA to the eight representatives and senators who co-sponsored the bill. In the letter they noted, "Regardless of the economic climate, it is critical that organizations of all sizes recruit, develop, and retain their human capital to achieve and sustain a competitive advantage. To do this, employers must have access to a workforce development system that helps them invest in developing their employees."

"The reauthorization of WIA via this new legislation is important for our members who possess critically needed expertise in training and talent development," says Jennifer Homer, vice president of communications for ATD. "We look forward to providing more information to our members and other talent development practitioners about how they can help local workforce investment boards address critical skills gaps in their local communities."