WASHINGTON- U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, unveiled her Workforce Innovation and Empowerment legislative package. This package is comprised of three bills that identify and address workforce gaps to help connect Iowans with career advancement opportunities, particularly in skilled trades, and provide pathways to continued success for workers without college degrees.
“America’s workers are our greatest asset as we work to strengthen our economy and compete with China, but outdated policies are holding everyone back. Rather than pushing four-year degrees, we should provide pathways to success in the trades and empower workers to excel in their chosen fields. My Workforce Innovation and Empowerment package will help the next generation of American workers gain the skills necessary for in-demand, high-paying jobs and foster meaningful opportunities in the 21st century economy,” Hinson said.
The first bill, the BEST Act provides a tax credit for employers that maintain a qualified training program for employees who are not seeking a college degree, empowering skilled workers to advance in their careers and strengthen our workforce.
The second bill is the Workforce Solutions Act that identifies barriers to new career paths in the energy and manufacturing sectors to help workers prepare to take on new opportunities in these dynamic fields.
This bill requires the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Energy to annually submit to Congress a joint economic analysis of occupations and career paths impacted by changes in the energy and critical manufacturing industries. The analysis will include information on growth, entry-level occupations, pre-requisites, living wage salaries, career paths, and barriers to success. The analysis will also include how digital technology advancements are impacting the critical manufacturing industry throughout the transition to Industry 4.0.
The third bill is the REAL Trucking Act enables 18-20-year-olds to obtain Commercial Drivers Licenses for interstate travel.
