Supporting Workforce Development through Online, Virtual Training

As appeared in the August 6, 2020 edition of the Lititz Record Express, Elizabethtown Advocate & Ephrata Review.

With millions of hardworking Americans out of work through no fault of their own due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical that Congress provide flexible opportunities for individuals to learn new skills and gain credentials to help them return to the workplace. I have introduced the Enabling Online and Virtual Workforce Training Act, to increase opportunities for individuals to gain new skills which would allow them to be hired into in-demand career fields.

Simply put, my legislation would temporarily allow states or local workforce boards to expedite approvals for qualified training providers to offer their workforce development programs online. These programs lead to recognized, postsecondary credentials. Additionally, my legislation would remove a current barrier to accessing virtual workforce programs: many states presently require training providers to maintain a brick and mortar presence in the state to be able to offer their training programs. Current requirements make most online training providers ineligible to offer their programming and limit the number of opportunities for individuals to seek additional credentials.

As the pandemic continues to create uncertainty about when our communities will fully reopen, many American families are struggling to reenter the workforce because they lack adequate childcare. Online workforce training programs will allow out-of-work individuals to learn in-demand skills without leaving their homes. As our nation continues to safely return to work, a highly-skilled workforce remains central to the strength of the economy as it begins to recover.

As the Republican Leader of the Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee, of the Education and Labor Committee, I have heard testimony from small businesses, educators and other public officials about the importance of ensuring that America's workforce has the skills they need to succeed in today's in-demand career fields. I know that issue personally as a small business owner. Providing the necessary training and development opportunities to employees is critical to success.

The path to restoring our economy may be long and uncertain, with some companies reexamining the way they do business and their operations. My commonsense legislation, the Enabling Online and Virtual Workforce Training Act, is an effort to help individuals receive an education to help them live their American Dream and restore the greatest economy ever.