Bobby Scott

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney), a distinguished member of the Committee on Education and Labor.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, could you advise as to how much time is remaining on both sides?

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin), a distinguished member of the Committee on Education and Labor.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen).

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Cartwright).

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, the evidence is clear that our economy has made meaningful progress toward recovering from the pandemic. Thanks to the efforts of Congress and the Biden-Harris administration, our economy has added a record 8.3 million jobs since the start of 2021, and the unemployment rate has fallen to 3.6 percent. Despite this progress, we know that job openings currently exceed job applicants and employers are clamoring for skilled workers. In fact, research suggests that workers are leaving their job to seek better career opportunities in record numbers. This bill takes a critical step forward to empower workers to fill those competitive job positions and, in turn, helps reduce supply chain shortages, lower costs for families, increase their incomes, and improve our business competitiveness. Madam Speaker, investing in workforce development has historically been a priority for both Democrats and Republicans. That is why our committee conducted an extended bipartisan process to put this legislation together, despite the opposition we have heard from our colleagues today. As our economy rebounds from the pandemic, we should all agree that we must take this opportunity to expand access to high-quality job training opportunities for America's workers. I thank my colleague again, Ms. Wilson, for her leadership in bringing this critical legislation to the floor, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, pursuant to section 4 of House Resolution 1119, I rise to offer amendments en bloc No. 1.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, pursuant to section 4 of House Resolution 1119, I rise to offer amendments en bloc No. 2.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, this en bloc contains several bipartisan amendments from our colleagues to continue improving the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022. This en bloc contains commonsense proposals that strengthen the underlying bill, and I thank my colleagues for their contributions. Madam Speaker, I strongly urge support for both the en bloc and the underlying bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the chair of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development of the Committee on Appropriations, and a strong supporter of sector grant training.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Gottheimer).

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Horsford).

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, I reiterate that this is an en bloc amendment containing commonsense, bipartisan proposals that strengthen the underlying bill. I strongly urge support for both the en bloc amendment and the underlying bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, this en bloc amendment contains additional Democratic amendments from my colleagues to continue improving the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022. This en bloc amendment contains proposals that strengthen the underlying bill, and I thank my colleagues for their contributions. I strongly urge support for both the en bloc amendment and the underlying bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Delaware (Ms. Blunt Rochester), who is a former member of the Committee on Education and Labor and a strong supporter of workforce development.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I reiterate that this en bloc amendment contains commonsense proposals that will strengthen the underlying bill. Madam Speaker, I strongly urge support for both the en bloc amendment and the underlying bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, this en bloc amendment contains several amendments which I oppose; therefore, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I am the only speaker on this side. I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, I focus my comments on two of the amendments in this en bloc that undermine the improvements we are putting forward in this legislation. The first strikes language from the bill that prevents nonregistered apprenticeships from receiving WIOA funds. If you want to have a nonregistered apprenticeship program you can do that, but we ought to fund the registered programs first since they are much better, and we shouldn't spend money on those nonregistered programs. Registered apprenticeship programs are a proven strategy that have demonstrated high-quality training and wage progression across multiple industries. This bill supports efforts to expand registered apprenticeships to additional populations and industries, by reserving 50 percent of the funds for programs serving individuals with barriers to employment. Many of my colleagues have opposed the so-called Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs, or IRAPs, because that program discards key features that are the cause of success for our registered apprenticeship program, including quality standards, worker protections, national recognition, and the fact that virtually all registered apprenticeship graduates end up in jobs that pay well above the median wage. The second amendment in this en bloc amendment group prohibits WIOA funds from being used to reimburse any healthcare services. I am not sure where they find that physical health is included. Mental health counseling and substance abuse is included as possible funding. The question about whether WIOA will pay for health services is a distraction from the work we are trying to do today, to ensure an equitable recovery, and provide opportunity for economic advancement for all individuals in all communities. This legislation reflects the input from stakeholders across the country who know what it takes to expand access to high-quality job training, career navigation services, and other critical services. The statute has long provided for flexibility for local programs. The statute also allows for the provision of supportive services, such as assistance with transportation, childcare, dependent care, or housing; services that are crucial to facilitating individuals' ability to participate in WIOA-funded programs. In fact, the legislation specifically ensures that treatment of substance use disorder is a permissible use of supportive services under WIOA. Fundamentally, needs of individuals seeking job training are not always distinct from health needs. These programs should meet people where they are to facilitate full participation to ensure continued and sustained economic success. Updating and improving programs authorized through WIOA, such as the bill we are considering today, will lift up communities and help us achieve that goal. This is what we need to do today by voting ``no'' on this en bloc amendment and ``yes'' on the underlying bill. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.