Thompson helps introduce educational bills
Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena), Lucy McBath (R-Ga.), Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), and Mark Takano (R-Riverside) introduced legislation this week to provide American students and workers educational opportunities and prepare them for success in their careers.
The Training, Retention, and Investment Now (TRAIN) Act expands and makes permanent the Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants program at the Department of Labor (DOL), which provides funding to community colleges for partnerships with local employers.
“Workforce training programs help put students on a track to good-paying careers in in-demand fields,” said Thompson in a news release. “I am proud to coauthor the TRAIN Act to create a competitive grant program so that schools like the Santa Rosa Junior College receive the funding they need to train workers for careers in good-paying jobs. I look forward to ensuring that workforce training programs receive the funding they deserve to set more Americans on a path to a successful career.”
Community colleges have long provided vital access to higher education for lowincome and non-traditional learners.
However, community colleges struggle to build the capacity they need, and many students face difficulties finding employment after graduating.
Under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act's (WIOA) demonstration authority, DOL has begun awarding Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants to expand online and technology-enhanced learning in industries such as health care, logistics and cybersecurity.
These grants expand the capacity of community colleges to collaborate with employers and the public workforce development system to meet local and regional labor market demand for a skilled workforce.
DOL has awarded tens of millions of dollars in grants to community colleges around the country in 2023.
The TRAIN Act codifies and expands the Department of Labor's Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants, authorizing a competitive grant program that aims to build community colleges' capacity to provide employment and training programs leading to post-secondary credentials for in-demand industries or occupations.
The grants provide for:
• Developing or scaling up career training, career pathways, or work-based learning options like apprenticeships.
• Assisting individuals with barriers to employment with accessing programs.
• Providing support services to help participants complete education and training.