WIOA Legislation passes in the Senate
The Senate has passed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), bipartisan, bicameral legislation to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). WIOA passed the Senate on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis, 95-3. The legislation authored by Senators Harkin, Alexander, Murray, and Isakson and Representatives Kline, Miller, Foxx, and Hinojosa will now move to the House.
There were 2 amendments that were debated prior to the vote on H.R. 803 (WIOA bill) and both were defeated. The bill will now go over to the House and could come up for a vote when the House returns from the Fourth of July Recess, although exact timing is unclear.
WIOA is the largest federal funding source for workforce development activities in all 50 states and reauthorizes the outdated Workforce Investment Act (WIA), a nearly $3 billion-a-year program that funds critical job training programs for displaced adults and youth.
Here are the roll call totals for the amendment votes and the vote for H.R. 803:
- Lee amendment #3380 to H.R.803 (evaluation report requirement); Not Agreed to: 33-63
- Flake amendment #3379 to H.R.803 (making the appointment and certification of a new local board permissible instead of required); Not Agreed to: 40-58
- Passage of H.R.803, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), as amended; Passed: 95-3
