Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik joined Representatives Rick Allen (R-GA), Michelle Steel (R-CA), and Julia Letlow (R-LA) to re-introduce the Validate Prior Learning to Accelerate Employment Act. This legislation will accelerate the advancement of job seekers in the workforce by more effectively identifying and validating their existing skills gained through prior work experience, military service, life experience, or education.
“I am proud to reintroduce the Validate Prior Learning to Accelerate Employment Act to modernize how the workforce system weighs skills learned from military service and prior work,” stated Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. “Upstate New Yorkers, including our Servicemembers with nontraditional experiences and backgrounds, are ready to get to work but are often overlooked due to their lack of traditional academic degrees. Experience is an invaluable teacher, and this bill is a win for NY-21 as it gets qualified candidates back into the workforce benefiting our economy.”
“Too often qualified job seekers who possess valuable skills from prior work experience are overlooked by employers,” stated Congressman Rick Allen. “But having started my own construction business, I know firsthand how important it is to hire employees with the skills necessary to step right into the job. With nearly ten million unfilled jobs across our nation, it is imperative we move past the status quo and recognize that a four-year college degree is not the only measure of what a worker can bring to the table. That’s why I am proud to join my colleagues in re-introducing the Validate Prior Learning to Accelerate Employment Act, which will help ensure employers can find qualified job candidates through skills-based hiring and empower more individuals to achieve the American Dream.”
“Real life experience is invaluable in the workplace,” stated Congresswoman Michelle Steel. “This bill could be the catalyst for changing many workers lives for the better and filling a critical need in the labor market. I am grateful to Rep. Stefanik for introducing the Validate Prior Learning to Accelerate Employment Act and to my colleagues for supporting this legislation to invest in the futures of countless Americans.”
“Helping citizens find jobs and connecting employers with skilled workers is one of the most essential building blocks of a strong economy,” stated Congresswoman Julia Letlow. “This bill is a great measure to help put more Americans back to work and leverage the skills and education they have.”
Specifically, this legislation updates the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to enhance the use of competency-based assessments in the workforce system. It directs States to coordinate with industry organizations, employers, training providers, local workforce boards, and institutions of higher education to identify or develop assessments that measure an individual’s knowledge, skills, and abilities for the purposes of:
- Awarding recognized postsecondary credentials valued by employers in the state or postsecondary credit towards earning such credentials.
- Developing individual employment plans that identify in-demand industry sectors or occupations that require similar knowledge, skills, and abilities, and any upskilling needed to secure employment in those fields.
- Helping individuals communicate their skills to prospective employers through skills-based resumes, profiles, or portfolios.
Read the full text of the legislation HERE.
