Overview

The nation's governors are vitally concerned with the competitive economic position of our states and the nation. A globally competitive economy requires both high-performance firms and workers. U.S. firms must upgrade production processes, improve products, seek new markets, and invest in workforce skills to compete successfully. State workforce investment systems seek to provide every youth and adult with opportunities to secure and retain a job and continuously upgrade their skills in order to advance economically and socially throughout their lifetime.

NGA's Center for Best Practices provides a forum for governors, their advisors, and state officials to identify, share, and implement best practices designed to advance America's workforce. In line with this goal, the Center offers governors technical assistance to successfully implement federal workforce legislation including the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and the anticipated reauthorization of this legislation. The current law gives states opportunities to improve their workforce development systems and it affords governors flexibility to align multiple workforce programs their states that are responsive to the changing needs of employers and workers.

The Workforce Investment Act is presently up for reauthorization. The U.S. House has passed H.R. 27, its reauthorization bill and S. 1027 has passed the Senate HELP Committee and is waiting for action by the full Senate. Below is a link to a side-by-side comparison of the two bills to current legislation and proposals by the Administration, along with a link to the NGA workforce policy.

Related Links:

• NGA-NASWA-Chairs WIA Recommendations - July 17, 2007
• NGA-NASWA-Chairs WIA Letter - July 17, 2007
• WIA Side by Side Analysis - June 2006
• WIA Side by Side Analysis - April 2006
• WIA Side by Side Analysis - May 2005
• NGA Workforce Policy