Workforce Investment Act

Dear Chairwoman Mikulski, Senator Shelby, Chairman Rogers and Representative Lowey:

The nation’s governors urge you to uphold existing law and restore the 15 percent Workforce Investment Act (WIA) set-aside in FY 2014 appropriations.

Governors appreciate the growing recognition by Congress and the Administration of the value that the WIA 15 percent set-aside holds for job seekers and businesses. Bicameral, bipartisan support for reestablishing the set-aside is evident. In the FY 2013 appropriations process, both the Senate and House acknowledged the importance of flexible federal funds for job creation by proposing set-aside restoration. And for the first time in years, the President also proposed partial restoration to the set-aside as part of his FY 2014 budget. Though governors welcome and appreciate these efforts, the WIA set-aside needs to be restored to the full 15 percent in FY 2014 appropriations.

We all share the same goal to accelerate job creation and, therefore, economic growth. Governors are well-equipped to identify and address the workforce training needs of our local employers to help meet that goal. The full 15 percent set-aside, in particular, would provide states and territories the needed flexibility to tailor initiatives and programs to train workers, meet the unique needs of business and foster innovation. With the broad bipartisan support the 15 percent WIA set-aside currently enjoys among both governors and federal lawmakers, now is the time to restore these critical, flexible job-training funds.

Across the nation, governors are working to do more with less. Governors need the flexibility of the 15 percent WIA set-aside to create jobs, spur economic growth, grow family incomes and get people back to work.

Sincerely,