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Members urge restoring adult education and job training cuts; committee declines amendment
Summary
Multiple members urged restoration of adult education and workforce training funding that the bill would eliminate or sharply cut; an offered amendment to restore those programs was not adopted during markup.
A member offered an amendment to restore funding for adult education and adult and youth job training programs, including elements of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and other adult education programs. Sponsors said the programs connect workers to in‑demand jobs and provide high school equivalency, English language instruction, apprenticeships, and vocational training.
Speakers described local impacts: a member said adult education programs in her state helped more than 13,000 students and that about 1,000 people a year earn high school credentials through adult education. Speakers warned that the bill's cuts would eliminate adult training access for roughly 1,100,000 people nationwide and more than 300,000 adults and 150,000 young adults who rely on job training programs, figures cited by proponents.
Opponents said the amendment lacked an offset and would breach the bill's allocation. The subcommittee chair said the amendment could not be accepted in markup for that reason. After debate the amendment was not adopted.
Why it matters: Adult education and job training programs are a primary pathway for workers to attain credentials and move into higher‑paying jobs; proponents framed the cuts as at odds with employers' persistent complaints about skilled‑labor shortages.
Outcome: The amendment to restore adult education and workforce funding was offered and ultimately not accepted during markup.
