The Pathways to Prosperity Act would take critical steps to expand federal resources available to community and technical colleges to support partnerships between colleges and employers

The Senator’s efforts will ensure new good-paying Georgia jobs go to hard-working Georgians

Senator Reverend Warnock: “This legislation is a win for workers who will have access to better-paying jobs; a win for businesses that will be able to find more of the workers they need where and when they need them; a win for our community and technical colleges to help keep their classrooms full; and a major win for our state’s economy that will benefit from thriving businesses and a world-class, homegrown workforce”

ICYMI from Capitol Beat: Warnock introduces workforce development bill

 WATCH: Senator Reverend Warnock introduces the Pathways to Prosperity Act

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Mike Braun (R-IN) introduced legislation focused on strengthening the nation’s workforce development pipeline by bridging the gap between community and technical colleges and local industry, ensuring a strong pathway from vocational degree to a good-paying job. The bipartisan Pathways to Prosperity Act would improve and expand the existing Strengthening Community Colleges Grant Program, a federal program that provides competitive grants to community and technical colleges to support partnerships between colleges and employers. These partnerships are intended to align community and technical college workforce development programs to local industry needs; establish, improve, or expand high-quality workforce development programs; and bolster the workforce.

Georgia employers have a problem: employers want to hire workers for jobs that often only require a technical or community college degree, however the local workforce isn’t always trained with the necessary technical skills. Georgia technical and community colleges are educating students excited to take on good-quality jobs, but those educational institutions lack the resources to tailor their curriculum and programs to closely match the needs of local industry. Many Georgia industries are looking to increase their hiring thanks to historic investments championed by Senator Warnock, including the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure law, and the CHIPS and Science Act, but federal resources are needed to bridge the gap between education and employment opportunities. The Pathways to Prosperity Act of 2024 is the solution.

“I tell business leaders all the time, come to Georgia; Georgia is open for business. As these new, good-paying jobs come to the Peach State, it’s important that these local jobs are filled locally. That means we need a workforce that’s trained to step into these roles,” said Senator Reverend Warnock.“That’s why I’ve introduced new bipartisan legislation to strengthen our workforce development pipeline by giving technical colleges federal resources to collaborate with local industry partners to train Georgians up for the jobs coming to our state. This legislation is a win for workers who will have access to better-paying jobs; a win for businesses that will be able to find more of the workers they need where and when they need them; a win for our community and technical colleges to help keep their classrooms full; and a major win for our state’s economy that will benefit from thriving businesses and a world-class, homegrown workforce.”

“There are many good-paying jobs out there that go unfilled because of a lack of skills and career/technical training,” said Senator Mike Braun.“This bill will help close the gap and give more Hoosiers access to skills training programs that will put them on the path to a better career and higher pay for their families.” 

Specifically, the Pathways to Prosperity Act of 2024 would provide funding to:

• Set up, enhance, or broaden the quality of educational or career training initiatives at community colleges.
• Enhance opportunities for individuals to attain nationally or regionally recognized postsecondary credentials in high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations.
• Develop or scale up career training, career pathways, or work-based learning options like apprenticeships.
• Assist individuals with barriers to employment with accessing programs.
• Provide support services to help participants complete education and training.

Senator Warnock has championed workforce development since coming to the Senate. He successfully bolstered the workforce development pipeline for aviation workers in the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization earlier this year. Additionally, the Senator has introduced legislation to address shortages in child care workforce in Head Start classrooms. Lastly, Senator Warnock secured funding for regional tech hubs in the CHIPS and Science Act after bringing Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to a pilot region tech hub at Georgia Tech.

Bill text available here. 

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