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Statement from America Forward, New Profit’s nonpartisan policy initiative, on the passage of WIOA:

America Forward applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the bipartisan Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to reauthorize the $3 billion Workforce Investment Act (WIA) earlier today by a vote of 415 to 6.   Passage by the House follows passage by the Senate on June 25th, by a vote of 95-3.

America Forward and the America Forward Coalition have worked closely with Members of Congress and their staff charged with updating WIA to ensure the innovative ideas of our Coalition members are reflected in updated legislation. We are particularly pleased to have worked closely with Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Michael Bennet (D-OH) and Representative Susan Brooks (R-IN) on the Pay for Success language included in WIOA. Referred to as “pay-for-performance” in the bill, this provision will incentivize Pay for Success contracts and arrangements by allowing local workforce boards to reserve up to 10 percent of their funding toward these efforts. Eligible recipients of these funds would include intermediary organizations, nonprofit service providers, and community-based organizations such as those in the America Forward Coalition.

Passage of WIOA reaffirms America Forward’s call to update our nation’s workforce system for the 21^st century and we urge the President to sign this critical piece of legislation into Law as soon as possible.

For more information, contact America Forward.