Message from Congressman Mike Ross

Earlier this year in February, I held more than 15 roundtable discussions focused on jobs throughout our congressional district, from Texarkana to Pine Bluff and from El Dorado to Paris. Inviting business and community leaders in each county, I wanted to discuss ways the public and private sectors could better work together to foster economic development for our state and to create jobs.

One major concern I heard from both employers and employees was how difficult it can be to match skilled workers with jobs that need those skills. Employers, particularly manufacturers, told me that access to skilled labor is a constant concern, even in times of high unemployment. On the other hand, workers told me they want a more efficient way to be recognized for their skills and to get matched with a job that needs those skills.

I heard your concerns loud and clear. We should find a way to match employers with skilled workers because it’s a win-win situation; employers get the help they need and workers get a job. That’s why I am proud to help introduce the AMERICA Works Act, H.R. 1325, in the House of Representatives. This legislation will help better connect skilled workers with manufacturers and employers who need to hire people with those skills.

The AMERICA Works Act has two main components. The first is to require the U.S. Department of Labor to create a registry of skilled credentials. These would include credentials required by federal or state laws for certain occupations, would be from the Manufacturing Institute’s Manufacturing Skills Certification System, and would be industry-recognized and nationally portable credentials, meaning once you are certified in a certain skill, it’s recognized nationwide. This completely voluntary registry would constantly be updated and validated by a third party to reflect evolving industry requirements.

Basically, the new database allows employers to find job seekers with the skills, credentials or accreditations the vacant job requires. On the other hand, it also allows job seekers to register in the database and advertise their skills, credentials or accreditations to employers in their home state or around the country.

The second component of the AMERICA Works Act would prioritize existing federal resources and workforce training programs so that they are more effectively supporting education and training for in-demand skills and credentials.

With these two components, this legislation helps job seekers and students recognize the skills that are in demand, get the training they need and know that their skills and training will be recognized by prospective employers both locally and across state lines.

The AMERICA Works Act does not create any new government program and it does not add a single dime to the deficit because it simply uses existing resources in a more effective way. It is an example of how the federal government can help the private sector create more private sector jobs without adding to the nation’s deficit and without creating more government red tape.

The bill already has bipartisan support in House of Representatives and I am working hard to build support for the AMERICA Works Act in Congress. As your Congressman, I will continue to support and advocate for commonsense ideas that encourage private sector job growth and boost economic development. While I am working hard to help our economy recover, we still have a long way to go and I will not rest until every Arkansan who wants a job has one.