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Guthrie speaks to the National Skills Coalition. 

Washington, DC– Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) this week spoke to the National Skills Coalition’s annual meeting, where he discussed his priorities as chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce’s Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development.

At the meeting, Guthrie stressed the importance of aligning workers’ skills with in-demand jobs. Guthrie’s father lost his manufacturing job at an automobile plant but was able to leverage the skills he had acquired to start a new business. Guthrie used the example of his father to highlight the need to invest in workforce development.

“My father’s ability to start his own business and take advantage of the opportunity came about because he had developed the necessary skills during his previous job,” explained Guthrie. “We need to help workers develop skills to match new, in-demand jobs.”

Guthrie highlighted top priorities for the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee this Congress, including implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and reauthorizing the Higher Education Act.

Guthrie’s subcommittee plans to work with the new administration and with stakeholders to ensure that WIOA is implemented as Congress intended. 

“What’s important for us moving forward is oversight,” said Guthrie. “The rubber’s meeting the road and we want input. We really want to know how it’s working and how it’s moving forward. We streamlined a confusing maze of federal mandates and provided greater flexibility to state and local communities. Now, people who care about the workforce development system can help make it effective in their own communities.”

Guthrie also discussed the need to streamline student aid programs and empower students and families in the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.

“You can’t go to any Chamber of Commerce meeting in my district where the number one issue isn’t related to workforce development,” said Guthrie. “Businesses in Kentucky want to hire skilled workers. I look forward to moving forward on these priorities to help workers get the skills they need to be successful.”

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