WIOA Reauthorization and the Importance of Investing in the Economy’s Youngest Workers

Chairman Sanders, Ranking Member Cassidy and Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify. It is a privilege to be with you today. In my role at New America, I lead a body of work focused on policies and programmatic innovations designed to promote economic opportunity for youth and young adults. Since 2018, we have led an initiative called the Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA), which includes a national network of dynamic partnerships made up of state and local agencies, schools and community colleges, community-based organizations, non-profit intermediaries, and employers, all working to build earn-and-learn pathways to connect young people with the training they need to access good jobs, launch careers, and transition successfully into adulthood.

Now 70-members strong, the PAYA Network has provided powerful examples of how the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) can make a difference in the lives of young people. But it has revealed many of the legislation’s limitations, as well. Most significantly, PAYA has proven to us the importance of investing in our economy’s youngest workers, especially those who face historic barriers to entering and succeeding in our labor market. I appreciate the chance to share these learnings with you today.