Press Releases

On Friday, Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12), Chairman of the Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee, introduced the Validate Prior Learning to Accelerate Employment Act. This legislation will accelerate job seekers’ return to and advancement in the workforce by more effectively identifying and validating their existing skills gained through prior work experience, military service, life experience, or education. Upon introducing the bill, Congressman Allen issued the following statement:

"Learning doesn't only happen in the classroom. Yet, employers oftentimes overlook qualified and experienced job seekers due to a lack of formal education. As we continue to face workforce shortages in Georgia and across the nation, I am proud to introduce the Validate Prior Learning to Accelerate Employment Act. This bill will help ensure local workforce development and job placement partners are equipped with the necessary resources to measure job seekers' abilities. In today's modern economy, we must do away with the outdated narrative that a college degree is the only sufficient measure of what a worker can bring to the table. This legislation does just that while empowering employers to find qualified job candidates through skills-based hiring."

BACKGROUND: Specifically, this legislation updates the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to enhance the use of assessments that measure prior learning and skills to award industry-recognized certificates or credit toward a postsecondary credential. The legislation:

• Fosters collaboration with businesses and education providers to identify assessments that can validate in-demand skills valued by employers,
• Incorporates these assessments into the services provided by the local workforce centers, ensuring job seekers can leverage their existing skills to accelerate reemployment, and
• Supports employers seeking to implement skills-based hiring, reducing the reliance on college degree requirements in the hiring process.