Cantor outlines benefits of SKILLS Act

House Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) outlined the importance of a measure that would reform and streamline federal job training programs during a visit on Friday to Germanna Community College in Culpeper, Va.

The Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills Act would consolidate or eliminate 35 training programs that have been deemed duplicative.

The bill was approved by the House of Representatives last year but has not been brought up for a vote in the Senate.

“Virginia’s community colleges play a critical role in higher education and workforce development,” Cantor said. “The Germanna Center for Workforce & Community Education is leading the way through the SkillUpVA program, which provides people with the skills required to get good jobs that need to be filled right now. By focusing on job training and skills education we can see more people get back to work. The goal of the SKILLS Act is to help community colleges like Germanna better meet the needs of local businesses in their community and drive innovation and job creation across the Commonwealth and the country.”

Germanna Community College Vice President of Workforce Jeanne Wesley said affordable, short-term workforce training programs help the unemployed attain the skills that today’s businesses demand.