Congressman Nick Langworthy Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Provide Workforce Training in Rural Communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week,Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) introduced the bipartisan Creating Access to Rural Employment and Education for Resilience and Success (CAREERS) Act (H.R. 7015) to address the skills gap and workforce shortage in rural communities. This legislation is co-led with Congresswoman Jill Tokuda (HI-02).

“Many businesses in rural areas, like those I represent in Western New York and the Southern Tier, are facing a challenge in finding skilled workers — resulting in too many vacancies and too few applicants,”said Congressman Langworthy. “The CAREERS Act aims to close the skills gap by investing in pathway training programs and creating meaningful partnerships with private sector stakeholders across sectors — from manufacturing to healthcare. If enacted, this legislation will work to bolster rural economies and innovation, making them more competitive and sustainable well into the future.”

“Hawai‘i has one of the highest costs of living in the country, which means that too many of our people are getting priced out of paradise. We need sustainable career pathways that lead to well-paying jobs that make it possible for our people to work, live, and thrive in rural and remote America. I am pleased to co-lead the CAREERS Act with my colleague Rep. Nick Langworthy to expand workforce training programs and create career pathways in our rural communities. By providing grants in key sectors such as public utilities, child care, agriculture, health care, manufacturing, and more, we will strengthen rural America’s ability to support and uplift their communities and our nation as a whole,”said Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02).

This legislation is also cosponsored by Representatives Yadira Caraveo (CO-08), Angie Craig (MN-02), John Duarte (CA-13), Don Davis (NC-1)., Michele Fischbach (MN-07), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Dusty Johnson (SD-AL), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Mike Lawler (NY-17), James Moylan (GU-AL), Tracey Mann (KS-01), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL), Eric Sorensen (IL-17), Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Zach Nunn (IA-03). 

“I am proud to represent strong rural communities across Western Minnesota,” said Congresswoman Fischbach (MN-07). “Many of the industries in these communities are struggling to find skilled workers. The CAREERS Act would help these industries expand skills development opportunities for existing workers, helping them close the skills gap. I am proud to join my colleagues on this legislation and look forward to helping rural industries meet their staffing needs.”

“I believe in the future of rural America,” said Congressman Tracey Mann (KS-01). “As a product of a rural community, and as the representative of 60 rural counties across Kansas, I am proud to support the CAREERS Act. This legislation allows industries in rural communities to better partner with the public sector to address workforce needs, retain skill in critical industries, and foster growth for our nation’s economy.”

“While many in our rural communities struggle to find work, businesses seek workers with the skills to fill key positions. The CAREERS Act will confront both this skills gap and the workforce shortage head-on,” said Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17). “By enabling the Secretary of Agriculture to allocate funds within the RISE Grant Program to support career pathway programs or sector partnerships in key industries, this bill will help equip rural workers to fill the labor demands of the 21st century and revitalize our rural communities. Our workforce is the backbone of our economy, and we need strong policies to address this crucial issue. I’m proud to join my colleagues Rep. Langworthy and Rep. Tokuda on this much-needed legislation.”

"Workforce shortages continue to persist across eastern North Carolina and rural America,” said Congressman Don Davis (NC-1). “The CAREERS Act will significantly expand access to career programs, bolstering broadband infrastructure and manufacturing, supporting our local workforce. We must bring jobs to the East.”

“As Delaware’s former Secretary of Labor and the founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Future of Work Caucus in Congress, I’ve long been focused on building up our workforce through investments in critical job training programs that help close the skills gap and reduce workforce shortages impacting industries across our economy,” said Rep. Blunt Rochester (D-Del.). “I’m proud to join Rep. Langworthy in introducing the bipartisan CAREERS Act – legislation that focuses on giving Americans in the most rural parts of our country access to programs to grow their skills, fill more in-demand jobs, and build a brighter future for themselves and their families.”

“The CAREERS Act directly assists rural communities like my own, the U.S territory of Guam. As a rural community, we often face the harsh reality of having skilled workers shortages. The impact can be significant on our community, resulting in less resources being available and fewer people receiving the care they need. I'd like to thank my colleague, Rep. Langworthy for his commitment to communities that often times get overlooked,” said Rep. James Moylan (Guam).

"Many businesses in rural communities like those I represent in California's Central Valley have difficulty finding employees with specific skillsets. The CAREERS Act aims to close this gap by allocating funds to support career pathways in key sectors like public utilities, conservation, healthcare, manufacturing, and agribusiness. This bipartisan legislation will not only aid businesses and workers in rural communities by increasing skilled workers for hire, but also enhance our Valley’s economic competitiveness,"said Congressman John Duarte (CA-13).

“To strengthen our economy, we must continue to invest in our workforce and ensure that job applicants from all corners of our country have the skills necessary to find a job,” said Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08). “I’m proud to co-sponsor the CAREERS Act, which will invest in pathway training programs in key sectors and provide critical training to thousands of workers in rural America. By addressing the skills gap in rural communities, we are not only helping American workers, but the American economy too.”

Specifically, the CAREERS Act would:

• Allow the Secretary of Agriculture to allocate funds within the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grant Program (Title VI of the Farm Bill) to support career pathway programs or industry or sector partnerships in key industry sectors, including public utilities (telecommunications, broadband, water, wastewater, disposal, and electric supply services), conservation practices and management, health care, child care, manufacturing, agribusiness, and others. 
• Grant amounts are awarded competitively, with a minimum of $500,000 and a maximum grant amount of $2,000,000 to eligible entities.  
• The Secretary has the flexibility to add additional sectors if a local workforce board deems that sector to be in high demand.
• Require the grant awardee to provide a report to the Secretary on the activities funded with the grant, including performance measures during the project period.

The CAREERS Act is supported by a number of stakeholders in New York and across the country.

“As a long-time manufacturer in NYS’ 23rd District, NES Bearing Company, Inc. dba Napoleon Engineering Services employs 55 people designing and manufacturing high-precision rolling bearings for the aerospace industry. Like manufacturers everywhere in New York and beyond, we face ongoing workforce shortages and challenges, including the availability, training, and education of skilled and new workers. These workforce issues have the potential to negatively impact our business, costing us sales and profitability, despite our best efforts to maximize the efficiency of our existing workforce,” said Christopher D. Napoleon, President & Chief Engineer of Napoleon Engineering Services, in a letter of support for the legislation. “As a result, we support any and all efforts to increase access to, funding for, and participation in workforce training and education programs, including the measures proposed in the CAREERS Act legislation that would target rural areas, including those in our region.”

"Corning Community College applauds Congressman Langworthy’s introduction of the CAREERS Act as a vital step towards addressing the workforce challenges facing rural America.  The CAREERS Act creates grant opportunities for institutions like ours to provide critical training skills to thousands of workers across the country in high-demand industries.  It’s good for American workers and good for the American economy,” said Dr. William P. Mullaney, President, SUNY Corning Community College.

“The greatest challenge facing equipment dealers is the lack of skilled service technicians,” said Daniel B. Fisher, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Associated Equipment Distributors. “AED commends Congressman Langworthy and Congresswoman Tokuda for introducing the CAREER Act and addressing the persistent skills gap in rural communities. Their legislation will help create the pathways necessary to develop the workforce that businesses need to grow and prosper.”

 “The unsustainable strain on our healthcare workforce is a critical issue for our nation, and we at the ATA and ATA Action support efforts to reduce the burden on our system and lend our support for the CAREERS Act. This funding would support career pathway programs to expand skills development for healthcare workers in rural communities, which would greatly benefit patients in these underserved communities. Our thanks to Representatives Langworthy and Tokuda, co-leads on this legislation, for their commitment to improving access to care for rural populations,” said Kyle Zebley, Senior Vice President, Public Policy, American Telemedicine Association (ATA), and Executive Director, ATA Action.

“Recent broadband investment opportunities create a tremendous need to develop skilled telecommunications professionals to deploy networks. The Creating Access to Rural Employment and Education for Resilience and Success (CAREERS) Act expands access to workforce development opportunities into the telecommunications industry through USDA’s existing RISE Grant Program. NTCA applauds Congressman Langworthy and Congresswoman Tokuda for introducing this legislation. We hope this bill and focus on this critical issue will help in developing skilled workforces based in and committed to rural communities,” said Shirley Bloomfield, CEO, NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association.

"Grant opportunities to strengthen workforce training and development are essential to supporting quality employees and clinicians in places like the nation's 5,400 Rural Health Clinics," said Sarah Hohman, Director of Government Affairs for the National Association of Rural Health Clinics. "We commend Rep. Langworthy and Rep. Tokuda for their leadership in taking tangible steps to address these significant challenges."

“The U.S. dairy industry supports more than 3 million American jobs that generate $42 billion in direct wages. In order to continue to grow and remain globally competitive, we need a strong, well trained workforce. The CAREERS Act can help serve as a vehicle to train and develop people to be part of the dairy workforce of the future. IDFA is grateful to Reps. Langworthy and Tokuda for leading this effort to better prepare tomorrow’s workforce to support the United States’ vibrant dairy manufacturing sector,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO, International Dairy Foods Association.

“The National Rural Health Association applauds Representatives Langworthy and Tokuda for their leadership in introducing the CAREERS Act. It is critical that rural Americans have access to career pathway and skills development programs, including those in health care, to help build a robust rural skilled workforce. This legislation would make important strides towards improving workforce challenges in rural communities, “ said Alan Morgan, Chief Executive Officer, National Rural Health Association. 

“Workforce development boards recognize the critical role of a skilled workforce in sustaining the economic vitality of our nation's communities. The CAREER Act offers a powerful bridge to closing skills gaps in rural communities. The National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) is grateful for the introduction of this legislation, which will provide greater opportunity for more workers and learners in rural America to acquire the skills necessary for success in today’s fast-changing and dynamic economy,” said Bradford Turner-Little, CEO, National Association of Workforce Boards.

“We applaud Representatives Langworthy and Tokuda for their leadership in advancing policies like the CAREERS Act, which will help encourage rural Americans to explore family-sustaining careers and vocational opportunities beyond a traditional college education, like those available in the equipment manufacturing industry,” said Kip Eideberg, Association of Equipment Manufacturers Senior Vice President of Government and Industry Relations. “This additional support will help ensure both youth and adult learners in rural America have access to educational programs that match what their communities need and foster greater collaboration across the public, nonprofit, and private sectors.”

"Rural communities face particular challenges in preparing a skilled workforce to meet the diverse needs of their local economies. The CAREERS Act would help the industries within these communities support career pathway programs and sector partnerships to address the workforce development obstacles in rural America. ACTE is proud to endorse the bill and offer our support toward fostering growth across critical sectors of the American economy. We applaud the efforts from Representatives Langworthy and Tokuda for their commitment to the prosperity of skilled workers and rural communities nationwide,"said LeAnn Curry, Association for Career and Technical Education Executive Director.

"I commend Representatives Langworthy and Tokuda for their leadership in introducing the CAREERS Act," said National Rural Water Association Chief Executive Officer Matt Holmes. "This legislation is a timely response to the urgent need for skilled water and wastewater operators in rural America. By expanding the RISE program, the CAREERS Act will offer comprehensive training resources and enhance the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ability to bridge critical workforce development gaps. NRWA fully endorses this initiative, and we are eager to assist in its implementation to attract, train, and retain water and wastewater operators for small and rural communities throughout the nation, such as through our Registered Apprenticeship Program.”

The full text of the bill can be found here.