Education and Labor Hearing on Workforce Investment Act

July 26, 2007
Blog Post
The Education and Labor Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness held a hearing today, "The Workforce Investment Act: Ideas to Improve the Workforce Development System." The hearing examined how the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act can be used to keep America's workforce strong. Witnesses included a number of workforce development professionals, including Beth Butler, an executive at Wachovia Corporation who is legally blind.

Chairman Rubén Hinojosa:

"Our ability to compete in a global marketplace is directly tied to the capacity of our workforce. It is essential that we take this opportunity... to prepare for the challenges ahead."

Beth Butler:

"Accessibility was critical for me to be successful. These programs provided those types of opportunities for me... The support that I received from my qualified vocational rehabilitation counselors was immeasurable..."