Republican Governors Join to Support Reauthorization of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Emphasize Need for State Flexibility Authority

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, 18 Republican governors sent a joint letter to Congress to express their support of legislation to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and urged the inclusion of the State Flexibility Pilot Authority, a provision that is critical for empowering states to innovate and reform workforce systems to more effectively serve unemployed Americans.

In part, the governors wrote:

With over 7.4 million open jobs nationwide, employers are struggling to find skilled workers to fill critical roles. At the same time, many states are eager to modernize their workforce programs to better serve jobseekers, but current WIOA law hinders these efforts. The bipartisan Senate WIOA draft (Section 197) includes a State Flexibility Pilot Authority that would allow five states to receive their WIOA Title I funds as grants for five years. Ultimately, all states deserve the flexibility to design workforce systems that meet the unique needs of their citizens.

Read the full letter here.

All signatories include: Governor Kay Ivey (AL), Governor Sarah Sanders (AR), Governor Brian Kemp (GA), Governor Brad Little (ID), Governor Eric Holcomb (IN), Governor Kim Reynolds (IA), Governor Jeff Landry (LA), Governor Tate Reeves (MS), Governor Mike Parson (MO), Governor Greg Gianforte (MT), Governor Jim Pillen (NE), Governor Joe Lombardo (NV), Governor Chris Sununu (NH), Governor Bill Lee (TN), Governor Spencer Cox (UT), Governor Glenn Youngkin (VA), Governor Jim Justice (WV), and Governor Mark Gordon (WY).