NEWS: Senators Blunt Rochester, Budd Introduce Legislation to Bolster America’s Talent Pipeline, Workforce

U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and U.S. Senator Tedd Budd (R-N.C.) today introduced the bipartisan National Talent Strategy Act, which would direct the U.S. Secretary of Labor, in partnership with a newly established Talent Working Group, to develop a comprehensive federal talent strategy to meet the needs of the American workforce and economy. This legislation would create a strategic planning process for America's workforce, help to create good-paying jobs, strengthen our economy and national security, and reduce national workforce shortages.

"For generations, the strength of the American workforce and our entrepreneurial spirit have helped our country thrive. As our economy evolves, we must be strategic. This bill would direct the Secretary of Labor to call together workforce development leaders to create a government-wide strategic plan on the future of our economy," said Senator Blunt Rochester. "I'm proud to introduce the bipartisan National Talent Strategy Act with Senator Budd to close workforce gaps, prepare workers for jobs of the future, and ensure the stability and security of our economy."

"Ensuring our workforce is prepared for the next generation of American Innovation hinges on strong coordination from our federal government, state and local governments, and educators," said Senator Budd. "By establishing the American Talent Working Group, we can ensure that our leaders have the most up to date data and understanding of the challenges both America's workers and employers face so that they can be addressed swiftly."

The National Talent Strategy Act would:

• Direct the U.S. Secretary of Labor to lead on the development of a comprehensive federal talent strategy to meet the needs of the American workforce and economy.
• Establish an American Talent Working Group to serve as an interagency forum for aligning federal policy on education, workforce, and talent goals, and proposing related legislative recommendations.
• Require the Secretary of Labor, the American Talent Working Group, and stakeholders from industry and labor organizations to develop a regularly updated four-year government-wide strategic talent plan.
• The federal talent strategy would:
  • Be grounded in a comprehensive analysis of current federal workforce programs and readiness, including barriers to uptake and success;
  • Focus on critical sectors, including industries projected to have significant job growth, industries facing shortages, and key industries for industrial capacity, security, and competitiveness; and
  • Be designed to improve cross-agency coordination and to be responsive to the changing needs of workers amidst technological disruptions.

The National Talent Strategy Act has been endorsed by Bipartisan Policy Center Action, Center for American Progress, Guild, NAF, and NC Chamber.

"The Bipartisan Policy Center's Commission on the American Workforce built a roadmap for an all-of-society approach to a 21st century talent strategy, which we know is essential for the changing economy. We are grateful to Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Ted Budd (R-NC) for their leadership on the National Talent Strategy Act, which would convene an American Talent Working Group and build the nation's first comprehensive Federal Strategic Talent Plan, closely tracking the core recommendation of our Commission. BPC is proud to endorse this important first step toward a national talent strategy and look forward to working together with Sens. Blunt Rochester and Ted Budd to advance this important work. We know our economy can't grow, our country can't prosper, unless we come together and invest in our most important asset: our people," said Margaret Spellings, President and CEO, Bipartisan Policy Center.

The full bill text of the National Talent Strategy Act can be found HERE, and a one-pager can be found HERE.