WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) announced her support for two bipartisan bills that would bolster Nevada’s workforce and make it easier for Nevadans to pursue job training programs. The bipartisan Jumpstart Our Business by Supporting Students (JOBS) Act would expand Pell Grant eligibility to students who are enrolled in job training programs that lead to industry-recognized credentials and certificates. The bipartisan Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act would expand eligible uses of tax-exempt savings plans to cover costs associated with workforce training and credentialing, such as professional certifications.
“Career training and technical education opens the door to high-demand, good-paying jobs,” said Senator Rosen. “That’s why I’m joining these bipartisan bills to make it easier for Nevadans to access workforce development programs. I’ll continue working across the aisle to ensure Nevada workers have the critical training they need.”
“Expanding Pell grant eligibility for students in job training programs that lead to industry-recognized credentials would be a game-changer for communities across the country — including Southern Nevada,” said College of Southern Nevada President Dr. Federico Zaragoza. “We’re training hundreds of students in growing fields such as healthcare, IT, and manufacturing, but it’s not enough to keep up with industry demand. With more funding, we could easily double the number of workers we train for real, well-paying jobs in the region’s growing industries.”
Senator Rosen has been leading the effort to support Nevada’s workforce amid the state’s economic growth. Earlier this month, she announced that $800,000 she secured has been delivered to the Southern Nevada Workforce Connections’ Development Program. Last year, Senator Rosen sent a bipartisan letter to the U.S. National Science Foundation Director Sethuraman Panchanathan requesting an update on the implementation of the provision she secured in the CHIPS and Science Act to support the critical mineral mining industry and bolster the mining workforce. Last Congress, she secured $14.9 million in funding to support workforce development projects in manufacturing, health care, information technology, and transportation across northern Nevada.
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