Rep. Aguilar Introduces JOBS Act to Connect Inland Empire Job Seekers with Employment Resources

Washington, D.C.— Last week, Rep. Pete Aguilar introduced the Job Opportunity and Business Services (JOBS) Act, his bill to empower local Workforce Develop Boards (WDBs) to advertise their services to businesses in their areas. Restructured by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014, WDBs connect job seekers with potential employers and provide them with services such as interview training, career counseling, and mentoring. The JOBS Act would amend the WIOA to allow WDBs to use their federal funding to advertise these valuable services in their communities.

“Workforce Development Boards have proven to be invaluable resources to connect people with jobs in regions like ours,” said Rep. Aguilar. He continued, “I introduced this bill because we need to get the word out about the services these organizations provide. I’m hopeful that this legislation will give the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board the tools they need to help more Inland Empire residents find jobs that pay well right here in our community.”

Said Tony Myrell, Chairman of the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board, “Ours is one of the fastest growing counties in the country, which puts an even greater premium on making sure we have a trained and qualified workforce to meet the needs of businesses. We’re also the largest geographic county in the U.S., which makes it that much harder to let everyone know the kinds of help we can provide. WIOA can be a game changer when it comes to making sure our workforce lines up with the needs of businesses, and the JOBS Act would help us get the word out in ways we currently can’t.” 

Said Phil Cothran, Vice Chairman of the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board, “With the help of WIOA, our workforce board is helping thousands of job seekers every year get the training they need to be competitive in today’s economy. But we’re handcuffed when it comes to spreading the word about the kinds of programs WIOA supports. If we’re truly going to serve the community – in our case, one than covers more than 20,000 square miles – we need the kind of flexibility the JOBS Act provides.”

Rep. Aguilar is committed to rebuilding the Inland Empire economy through policies that empower small businesses and help San Bernardino County residents find good-paying jobs. This legislation is the result of input from local business owners who participated in Rep. Aguilar’s Jobs Roundtable Tour of San Bernardino County.