WASHINGTON, DC – On Thursday, Rep. John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, Davis, Yuba City) joined Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) in introducing the Job Opportunities between Our Shores (JOBS) Act, a bill to promote advanced manufacturing in California and throughout the United States and give dislocated workers the training and skills they need to find new jobs in growing industries.

“While we have seen traditional manufacturing jobs disappear or go overseas, jobs in advanced manufacturing continue to grow.  Unfortunately, many advanced manufacturers are facing a growing gap between the new jobs being created and workers with the unique skills needed to fill them,” said Torres.  “With the global economy only becoming more and more competitive, this bill will help create comprehensive, demand-driven training programs to ensure the jobs of the future are created right here in California and American workers are able to stay ahead of the curve.”

The JOBS Act would authorize the Secretary of Labor to initiate pilot projects between advanced manufacturers and local community colleges, state colleges, and workforce investment boards in order to create education and training programs focused in the field of advanced manufacturing.

Eligible recipients must demonstrate their capacity to teach advanced manufacturing concepts and how they will help workers develop the skills that will lead to an industry-recognized credential.

“Over the past several years, I’ve heard a constant theme every time I convene my Advisory Committee of manufacturers in California’s Third Congressional District,” said Garamendi. “How do manufacturers find the skilled workers they need to create a quality product, expand their businesses, and bring their products to market? This is a problem affecting all manufacturers trying to Make It In California and Make It In America. I join Congresswoman Torres in introducing this bill because it would directly address these issues, bridging the skills gap so our workers can join this critical sector of the economy. It’s a win for all.”

The JOBS Act was initially introduced in the 114th Congress based on recommendations from Torres’s district-wide Job Creation Listening Tour and was inspired by a program at Chaffey College, where the institution received $15 million from the Department of Labor and the Department of Education to create a STEM Education Business Incubator Center at California Steel Industries (CSI) to improve manufacturing training in the region.

The text of the JOBS Act can be found here.

The bill has been cosponsored by Reps. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Brenda L. Lawrence (D-MI), Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), and Darren Soto (D-FL).