WASHINGTON– Today, Congressman Wittman (R-VA-01), Congresswoman Spanberger (D-VA-07), Congressman Upton (R-MI-06) and Congressman Philips (D-MN-03) reintroduced H.R. 2171: the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act. This bill would allow the use of 529 funds to pay for the tuition, exam and supply costs associated with career technical education.
“Even before the pandemic, businesses across Virginia faced a severe talent shortage due to a lack of career and technical training as well as STEM education. Now, as we rebuild our economy, cultivating a workforce with in-demand skill sets is more important than ever,” said Wittman. “One of my top priorities is ensuring our students cultivate the skill sets needed to thrive in today’s workforce. This bipartisan legislation creates opportunities for students to pursue post-secondary credentialing programs by allowing them to use their 529 savings to pay for tuition, exams, and supplies. I look forward to working with Congresswoman Spanberger and Representatives Upton and Phillips to advance this bill fostering the opportunities in career technical education deserved by Virginia's students.”
“Especially as we rebuild our economy in the wake of COVID-19, we need to make sure Central Virginia students and workers receive the training required to remain competitive and successful. 529 savings plans have long ensured that the next generation of Virginia workers can afford a higher education — but students are currently constrained from using these accounts to pay for necessary credentialing programs and exams,” said Spanberger. “Our bipartisan, bicameral legislation would give Virginia students and workers the ability to use their 529 plans to cover tuition, books, and testing costs related to these training programs. I’m proud to stand alongside Representatives Upton, Phillips, and Wittman in reintroducing this commonsense bill — and I’d like to thank Senators Klobuchar and Braun for leading this effort in the U.S. Senate. As we watch incredibly specialized trades emerge across our area, I’ll keep working to make these programs more affordable and accessible.”
“The bipartisan Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act aims to help students in southwest Michigan and across the country access opportunities to develop the necessary skills today to succeed in tomorrow’s workforce,” said Upton. “As the country looks toward a robust economic recovery, we need skilled talent. This legislation will help make that happen.”
“No matter your resources or your professional goals, every American deserves access to a quality education,” said Phillips. “By making workforce training more affordable and accessible, this bipartisan bill will help make that aspiration a reality. Especially after such a difficult year, this is exactly the kind of policy we need to get our economy back on track. I look forward to working with my House and Senate colleagues to get this important legislation to the President’s desk.”
Congressman Rob Wittman represents the 1st District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he serves as the Vice Ranking Member of the full Committee and Ranking Member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee.
