Policy Priorities
- Workforce Development Modernization and the Creation of Multiple Pathways to Family-Sustaining Careers
- Destigmatize Vocational Education
- Engage the Private Sector
- Increase Data Transparency
The spirit of the American worker is the very foundation of our Nation. There is no force more potent — when left to be free, to prosper, and to flourish. From 2017 to 2020, the American workforce experienced one of the greatest and most robust economies in U.S. history. In this period, the skills-gap crisis and seismic shift in work challenged the “college or bust” mentality which propelled policymakers to promote a full range of career and education opportunities and to prepare our workforce for the changing nature of work. The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) will advance policies to promote a full range of career opportunities and prepare our workforce for the industries of the future. As we work to rebuild our economy and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the AFPI is prioritizing our Nation’s most critical asset, the American worker. AFPI will help restore American workers to their proper place, which is at the center of governance and policy alike. The class of Americans who made our Republic the greatest Nation on Earth deserves to be heard, valued — and in charge.
Team
The Honorable Linda McMahon
Chair of the Board and Chair, Center for the American Worker
Rachel Wallen Oglesby
Chief State Affairs Officer & Director, Center for the American Worker
Matthew Lobel
Policy Analyst, Center for the American Worker & Higher Education Reform Initiative
Stacey Schieffelin
Senior Advisor to the Chair of the Board and Senior Advisor, Center for the American Worker
Latest
Prosperity and empowerment for working mothers
When I was pregnant with my second child, our family went bankrupt. Our car was repossessed in our driveway, and our future was very uncertain. I remember standing in our yard, thinking about our family, and wondering how we would recover and move forward. Thankfully, with the support of family and friends and a lot of hard work, we were able to eventually rebound and expand our small business into a successful global organization.
Reforming Federal Workforce Development Funding to Empower States
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is the primary federal workforce development law, authorizing appropriations of more than $5 billion each year to states for workforce development and training.
Reforming WIOA: What Governors Can Do
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 is the largest federal workforce development program, sending more than $5 billion to the states annually. Governors and states should take full advantage of WIOA to achieve their workforce goals.
Reforming WIOA: What Congress Must Do
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is the largest federal workforce development program, sending more than $5 billion to the states annually. But WIOA’s overly bureaucratic design limits its potential. Congress should enact reforms to empower states and increase accountability.
Protecting California’s Retailers from Theft
California retailers face an onslaught of theft that threatens their economic viability, places workers in dangerous situations, and damages Californians’ sense of safety in their communities.
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