U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), co-chairs of the Senate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus, reintroduced the bipartisan Assisting Community Colleges in Educating Skilled Students (ACCESS) to Careers Act. The legislation would boost student success and career readiness by increasing work-based learning opportunities and apprenticeships, ensuring students have access to support services like career navigators and counselors, and creating career pathways to meet the changing skill demands of the U.S. economy.

“From life sciences to semiconductors to pharma to ag, many exciting things are made in Indiana by Hoosier workers,” said Senator Young. “We need to support the ingenuity and talent of our Hoosier workforce by increasing work-based learning opportunities and apprenticeships. Our bipartisan bill will help provide greater access to the training and education needed in our modern economy.”

“The needs of our economy are often changing, and Virginians should have easier access to the training and education they need to adapt and get good-paying, in-demand jobs,” said Senator Kaine. “The ACCESS to Careers Act would help provide students with those opportunities, boost Virginia’s economy, and help employers hire high-skilled workers.”

Specifically, the ACCESS to Careers Act would authorize the Secretary of Education to provide: 

• Grants to states to develop strategies such as dual enrollment, apprenticeships, and accelerated training programs to support student success and workforce preparedness.
• Grants to Community Colleges and Consortia of Community Colleges to increase the number of students who attain postsecondary credentials in high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industries and develop and improve strategies to support student success.

Young and Kaine have long led efforts to expand access to job training, including introducing the Data for American Jobs Act in 2023 to ensure that federal education data and research incorporates job training to help improve states’ career readiness programs, meet the needs of the economy, and expand the skilled workforce.

The legislation is endorsed by American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), Higher Learning Advocates, Jobs for the Future (JFF), and the National Skills Coalition (NSC). 

Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced today the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning is awarding another $6.9 million in employer-sponsored child care grants to an additional 22 businesses, community groups and school corporations, bringing the total invested to $25 million. The initiative, part of Gov. Holcomb’s 2024 Next Level Agenda, is mobilizing employers and communities to create or expand child care offerings that address the needs of working Hoosiers.

“By having more child care options, Hoosiers are provided the flexibility to enter and stay in the workforce and attain a better quality of life for their families,” Gov. Holcomb said. “The State is pleased to partner with businesses to provide more opportunities for their workforce, leading to a sustainable future for Indiana families.”

Forty employers plan to provide on-site child care to their employees, and 15 will offer child care tuition benefits to their workers. The remaining awardees plan to support child care for their employees in a variety of other ways, such as reserving seats at partner child care centers. The full list of allowable uses and details can be found here.

Overall, more than 40 large employers with 1,000 or more employees will receive up to $750,000 each. More than 30 mid-sized employers with between 100 and 999 employees will receive up to $350,000. And 12 small employers with between 20 and 99 employees will receive up to $50,000.

“Thousands of families will benefit from affordable, convenient access to child care, and nearly 100 businesses, community groups and schools will benefit from a workforce that doesn’t have to worry about where they’re going to find it,” said Courtney Penn, OECOSL director. “But most importantly, children will benefit from quality early education that will set them up for success in K-12 and beyond.”

The program, a partnership with the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, uses a portion of the state’s remaining federal relief funds from the COVID-19 pandemic and is part of the state’s broader efforts to strengthen the early child care and education sector, providing support for today’s workforce and investing in tomorrow’s. The program is also supported by the Indiana Manufacturers Association.

See the full list of employers that received grants here.

This week, Congresswoman Erin Houchin (R-Ind.-09) joined Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republicans on a visit to the southern border in Eagle Pass, Texas. During the trip, Congresswoman Houchin visited with local landowners, law enforcement, community members, and U.S. Border Patrol agents on the frontlines of the border crisis.

This trip followed the record number of 300,000 illegal migrant encounters in the month of December.

“I traveled back to our border for a second time to shine a light on the crisis that has made every state, including Indiana, a border state. Local landowners and law enforcement are pleading for the Biden Administration to reinforce policies that have proven to secure the border. We witnessed groups of migrants, first-hand, crossing into the United States. This is a serious threat to our national security. House Republicans passed H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, months ago. It’s time Biden and Democrats follow our lead and make it law,” said Congresswoman Erin Houchin.

In March of last year, Congresswoman Houchin visited with Border Patrol agents and local officials in Uvalde and Eagle Pass, Texas. In May, Congresswoman Houchin voted to pass H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023, out of the House of Representatives, only for it to receive no consideration from the United States Senate. The White House has been silent on the passage of H.R. 2 and has ignored calls from House Republicans to address the crisis.

The trip was led by Speaker Mike Johnson, following his promise that as Speaker, his top priority would be the border. Members on the trip included Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green, Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, Congressman Tony Gonzales, who represents the Rio Grande sector of the Southern Border, and over 50 other House Republicans.

Yesterday, Congresswoman Houchin joined Brian Kilmeade on Fox & Friends live from Texas to discuss the visit.