With the constant overreach, intrusion and insecurity made by the federal government, we were keenly aware of the challenges facing Iowa taxpayers and employers and worked to lessen the burdens they face at the state level.
The Iowa House:
• Created policies that embolden Iowa employers to invest in the state and the workforce through funding for skilled worker shortage grants, workforce training, adult literacy for the workforce and tuition assistance.
• Continued our collaboration with community colleges on workforce training and job creation and protected the funding by creating the Skilled Worker and Job Creation Fund, which now houses all of the worker training programs.
• Funded this at over $130 million total over the last two years.
• Of this, $33.8 million went to the High-Quality Jobs Program and $1 million to help companies hire STEM interns.
• Increased community college ability to educate Iowa’s workforce by increasing their general operating fund by $38 million over the past four years, a nearly 25 percent increase.
Encouraged Iowans to pursue fields and careers to fill the technical and in-demand jobs Iowa employers are looking to hire. Iowa’s community colleges have received nearly $40 million in general aid increases over the last four years.
• Fought against any retreat on the historic property tax relief approved last session.