Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) reintroduced the Aviation Workforce, Opportunity, Recruiting, Knowledge, and Supply (Aviation WORKS) Act. The bipartisan legislation would strengthen aviation and aerospace workforce pipelines by boosting investments in aviation workforce outreach, skills training, and development programs.
The Aviation WORKS Act would also invest in aviation manufacturing workforce development and support partnerships between employers, labor unions, and other community stakeholders to better connect job seekers with training and employers.
“Today, airports and aviation partners across Nebraska are struggling to find the mechanics and technical maintenance staff they need. I’m proud to join Senator Kelly in reintroducing the Aviation WORKS Act, which will expand FAA workforce grants and help more people access the training they need to build a strong career in aviation,” said Sen. Fischer.
“Arizona’s aviation industry fuels economic growth across our state but we’ve still got more work to do when it comes to filling these great-paying jobs. Our bipartisan legislation will invest in the training needed to tackle aviation workforce shortages while also strengthening the pipeline of Arizona talent to meet industry needs now and in the future,” said Sen. Kelly.
Background:
While the aerospace and defense industry supports nearly 2 million jobs across the United States, more than 1.2 million new pilots and maintenance technicians will be needed to support the global commercial fleet over the next two decades. Sens. Fischer and Kelly’s Aviation WORKS Act will tackle the aviation workforce shortage by:
Boosting Workforce Development Funding: The Aviation WORKS Act would quadruple funding for the Aviation Workforce Development Program from $5 million to $20 million. This program currently supports competitive grants to strengthen the workforce pipeline for pilots and maintenance technicians.
Creating More Avenues for Aviation Careers: The Aviation WORKS Act would establish two additional grant programs:
- An aviation manufacturing workforce development program to support aviation manufacturers and institutions of higher education in expanding skills training and education opportunities; and
- A sector-based grant program that would create partnerships between employers, labor unions, institutions of higher education, and other community stakeholders to better connect workers with training and employers. By working together across the aviation industry, new and previous grant recipients will be able to expand the reach of their programs through increased community outreach and marketing, improved recruitment and retention services, and better coordination among education programs and employers to ensure new employees are job-ready on day one.
Full bill text is available here.