Husted, Acting Labor Secretary Sonderling visit Owens Community College to discuss workforce development

“I appreciated the opportunity to welcome Acting Secretary Sonderling to Owens Community College and highlight one of the many outstanding programs that are equipping students with the skills needed for today’s jobs and tomorrow’s opportunities.” TOLEDO, Ohio – Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) today hosted Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling at Owens Community College for a roundtable discussion at the college’s Dana Advanced Manufacturing Training Center. The discussion focused on Husted’s work alongside the administration to secure Workforce Pell Grants, which will soon make short-term, high-quality workforce training programs eligible for federal financial aid. They also discussed how Owens Community College is addressing critical workforce needs across northwest Ohio. “Thanks to the work we’ve done in recent years, Ohio has become a national leader in workforce development, preparing Ohioans to compete and succeed across every sector of our economy. I appreciated the opportunity to welcome Acting Secretary Sonderling to Owens Community College and highlight one of the many outstanding programs that are equipping students with the skills needed for today’s jobs and tomorrow’s opportunities. That’s why I supported expanding Pell Grants through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act—to help more Americans access high-quality workforce training programs and gain the skills they need for good-paying careers,” said Husted. Husted fought to include Workforce Pell Grants in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. Workforce Pell Grants will: Allow students to use federal Pell Grant aid for short-term job training programs that lead directly to employment. Open pathways for people who want rapid skill development without the time and cost of a traditional degree. Include training programs as short as 8–15 weeks. Expand the federal investment in skills training while making sure students can afford the education they need to succeed. Make job training more accessible, especially for low-income learners who might otherwise be shut out by cost. Husted is also leading efforts in the Senate to ensure students and families have the information they need to make informed education and career decisions. He is leading: The Debt, Earnings and Cost Information Disclosure for Education (DECIDE) Act , which would codify President Trump’s Executive Order requiring greater transparency about the costs and outcomes of higher education, helping students better understand the financial commitments associated with attending a four-year college or university. The Student Debt Alternative and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Awareness Act , a bipartisan bill that would expand the Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid website to include information about career and technical education programs, Workforce Pell Grants and Perkins Grant funding, helping students better understand the value and affordability of career-focused education.