In early April, a few UNITE-LA colleagues participated in the National Skills Coalition BLU on the Hill event in Washington, D.C. Business Leaders United for Workforce Partnerships is an initiative of the National Skills Coalition and comprises employers from a range of industry sectors across the nation who are concerned that America's workforce does not have adequate access to skills training. Our staff members and the California delegation spoke with staff at the offices of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Juan Vargas, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Our conversations were centered around advocating for three main issues:

1. Invest in workforce training at substantial levels, including necessary digital skills and wrap-around services.
2. Invest in and empower sector partnerships that are driven by industry stakeholders.
3. Expand Pell Grant eligibility to short-term, high-quality training programs that help businesses fill hiring gaps and help workers access career pathways.