If American companies are to compete and win in a worldwide economy, they need well-educated and well-trained workers.
The U.S. Chamber believes that the best foundation for a competitive economy starts with an education and training system that gives American workers the skills they need for the jobs of the 21st Century.
The U.S. Chamber has created the Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW) to build momentum for a range of critically needed reforms:
America needs to change the way that it trains, pays, and evaluates teachers. Pay for performance and incentive pay should be the rule.
The bureaucratic culture that stifles learning in too many public schools should be replaced with a spirit of innovation through programs such as expanded learning time, early enrollment of high schoolers in college-level courses, online learning programs, and more charter schools.
Education does not end upon graduation, and workers of all ages who receive ongoing training will be productive and successful.
The Chamber supports legislation to double the number of graduating scientists and engineers within 10 years.
In addition America must have a comprehensive, rational, and balanced immigration policy that secures the borders, while welcoming legal immigrants who want to work towards the American dream and realistically addresses the undocumented workers already in the United States.
Immediate action is needed to address pressing visa shortages that are hurting businesses, especially in the H-1B high-skilled and the H-2B seasonal worker visa categories.
Because no federal policy has been adopted, state and local governments are adopting hundreds of immigration rules and regulations that are often contradictory and impossible for businesses to comply with.
Labor, Immigration, and Employee Benefits Division
The Labor, Immigration & Employee Benefits Division facilitates the use of policy committees composed of Chamber members that formulate and analyze the Chamber's policy in the areas of labor law, immigration, pension and health care. The Division regularly interacts with Congressional staff, numerous Federal agencies and many national coalitions (some of which are chaired by the Chamber) to help define and shape national labor, immigration and employee benefit policy.
The Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW) is a 501(c)3 affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and works to ensure that businesses have access-today and tomorrow-to an educated and skilled workforce. Through policy initiatives, business outreach, and a strong grassroots network, ICW finds solutions that will preserve the American workforce as this country's greatest business asset and its strongest resource.
Education, Employment, & Training Policy Committee
This committee directs Chamber policy relating to all issues that affect education and workforce development policy, including workforce preparation, K-12 education reform, postsecondary education, incumbent worker training, and lifelong learning.
The Essential Worker Immigration Coalition (EWIC) is a coalition of businesses, trade associations, and other organizations from across the industry spectrum concerned with the shortage of both lesser skilled and unskilled ("essential worker") labor. EWIC stands ready to work with the Administration and Congress to push forward on important immigration reform issues.
The Business Coalition for Student Achievement - representing business leaders from every sector of the economy - believes that improving the performance of the K-12 education system in the United States is necessary to provide a strong foundation for both U.S. competitiveness and for individuals to succeed in our rapidly changing world.
As employers, we understand the important role that the U.S. business community has to play in ensuring that the American education system prepares our youth to meet the challenges of higher education and the workplace. We are committed to working with all stakeholders - policymakers, educators, parents and students - on this essential task.
