ASNT Celebrates Milestone for Workforce Advocacy

During an official meeting on Tuesday, 9 July 2024, the House Ways and Means Committee approved H.R. 8915, the Education and Workforce Freedom Act, by a vote of 23-13. The bill has now been reported to the House floor, for consideration at a time yet to be determined.

Section 3 of H.R. 8915 encompasses the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act (H.R. 1477 / S. 722), a workforce development bill that would allow beneficiaries of 529 savings accounts to use their account funds to cover costs associated with workforce training and high-quality postsecondary credentials, such as professional certifications and occupational licenses.

ASNT supports the consideration, passage, and implementation of this legislation. If enacted, it would provide more young people with the opportunity to pursue skilled trades, such as NDE/NDT, with fewer out-of-pocket costs for training programs and certifications.

“The Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act has the potential to open doors for countless students who want to use the 529 savings to make workforce training more affordable and accessible,” said Garra Liming, ASNT Director of Public Relations and Government Affairs. “This important legislation recognizes the evolving needs of our economy and provides opportunities for individuals to invest in their future.

“By expanding the use of 529 savings plans beyond traditional college expenses to include vocational training, apprenticeships, certifications, and other workforce development programs, we are empowering a diverse range of students to pursue the skills and education they need to succeed in today’s competitive job market. This bill not only supports individual growth and career readiness but also strengthens our workforce and economy as a whole.”

ASNT has joined the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) in supporting this legislation as part of ASAE’s Tomorrow’s Workforce Coalition. ASNT also participated in the ASAE Legislative Fly-In held on 5-6 March 2024 in Washington D.C. The event offered an opportunity to engage with lawmakers on Capitol Hill and advocate for the passage of the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act.

Liming represented ASNT at a meeting with congressmen and congresswomen to discuss the proposed legislation and met with several lawmakers on Capitol Hill to discuss the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act and share information on the importance of nondestructive testing (NDT).

ASNT went back to Capitol Hill to advocate for the legislation with AMPP: Association for Materials Protection and Performance during their Advocacy Day, which took place in Washington D.C. on 15-16 May 2024. The delegation comprised Liming; ASNT CEO Neal Couture, CAE; and ASNT board member Jason Riggs.

There’s still time for your US-based organization to join ASNT and other organizations in support of the ACT. To get involved in ASNT’s advocacy efforts, contact Garra Liming, ASNT Public Relations and Advocacy Director, at gliming@asnt.org. You can also join ASNT by filling out this survey form.

You can also listen to Liming speak more about ASNT’s advocacy efforts in a recent episode of ASNT’s podcast, Chat NDT with ASNT.