Support the Federal Skills Act, H.R. 967

On behalf of FreedomWorks’ activist community, I urge you to contact your representative and ask him or her to cosponsor the Federal Skills Act, H.R. 967, introduced by Representative Ted Budd (R-N.C.). This bill would open the federal government hiring process to prioritize job skills over just university degrees.

The university path is not the only way for Americans to find their niche in the workforce. The fundamental question of the hiring process should be whether or not one has the requisite skills to complete the task in front of them. The Federal Skills Act opens the door to civil service to those who have the job skills necessary, with or without a college degree.

This bill would require the Director of Personnel Management (OPM) to consult with the heads of agencies to review and revise all job qualification standards in the competitive service. In doing so, the OPM Director must ensure that the hiring process will not be based solely on academic attainment.

Encouraging a career path outside of the university system leads to well-paying jobs, limited debt, and the opportunity to pick up truly valuable career skills.

Creating a system that prioritizes the necessary skills and competencies for listed positions ensures that the hiring process produces the best candidates to accomplish the job. For these reasons, I urge you to contact your representative and ask him or her to cosponsor the Federal Skills Act, H.R 967.

Sincerely,
Adam Brandon, President, FreedomWorks