Bacon Cosponsors Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Frontline Transit Worker Training and Retention

Omaha, Neb.—Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) joins Reps. Anthony G. Brown (MD-04), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Jesus G. García (IL-04), and six other members of the House of Representatives to introduce the National Transit Workforce Training Act of 2020. This bill establishes a National Transit Frontline Training Center to invest in and train the next generation of transportation workers. 

Prior to the coronavirus, public transportation has faced challenges with training and workforce retention. With a median age of 52 for key frontline transit jobs, it is estimated that more than 120 percent of today’s transit workforce would need to be hired and/or re-trained in the next 10 years. Following the novel coronavirus pandemic, hundreds of frontline public transportation employees have been diagnosed with the virus, and approximately 100 workers were reported dead.

The National Transit Frontline Training Center will share best practices on how to respond in a crisis, work with health and safety experts to improve safety operations, train frontline transit workers how to properly use Personal Protective Equipment and provide distance and hybrid learning opportunities for frontline technicians and operators. The Center will help both rural and urban transit systems, and award grants to nonprofit organizations to develop and provide transit career programs through partnerships and apprenticeships nationwide. 

“Our nation relies on essential workers and transit operations during this difficult time,” said Congressman Bacon. “Establishing a national transit workforce training center would help recruit, train, and provide the much-needed safety materials and curriculum so that technicians and other high-skilled laborers remain employed and well-equipped to work.”

“Our frontline transportation workers have made extraordinary sacrifices in order to keep this country moving forward during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Their efforts have allowed our medical professionals to care for the sick, transported vital supplies and continued to connect our communities in a time of social distancing,” said Congressman Brown. “Creating a National Transit Frontline Training Center will ensure these essential jobs remain filled with well-trained employees and give them the education and best-practices they need to stay safe on the job.”    

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, transit workers have shown us all that they are heroes. This pandemic has shown just how important their role is in our society. They have transported food, medical supplies, and workers to impacted areas to help everyone work through these uncertain times,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “This legislation highlights the importance of establishing a formal training program for transit workers. The work they do every day is essential to the success of our nation, and their training and safety is a huge part of that success.”

"Our frontline, transit workers are resilient, and they keep Chicago moving, but the coronavirus pandemic brings to light the growing workforce challenges that the transportation sector faces. In order to keep our economy thriving, we must ensure our frontline, transportation workers have access to the best training and workforce development programs in the world," said Congressman García. "Our bipartisan legislation will establish a National Transit Frontline Training Center to ensure workers have the best training and best-practices in place to keep us all safe."

Original co-sponsors include; Reps. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), David McKinley (WV-01), Chris Smith (NJ-04), Michael Bost (IL-12), Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and David Trone (MD-06).

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