Inside Higher Ed reported that Opportunity Nation, a nonprofit group that produces a national index on economic opportunity, has joined two U.S. senators in a push to encourage closer ties between employers and colleges, particularly two-year institutions. The legislation sponsored by Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Rob Portman (R-OH) seeks a better return on investment for the billions the US government spends on more than 40 different job training programs annually. The legislation “includes performance-based funding elements, including a pilot program that would pay colleges on the back end for their job training programs based on outcomes like job placement and earnings.” The National Association of Manufacturers and other groups are backing the bill.