Over half of jobs in the U.S. require training beyond high school but not a four-year degree. These skilled jobs are the backbone of America's economy, and filling them is critical to America's success in the 21st century. Every day, in communities coast to coast, working people, students, and families are looking for opportunities to get ahead. Too many of them have limited access to training, and businesses are struggling to hire skilled workers for jobs in growing industries like healthcare, medical technology, IT and software, and advanced manufacturing -- as well as tradespeople like plumbers and electricians. The impact of technology and automation is only going to exacerbate this challenge. The nation's skill challenge is deepened by the ongoing effects of policies that have caused racial disparities in educational attainment, employment, and income. Skills policies have a crucial role in helping to remedy these effects, especially as the American workforce continues to diversify and racial workforce diversity continues to be a driver of economic growth. Congress has recently taken important, bipartisan steps to reauthorize the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act and increase investments in adult education, apprenticeship, and other workforce programs. This publication details key steps identified by the National Skills Coalition's 2020 legislative agenda. Policymakers can employ these steps to ensure that the federal government partners with businesses and organizations working in communities across the country to elevate job skills to a level of national prominence and attention.