House Democrats yesterday introduced major legislation to reauthorize the landmark Higher Education Act. Although reauthorization is long overdue, the new legislation, called the College Affordability Act, proposes mainly marginal improvements to a broken higher education financing system. Moreover, it doesn't do enough to help people who don't go to college -- the majority of young Americans -- acquire the skills they need to land solid, middle-class jobs. To help close America's skills gap and allow tens of millions of alienated Americans to join the dynamic economy, progressives need bolder, more innovative initiatives. This report assesses conventional remedies and presents creative alternatives: a new Progressive Skills Agenda for all young people, whether or not they are college-bound.