WIOA Reauthorization

H.R. 6655 A Stronger Workforce for America Act - On Tuesday, December 12, 2023, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce completed a markup of the recently released legislation, A Stronger Workforce for America Act, which amends and reauthorizes the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Released on December 7, 2023, the bipartisan "A Stronger Workforce for America Act" aims to revamp the nation's workforce system and make improvements to WIOA to help close the skills gap, provide accountability, and help American workers obtain high-quality, well-paying jobs.

The legislation authorizes state and local workforce boards to aid employers in implementing skills-based hiring practices; places a greater emphasis on work-based learning for youth and on workforce education programs at community colleges that align with in-demand jobs; and streamlines the "eligible training provider list" to focus on outcomes and ensure eligible programs are aligned with the skill and hiring demands of employers. It also prioritizes employer-led initiatives that equip workers with skill sets to fill jobs in critical industries and help the currently employed workforce upskill to avoid displacement and advance their careers. The legislation dedicates 50 percent of the adult and dislocated worker funding toward upskilling workers through "individual training accounts" (ITAs) and on-the-job learning while redirecting an existing funding stream toward ITAs for displaced workers. 

The legislation will be introduced to the full House before being considered in the Senate.

Click here to access the legislation fact sheet.

Click here to access the bill summary.

Click here to access the full bill. 

Click here to access the section-by-section summary.

Click here to access a recording of the markup.

Click here to access the press release. 

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The Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act

H.R. 6585, The Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act - On Tuesday, December 12, 2023, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce completed a markup of the recently released legislation, the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act, which would allow students to apply for Pell Grants for short-term workforce programs. Introduced on December 5, 2023, "The Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act" aims to expand access to Pell Grants by allowing short-term workforce training programs with at least 150 instruction hours (but less than 600) to qualify for coverage and allows students to apply for Workforce Pell Grants beginning July 2025. Students can opt for for-profit and online training programs, but state workforce boards will be required to determine if a program's curriculum meets the threshold of high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industries as well as recognized post-secondary credentials. The U.S. Department of Education will make final eligibility determinations. 

Click here to access the fact sheet. 

Click here to access the full text of the legislation.

Click here to access a bill summary.