Employment Services and Jobs Parity Act

HR 1797, the Employment Services and Jobs Parity Act, amends the Wagner-Peyser Act to extend federal employment service funding to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and American Samoa. It directly affects these territories' employment service programs by requiring the federal government to provide them with funding equal to half of what Guam receives under the current allotment system. The key provision, added to Section 6(c)(2), mandates that starting after fiscal year 2025, CNMI and American Samoa will each receive an annual allotment equal to one-half of the amount allocated to Guam for that fiscal year. This change ensures these territories receive a guaranteed share of federal funds for employment services, previously only available to Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.