Labor & Employment (Workforce Development)

in committee · United States · House Mar 5, 2025

HR 1859: Apprenticeship Opportunity Act

This bill requires states to ignore income earned during the first year of a registered apprenticeship when determining eligibility for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) welfare benefits. It directly affects low-income individuals entering apprenticeships who might otherwise lose welfare support due to their first-year earnings. The law mandates states to disregard this income in eligibility calculations, with a penalty of a 1% reduction in federal TANF funding for states that fail to comply. The policy change takes effect in the first federal fiscal year after the bill becomes law, ensuring apprentices can maintain welfare access while starting their training.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents loss of TANF benefits for apprentices, protecting low-income workers' financial stability during training and enabling workforce entry without penalty.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Labor Standards Workforce Development

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in committee · United States · House Jun 10, 2025

HR 3871: Apprenticeship Infrastructure Tax Credit Act of 2025

The Apprenticeship Infrastructure Tax Credit Act of 2025 creates a tax credit for employers hiring apprentices in infrastructure-related occupations, offering $3,000 per apprentice annually (or $6,000 for veterans, National Guard/reserve members, or military spouses). The credit applies for two consecutive tax years for apprentices enrolled in registered programs meeting federal standards, with a total cap of $5 billion. It specifies infrastructure occupations including construction, installation/maintenance, production, and IT roles, requiring employers to verify apprentices are new hires reported via W-2, not 1099 contractors. The Department of Labor will issue eligibility certificates to employers based on program data, and credits will be tracked and reported annually to ensure the $5 billion cap is not exceeded.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates $5B tax credit for infrastructure apprenticeships, directing government funds via tax incentives to support workforce development and economic growth.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentTax credit incentivizes employer investment in apprenticeships, creating job pathways and supporting workforce development in infrastructure roles.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill creates tax credits for apprentices in infrastructure occupations (including construction), directly funding workforce development for transportation infrastructure projects.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransDirectly offers double tax credit ($6,000) for veterans in apprenticeship programs, advancing veteran employment opportunities per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Tax Incentives Apprenticeships Workforce Development National Guard & Reserve Veteran Employment

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 10, 2026

S 3825: Workforce Development Modernization Act

This bill amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to modernize "one-stop centers," which provide job training and employment services. It allows states to use virtual centers (like terminals providing service access) or shared centers across adjacent areas, instead of requiring one physical center per local area. It also mandates that states with physical centers must colocate employment service offices within those centers. These changes directly affect workforce development centers and job seekers accessing services through them.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentModernizes workforce centers to improve access to job training/employment services, advancing employment standards through flexible service delivery options.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill promotes virtual service centers and modernizes workforce development through digital infrastructure, enhancing technology adoption in public services.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Workforce Development

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 8, 2025

S 1336: A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a grant program to address forestry workforce development needs, and for other purposes.

S 1336, the "Jobs in the Woods Act," creates a federal grant program to support forestry workforce training in underserved rural communities. It provides funding for eligible entities (like nonprofits, tribes, local governments, and colleges) to develop training programs in areas meeting specific criteria: nonmetropolitan, low-income, small-population communities with reliable broadband access. Grants range from $500,000 to $2 million per award for up to 4 years, with priority given to programs addressing aging forestry workforces and youth migration, and partnerships with schools. The program is authorized to receive $10 million annually from 2025 through 2029.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates forestry workforce grants for sustainable forest management, directly conserving natural resources through training programs in rural communities.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides federal grants for forestry workforce training in underserved communities, directly advancing employment development and skills advancement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Workforce Development Tags Rural Communities

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in committee · United States · Senate Dec 16, 2025

S 3489: Investing in American Workers Act

This bill creates a new tax credit for employers who provide training to non-highly compensated employees that leads to recognized postsecondary credentials like industry certifications, licenses, or associate degrees. The credit equals 20% of qualified training expenses (after accounting for previous years' spending), with a special 10% rate for businesses with no prior training costs. Small businesses with under $5 million in annual revenue can elect to apply part of this credit against payroll taxes instead of income tax. Qualified training must be provided through approved channels like community colleges, apprenticeships, or industry partnerships, and must result in an industry-recognized credential. The bill requires the Department of Labor to define "recognized postsecondary credential" within one year of enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credit for employer training, providing tax relief to businesses supporting non-highly compensated workers, aligning with fiscal responsibility and workforce investment.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides tax incentives for employer training leading to credentials, enhancing worker skills and employment opportunities per bill's intent to fund workforce development.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Apprenticeships Workforce Development

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in committee · United States · House Jun 17, 2025

HR 4050: Advancing Skills-Based Hiring Act of 2025

HR 4050, the Advancing Skills-Based Hiring Act of 2025, creates a voluntary program allowing employers with over 100 employees to submit validation evidence for skills-based hiring assessments to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Employers can request an EEOC determination confirming their assessments are job-related and consistent with business necessity under federal law, with a fee required for review. If approved, employers gain a legal "safe harbor" to defend against discrimination claims related to those assessments. The bill requires employers to include adverse impact data in submissions but protects submitted information from future enforcement actions or court use without consent. It directly affects businesses using skills-based hiring tools, aiming to streamline compliance verification through EEOC review.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill requires validation of skills-based hiring assessments for non-discrimination compliance, aligning with federal law to protect workers from biased hiring practices. This reinforces labor and employment standards by ensuring job-related hiring...80% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Workforce Development

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in committee · United States · House Feb 21, 2025

HR 1446: Validate Prior Learning to Accelerate Employment Act

Validate Prior Learning to Accelerate Employment Act This bill incorporates assessments that measure an individual's prior knowledge, skills, competencies, and experiences into specified state and local employment training activities under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. An assessment may be used, for example, to award a recognized postsecondary credential that employers use for recruitment, hiring, retention, or advancement purposes.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill enables faster credentialing via prior learning assessments, aligning with employer hiring practices to boost employment opportunities and career advancement.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Professional Licensing Workforce Development

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in committee · United States · House Apr 14, 2025

HR 2910: Youth Workforce Readiness Act of 2025

HR 2910, the Youth Workforce Readiness Act of 2025, establishes a federal grant program to fund community-based organizations in creating after-school and out-of-school-time workforce readiness programs for youth aged 6-18. The bill authorizes $100 million annually (2026-2030) to support activities like career pathway planning, paid work experiences (including apprenticeships), occupational skill training aligned with local job needs, and employer partnerships. It directly affects eligible youth - particularly those in underserved communities - and requires grantees to coordinate with schools, employers, and local workforce boards, while mandating youth councils to advise on program design. The program emphasizes measurable outcomes, including improved school attendance, skill development, and transitions to postsecondary education or employment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes $100M annually for after-school workforce programs, expanding educational access and career readiness for youth through skill training and employer partnerships.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill funds $100M annually for youth workforce programs including career planning, paid work experiences, and skills training aligned with local jobs, directly advancing labor & employment readiness for future workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Apprenticeships Child Labor Workforce Development

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in committee · United States · House Feb 7, 2025

HR 1132: To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to direct the Secretary of Labor to award grants to community colleges for high-quality workforce development programs.

This bill creates a new grant program to fund high-quality workforce development programs at community colleges. It directs the Secretary of Labor to award competitive grants to community colleges that partner with employers in high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industries to develop programs leading to nationally or regionally portable postsecondary credentials. The grants require evidence-based program design, employer engagement, and tracking of outcomes like program completion rates and job advancement for participants. Funded at $65 million annually from 2026-2031, the program prioritizes serving individuals with employment barriers, incumbent workers, and new workforce entrants through community college partnerships.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates federal grants for community college workforce programs, directly funding higher education initiatives to strengthen training and credentials.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds community college workforce development programs with employer partnerships, creating high-skill job pathways and tracking employment outcomes, directly advancing employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education Apprenticeships Workforce Development

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passed · United States · House Apr 28, 2026

HR 6431: New Opportunities for Business Ownership and Self-Sufficiency Act

This bill modifies state unemployment programs to help job seekers start businesses. It removes the requirement that participants must first exhaust regular unemployment benefits before accessing self-employment assistance. States must now approve business plans or require entrepreneurial training/counseling for participants, who must also certify weekly participation. The bill also raises the cap on program participants from 5% to 10% of unemployed individuals. These changes aim to expand access to business ownership support through state unemployment systems.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands access to self-employment assistance under unemployment programs, removing barriers and increasing participant caps to help job seekers start businesses, advancing worker self-sufficiency.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment Workers' Compensation Workforce Development

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