The PARTNERS Act would provide federal funding to states to support regional industry partnerships that connect small and medium-sized businesses with workers through registered apprenticeships and other work-based learning programs. These partnerships would help businesses develop training programs while offering workers paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction, particularly targeting in-demand industry sectors. The bill requires partnerships to serve workers with barriers to employment and provide at least 12 months of support services, including job placement assistance and retention support. States would allocate funds to local partnerships that must track performance metrics related to program participation and outcomes, with specific reporting requirements for different demographic groups. The legislation aims to expand access to quality training pathways while connecting businesses with skilled workers in targeted industries.
S.Res. 169 is a Senate resolution expressing support for library staff and the essential services provided by public, school, academic, and special libraries across the United States. It recognizes libraries as critical community resources - offering internet access, job training, crisis support, and safe spaces - while highlighting challenges like funding shortages, book bans, and threats to staff safety. The resolution calls for full federal, state, and local funding to sustain library services, reaffirms citizens' right to free information access, and supports library workers' rights to unionize and speak out against censorship or intimidation. It specifically addresses recent pressures, including the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and rising book-banning efforts, to protect libraries' role in democracy and community well-being.
The American Workforce Act establishes a federal program that provides paid, full-time workforce training for U.S. citizens with high school diplomas (but no bachelor's degrees or higher) in high-wage, high-demand industries. The program requires employers to enter into approved American workforce contracts with trainees, providing structured on-the-job work and educational training while paying trainees at or above minimum wage standards. It authorizes workforce education subsidies to employers (up to $9,000 per trainee) to cover training costs, with specific requirements for training quality, credentialing, and transparency about wages and job outcomes. Employers must provide detailed public disclosure about their programs and meet certain standards for training and compliance, with oversight by the Director of the American Workforce Division. The program is set to sunset after 11 years or when the Secretary submits the 10-year report to Congress.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
