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.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1132
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Labor and Employment
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-07: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-30T08:06:59Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, H.R. 1132, aims to enhance workforce development by directing the Secretary of Labor to award competitive grants to community colleges and similar institutions. It focuses on creating or improving high-quality training programs that lead to portable (usable across regions) and stackable (buildable toward higher qualifications) credentials in high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand job sectors, ultimately helping more people access better job opportunities.
Key Provisions
- Grant Program Structure: Adds a new "Strengthening Community Colleges Workforce Development Grants Program" to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Grants are awarded competitively for up to 4 years, with renewals possible if performance goals are met. Authorizes $65 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2031. Up to 2% of funds can be reserved for administration, including technical assistance for underserved institutions (e.g., those serving low-income individuals, people with employment barriers, or rural areas) and program evaluations.
- Eligibility and Application: Eligible institutions include community colleges, postsecondary vocational schools, or consortia of these. Applications must detail employer partnerships, labor market data, program sustainability, alignment with state/local workforce plans, and goals for serving specific populations. Priority goes to programs aiding people with employment barriers (e.g., disabilities or low skills), incumbent workers (current employees needing skill upgrades), and those using competency-based assessments (evaluating skills directly rather than time in class) or seeking inclusion on state eligible training provider lists.
- Required Uses of Funds: Grantees must form or maintain partnerships with employers in targeted industries, incorporating work-based learning (e.g., apprenticeships) and evidence-based designs. Core activities include developing training programs, career pathways, and support services like coaching or access to technology. Institutions must publicly share program details, such as curricula, credentials, skills, and employment outcomes (e.g., job placement rates in the second quarter after program exit).
- Additional Allowed Uses: Up to 15% of funds for equipment; other options include credit transfer agreements (allowing credits from one school to count at another), dual enrollment (high school students taking college courses), financial aid to cover costs, or plans to join state training lists. Administrative costs limited to 7%.
- Performance and Accountability: Sets performance indicators, including standard WIOA adult metrics (e.g., employment rates, earnings), capacity building (e.g., employer engagement, new technologies), and program-specific outcomes (e.g., completion rates, worker advancement). Annual reviews with technical assistance or improvement plans for underperformers. A comprehensive evaluation after 4 years assesses overall impact, with public reports to Congress and online data (anonymized to protect privacy).
- Reporting: Annual public reports on performance, enrollment, and outcomes in open data formats.
- Rules: Funds must supplement (add to) existing resources, not replace them. Defines "community college" broadly to include public two-year institutions, tribal colleges, and certain branches of four-year schools.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends the WIOA by adding a dedicated grant section (Sec. 173) under Subtitle D of Title I, which previously focused on national programs without this specific community college emphasis. It introduces new requirements for employer partnerships, portable credentials, and performance metrics tied to capacity building and worker advancement, while integrating with related laws like the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (for vocational training) and the Higher Education Act (for credit transfers). It does not alter core WIOA structures but expands funding mechanisms for postsecondary workforce programs.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Labor (DOL) will handle grant administration, evaluations, and reporting, potentially increasing workload but with reserved funds for support. States and local workforce boards may see better alignment in training programs, reducing service gaps.
- Citizens: Improves access to job training for adults, dislocated workers (e.g., laid-off employees), new entrants, and those with barriers (e.g., low-income or rural residents), leading to higher credential attainment, job placement, and earnings. Could enhance equity by prioritizing underserved groups and providing supports like financial aid or devices.
- International Relations: No direct impacts; the focus is domestic workforce development.
- Broader Economy: May boost regional economies by addressing skill shortages in in-demand sectors, fostering employer investment, and promoting sustainable programs through data-driven designs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Community Colleges and Vocational Institutions: Primary recipients, gaining funds to expand programs and partnerships.
- Students and Workers: Especially adults, incumbent workers, and those with employment barriers, who benefit from accessible training, credentials, and career services.
- Employers: Required partners, gaining skilled workers through tailored programs and work-based learning.
- Department of Labor and Federal Government: Oversees implementation, evaluations, and funding.
- State and Local Entities: Workforce boards, economic development offices, and schools align plans to maximize grants and outcomes.
- Tribal Colleges and Rural Institutions: Explicitly supported via technical assistance and priorities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Ensures compliance with privacy laws (e.g., FERPA for student data) and promotes evidence-based practices without mandating them. The supplement-not-supplant rule prevents displacing existing funds, maintaining fiscal integrity.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I to fund education and workforce initiatives; no apparent free speech, equal protection, or federalism issues, as it respects state plans and local needs.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (introduced by Rep. McBath with cosponsors from both parties) signals broad support for vocational education. Could influence future workforce policy by emphasizing community colleges and measurable outcomes, potentially setting precedents for credential portability and employer collaboration amid debates on skills gaps and economic inequality. No major controversies noted in the bill text.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (29)
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Mannion, John [D-NY-22], Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3], Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-07: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-02-07: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-07: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- 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. — issued 2025-02-07 — PDF (24 pages)