To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to authorize a study to review specific outcomes of entrepreneurial skills development programs, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2099
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Labor and Employment
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-14: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-28T08:06:34Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
This bill, H.R. 2099, aims to update the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), a federal law that funds and guides job training and employment services. The main goal is to expand WIOA to better support entrepreneurship (starting and running small businesses) by including related training programs and authorizing a national study on their effectiveness.
Key Provisions
- State Workforce Development Boards (Section 1): Requires boards to include entrepreneurs alongside jobseekers and to promote entrepreneurial skills development and microenterprise services (support for very small businesses, often with fewer than five employees).
- Eligible Training Providers (Section 2): Adds organizations that offer entrepreneurial skills development programs to the list of approved providers for training services under WIOA.
- Local Employment and Training Activities (Section 3): Mandates that local programs provide:
- Information on entrepreneurship when appropriate.
- Referrals to microenterprise services.
- Job listings and employer engagement that may include entrepreneurship resources and opportunities.
- Inclusion of entrepreneurial opportunities in workplace learning programs.
- Evaluations and Research (Section 4): Directs the Secretary of Labor (head of the Department of Labor) to conduct a three-year, multi-state study on entrepreneurial skills programs through grants or contracts. The study must review:
- Successful practices for building entrepreneurial skills, mentoring, provider qualifications, and employer partnerships.
- Program outcomes linked to business success, participant progress measurement, credentials earned, economic impacts on communities, job creation, participant readiness, and post-program earnings (three years after completion).
- Recommendations for states and communities to increase access to these programs.
- Updates WIOA's research priorities to include individuals pursuing entrepreneurship and expands demonstration projects to promote self-employment, entrepreneurship, and job creation in high-demand sectors.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Previously, WIOA focused mainly on job placement and skills for traditional employment. This bill explicitly integrates entrepreneurship as a core element, adding it to board duties, provider eligibility, local activities, and research requirements.
- It redesignates and inserts new language in multiple sections (e.g., adding subclauses for entrepreneurship info and microenterprise referrals) without removing existing provisions, effectively broadening the law's scope.
- The new study is a novel addition, requiring evidence-based analysis of entrepreneurship programs, which were not previously mandated for such detailed federal review.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Labor and state/local workforce boards will need to allocate resources for new entrepreneurship-focused activities, referrals, and the mandated study, potentially increasing administrative workload but also enabling more targeted funding.
- On Citizens: Jobseekers and aspiring entrepreneurs (especially in underserved communities) gain better access to training, mentoring, and microenterprise support, which could help start small businesses, create jobs, and boost personal earnings. The study may lead to improved program designs based on outcomes like credentials and economic contributions.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic workforce development.
- Overall, it could foster local economic growth by encouraging self-employment and small business creation, particularly in high-demand industries.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Entrepreneurs and Jobseekers: Primary beneficiaries, with expanded access to skills training, mentoring, and microenterprise services.
- State and Local Workforce Boards/Agencies: Responsible for implementing changes, including program referrals and employer partnerships.
- Training Providers and Organizations: New opportunities to qualify as eligible providers for entrepreneurship programs.
- Department of Labor and Secretary of Labor: Oversees the study and research updates, influencing national policy.
- Employers and Communities: Benefit from potential job creation and economic impacts, with strategies for private-sector involvement.
- Dislocated Workers (e.g., farmers, fishermen): Indirectly supported through broader self-employment promotion in demonstration projects.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens WIOA's framework by aligning it with economic goals like job creation and self-employment, without altering funding mechanisms. The study ensures data-driven improvements, promoting accountability in federal spending.
- Constitutional: No significant issues; it operates within Congress's authority to regulate interstate commerce and support workforce development under the Commerce Clause.
- Political: Politically neutral in the bill text, but it supports bipartisan interests in economic mobility and small business growth, potentially influencing future workforce budgets or state-level implementations. No controversial elements like mandates on private entities are introduced.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-14: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-03-14: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-14: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to authorize a study to review specific outcomes of entrepreneurial skills development programs, and for other purposes. — issued 2025-03-14 — PDF (6 pages)