Investing in Digital Skills Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3587
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Labor and Employment
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-23: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2025-07-21T19:44:15Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Investing in Digital Skills Act (H.R. 3587) aims to update the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) by emphasizing digital skills and digital literacy as essential components of adult education and literacy programs. This ensures that adults gain the abilities needed for employment, economic independence, and participation in modern society, particularly in a digital world.
Key Provisions
- Short Title: The bill is titled the "Investing in Digital Skills Act."
- New Definition: Adds a definition for "digital literacy skills" to WIOA, borrowing the meaning from the Museum and Library Services Act (which generally refers to the ability to use digital technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information effectively).
- Updated Purposes of Adult Education: Revises WIOA's purpose statement to explicitly include helping adults acquire digital literacy skills for employment, self-sufficiency, and full participation in life.
- Expanded Definitions of Adult Education Activities:
- Includes developing and using digital technology skills as a core goal of adult education.
- Adds digital skills activities (when combined with other adult education) to the definition of integrated education and training.
- Incorporates digital literacy activities for parents or family members to support children's learning.
- Broadens the definition of literacy to include using digital technology at proficient levels for work, family, and community roles.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Inserts digital literacy directly into WIOA's core purposes and definitions for adult education (Sections 202 and 203), which previously focused on basic reading, writing, math, and English skills without specific mention of digital competencies.
- Redesignates some paragraphs in WIOA's definitions section to accommodate the new digital literacy entry, ensuring seamless integration.
- Expands family literacy programs to cover digital support for children's education, a new emphasis not previously outlined.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Adults, especially those in workforce programs, will have better access to training in digital skills, potentially improving job prospects, family involvement in education, and overall societal participation. This could reduce digital divides for underserved groups like low-income or older adults.
- On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Education and state workforce agencies will need to incorporate digital literacy into adult education funding, curricula, and evaluations under WIOA, possibly requiring updated guidelines or resource allocation.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts; the bill focuses on domestic education policy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Adult Learners: Primary beneficiaries, gaining targeted digital training for personal and professional growth.
- Educators and Training Providers: Must integrate digital skills into programs, affecting curriculum design and teaching methods.
- Families and Parents: Benefit from new digital literacy supports for children's learning.
- Employers and Workforce Programs: Gain a more digitally skilled labor pool, enhancing economic productivity.
- Government Entities: Including federal and state education departments responsible for WIOA implementation.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens WIOA's framework without creating new enforcement mechanisms or penalties; relies on existing federal funding streams for adult education. No conflicts with constitutional rights, as it promotes equal access to education.
- Constitutional: Aligns with the government's role in promoting general welfare through education (under the Spending Clause), without infringing on free speech or privacy.
- Political: Represents a bipartisan push (introduced by representatives from both parties) to address modern workforce needs amid rapid technological change, potentially influencing future education budgets and digital equity initiatives. No major controversies evident in the bill's text.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-23: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-05-23: Introduced in House
- 2025-05-23: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Investing in Digital Skills Act — issued 2025-05-23 — PDF (4 pages)