COTA Act

Bill Number

H.R. 4825

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Labor and Employment

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-07-29: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Last Updated

2025-10-22T08:05:32Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Creating Opportunities to Thrive and Advance Act (COTA Act), H.R. 4825, aims to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to increase public awareness of skilled trade programs. It focuses on promoting career guidance and outreach for high-skill, high-wage jobs, particularly in skilled trades, to help individuals explore these opportunities.

Key Provisions

• Career Guidance Addition: Requires workforce development programs to provide information on career paths in high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand sectors, including skilled trades (e.g., professions like plumbing, electrical work, or welding that require specialized training).
• Public Awareness Campaigns: Mandates efforts to raise awareness of career and technical education programs and community-based organizations. This includes public service announcements, social media campaigns, and other activities to highlight programs preparing people for skilled trades and similar high-demand jobs.

These provisions are added to Section 223(a)(2) of the WIOA, which outlines allowable activities for state workforce agencies in delivering services.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends WIOA by inserting two new subparagraphs (M and N) into the list of authorized activities under Section 223(a)(2).
• Redesignates the existing subparagraph (M) as (O) to accommodate the new additions.
• Shifts the focus by explicitly emphasizing skilled trades alongside broader high-skill sectors, which were not previously highlighted in this section. This builds on WIOA's existing framework for workforce services without overhauling it.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: State and local workforce development boards (which administer WIOA programs) will need to incorporate new guidance and outreach efforts, potentially increasing administrative tasks and funding needs for campaigns.
• On Citizens: Job seekers, students, and young adults may gain better access to information about skilled trade careers, helping to address skills gaps and encourage enrollment in vocational training. This could lead to more people entering stable, well-paying jobs in trades.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic workforce education and does not address foreign policy or trade.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Workforce Agencies and Boards: State and local entities responsible for WIOA implementation, who must now prioritize skilled trade promotion.
• Educational Institutions and Community Organizations: Career and technical education programs, as well as nonprofits, that provide training and will benefit from increased visibility.
• Individuals: Students, unemployed or underemployed workers, and career changers interested in high-demand trades, who stand to gain from expanded awareness and guidance.
• Employers in Skilled Trades: Industries facing labor shortages (e.g., construction, manufacturing) may see a larger pool of qualified workers.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens WIOA's role in promoting vocational education without creating new enforcement mechanisms or penalties; it aligns with federal support for workforce development under Title I of WIOA.
• Constitutional: No apparent conflicts with constitutional principles, as it involves standard congressional authority over education and labor policy.
• Political: Encourages a shift toward valuing non-college pathways like skilled trades, potentially appealing to efforts to reduce youth unemployment and fill blue-collar job vacancies. It may spark debates on funding priorities for workforce programs amid broader education reform discussions.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]

Cosponsors (3)

Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

Recent Actions

• 2025-07-29: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
• 2025-07-29: Introduced in House
• 2025-07-29: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Creating Opportunities to Thrive and Advance Act — issued 2025-07-29 — PDF (2 pages)