Immersive Technology for the American Workforce Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6968
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Labor and Employment
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-07: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-28T09:05:42Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 6968: Immersive Technology for the American Workforce Act of 2025
Purpose
This legislation directs the Secretary of Labor to establish a competitive grant program. The program supports community colleges and career and technical education centers in creating education and training programs that use immersive technology, such as virtual reality and augmented reality, to help workers gain skills for employment.
Key Provisions
- Grant Program Establishment: The Secretary of Labor must award grants within one year of enactment to eligible entities for developing career pathways using immersive technology.
- Use of Funds: Grants support programs that provide training in high-demand job sectors, ensure accessibility for people with employment barriers (including veterans and those with disabilities), and train instructors on immersive tools.
- Grant Duration and Limits: Grants last up to five years, with no repeat awards for the same purpose.
- Application and Priority: Applicants must describe program quality. Priority goes to entities partnering with committed employers, community colleges, or those aligned with state workforce plans, targeting rural areas, or addressing declining industries.
- Reporting and Evaluation: Grantees submit performance reports; the Secretary provides biennial reports to Congress and reserves 1-5% of funds for independent evaluation and technical assistance.
- Best Practices: The Secretary must develop and publish guidelines for using immersive technology in training by the third year of grants.
- Funding: Authorizes $50 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2035.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill creates a new federal grant program focused on immersive technology in workforce training. It builds on but does not alter core provisions of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act or the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, instead requiring alignment with their existing state and local plans. No direct amendments to prior statutes are made.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Labor gains responsibility for administering grants, evaluations, and best practice development, potentially increasing administrative workload.
- Citizens: Expands access to technology-based training for job seekers, particularly in rural areas or for those facing employment barriers, potentially improving skill acquisition and economic outcomes.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Community colleges and area career and technical education centers.
- Industry and sector partnerships, including employers in high-demand fields.
- Students and workers, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
- State and local workforce development boards.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill requires compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act nondiscrimination rules. It operates under Congress's authority to fund workforce programs and raises no apparent constitutional concerns.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Evans, Gabe [R-CO-8], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-07: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2026-01-07: Introduced in House
- 2026-01-07: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Immersive Technology for the American Workforce Act of 2025 — issued 2026-01-07 — PDF (11 pages)