Less Bureaucracy, Better Workforce Development Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9607
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-07-09: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-10T10:23:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation aims to consolidate workforce development and adult education programs by transferring specific functions from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor, with the goal of streamlining administration and reducing bureaucratic overlap.
Key Provisions
- Section 2 transfers to the Secretary of Labor (through the Employment and Training Administration) all functions previously handled by the Secretary of Education regarding:
- The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (except sections 116 and 117).
- Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
- Adult literacy and education programs that help learners gain employment skills, diplomas, and transition to further education.
- Promotion of coordination among states, schools, colleges, and organizations for career preparation.
- Improvement of programs using data and quality measures.
- Any related functions listed in the Department of Education Organization Act.
- Section 3 grants the Secretary of Labor the same legal authorities the Secretary of Education previously held for these functions.
- Section 4 transfers personnel, assets, contracts, records, and unspent funds to the Department of Labor, to be used only for their original purposes.
- Section 5 requires the Office of Management and Budget Director to prevent any net increase in federal full-time employees and to resolve any disputes over transferred functions.
- Sections 6–10 cover delegation of duties, updating legal references from Education to Labor, continuity of existing rules and lawsuits, transition support, and definitions.
- Section 11 sets the effective date at 6 months after enactment, while allowing early transfers of functions.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill shifts oversight of career and technical education (CTE) and adult education programs from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor. This reorganization excludes certain accountability sections of the Perkins Act but otherwise moves administration, coordination, and funding management to the new agency.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: The Department of Labor gains responsibility for these programs, while the Department of Education loses them, requiring internal adjustments without adding overall federal staff.
- Citizens: Individuals seeking workforce training, adult literacy support, or CTE programs may experience changes in program administration, though day-to-day services are intended to continue without interruption.
- International relations: None identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal agencies: Department of Education and Department of Labor.
- State and local entities: States, local educational agencies, community colleges, and workforce organizations.
- Program participants: Youth and adults enrolled in CTE, adult education, and family literacy programs.
- Oversight bodies: Office of Management and Budget and relevant congressional committees.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill includes detailed savings clauses to preserve ongoing legal proceedings, grants, and contracts, ensuring continuity during the transfer. No direct constitutional issues are addressed. Politically, the measure frames the change as a reduction in bureaucracy, though it represents a significant inter-agency reorganization of education and workforce functions.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-07-09: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2026-07-09: Introduced in House
- 2026-07-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Less Bureaucracy, Better Workforce Development Act — issued 2026-07-09 — PDF (10 pages)