Immersive Technology for the American Workforce Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 2855
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Labor and Employment
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-19: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-20T11:03:19Z
AI-Generated Summary
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 area career and technical education centers in creating and implementing education and training services that use immersive technology, such as virtual reality or augmented reality, to build workforce skills leading to employment and economic self-sufficiency.
Key Provisions
- Grant Program: Starting no later than one year after enactment, the Secretary awards competitive grants to eligible entities for up to five years to develop career pathways using immersive technology.
- Eligible Uses of Funds: Grants fund programs that train students, including members of the Armed Forces and veterans, for in-demand industry sectors; ensure accessibility for individuals with barriers to employment under the Americans with Disabilities Act; or train instructors in immersive technology tools.
- Application and Priority: Entities submit applications describing program quality. Priority goes to those partnering with committed employers, involving covered community colleges or area career and technical education schools, or aligning with state and local workforce plans under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act or the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. Additional priority applies for programs targeting specific in-demand sectors, retraining displaced workers, serving rural communities, or using data to meet employer needs.
- Reporting and Evaluation: Grantees report performance data annually to the Secretary, who submits biennial summaries to Congress. The Secretary reserves 1 to 5 percent of funds for independent evaluation and technical assistance, and must publish best practices after three years.
- Authorization: $50,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2035.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
The bill creates a new standalone grant program rather than amending core statutes. It builds on definitions and requirements from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (for training services and performance indicators) and the Higher Education Act (for institutions), while adding specific rules for immersive technology and prohibiting repeat grants for the same purpose.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Labor gains new administrative duties, including grant management, reporting, and evaluation.
- Citizens: Workers and students, especially veterans, rural residents, and those with employment barriers, gain access to technology-based training for in-demand jobs.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Community colleges, area career and technical education schools, and other higher education institutions.
- Industry or sector partnerships involving employers.
- State and local workforce development boards.
- Individuals seeking workforce training, including veterans and those in rural areas.
- The Department of Labor.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill incorporates existing accessibility requirements from the Americans with Disabilities Act and performance standards from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. It contains no apparent constitutional issues and maintains a focus on domestic workforce development through emerging technology tools.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-19: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
- 2025-09-18: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-09-18: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Immersive Technology for the American Workforce Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-18 — PDF (11 pages)