ADVOCACY & POLICY UPDATE - April 13, 2026

House Committee Releases Partisan WIOA Reauthorization Bill

Washington Update​

WIOA Reauthorization

On Monday, April 6, House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (MI) introduced A Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026, which reauthorizes the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The bill would transfer oversight of adult education programs from the Department of Education (ED) to the Department of Labor (DOL), furthering a Trump Administration goal of shifting programs away from ED. 

In response, Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA) expressed his concern about the partisan direction the committee was taking by abandoning the bipartisan version of the bill introduced last year, with the current legislation having the potential to go “as far as prioritizing President Trump’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education, by moving Adult Education programs from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor.”

The legislation includes funding for individual training accounts (ITAs) of approximately $5,000 to support retraining and upskilling programs for displaced workers. It also strengthens accountability requirements for workforce programs at the state and local levels by more closely linking performance to participant outcomes. Additional provisions reform Job Corps by tying funding to performance and increasing oversight measures for underperforming centers.

The Trump Administration’s FY27 budget proposes consolidating workforce funding into block grants, an approach that differs from this legislation, which builds on the existing system. Congress has not adopted prior proposals to restructure these programs. The bill is expected to be marked up in the coming weeks.

Click here to access the committee press release on the legislation.

Click here to access Ranking Member Bobby Scott’s statement on the bill.

Departments of Labor & Education Grant Program

On Wednesday, April 8, the U.S. Departments of Labor (DOL) and Education (ED) announced the FY26 competitions for the Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program and the Innovative Approaches to Literacy Program. The competitions will be administered through an interagency agreement, with DOL managing the grant process. 

This reflects broader Trump Administration efforts to shift certain education-related responsibilities across federal agencies. According to DOL and ED, the grant competitions are intended to support programs that improve student outcomes, strengthen teacher retention, and expand access to literacy initiatives.

Click here to access the full press release and more information on the grant competition.

Workforce Pell

There is bipartisan support for the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed regulation to expand eligibility for Workforce Pell Grants to short-term training programs. Last month’s proposal aims to improve access to workforce training and reduce financial barriers for participants. At the same time, some lawmakers and advocacy organizations are calling for additional safeguards to ensure program quality and protect federal student aid. These include limiting the share of instruction that can be delivered by third-party providers, establishing measures to assess whether programs lead to improved earnings, and increasing transparency around program costs, debt levels, and participant outcomes.

Click here to access the Department of Education’s March proposed regulation.

MATCH ACT

On Thursday, April 2, Congressman Burges Owens (UT) introduced the Modernizing Access to Talents, Credentials, and Hiring Act of 2026 (MATCH Act), which would establish state-led talent marketplaces, create portable Learning and Employment Records (LERs), and connect workers to jobs and training based on their verified skills and credentials. Using existing WIOA funds, it would establish a Workforce Data Quality Initiative grant program to help states build and improve workforce data systems and talent marketplaces. 

Click here to access the press release on the legislation.

House Education and Workforce Committee Hearing

On Wednesday, April 15, the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections will hold the sixth hearing in a series examining artificial intelligence, titled “Building an AI-Ready America: Understanding AI’s Economic Impact on Workers and Employers.”

Click here to access a link to the hearing.