ADVOCACY & POLICY UPDATE - June 23, 2025

Democrats Demand Halt to Education Funding Transfer​

Washington Update

Employer-Directed Skills Act and Advancing Skills-Based Hiring Act

On Tuesday, June 17, House Republican Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (NY), a senior member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, reintroduced two bills aimed at strengthening workforce development and promoting skills-based hiring: the Employer-Directed Skills Act and the Advancing Skills-Based Hiring Act.

The Employer-Directed Skills Act would enable employers to identify and support prospective workers through eligible skills development programs, including work-based learning provided by the employer or third-party providers. It also proposes partial reimbursement of training costs through an Employer-Directed Skills Account, encouraging private-sector investment in workforce training.

The Advancing Skills-Based Hiring Act aims to assist employers in implementing hiring practices that prioritize job-relevant skills over academic credentials. It would establish a voluntary process for employers to submit assessment tools to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for review and provide safe harbor protections for those whose assessments are deemed job-related. 

Together, the two bills seek to expand access to in-demand career opportunities by aligning workforce development initiatives with employer needs.

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

Department of Education

On June 18, Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon calling on her to halt plans to transfer $2.7 billion in education grant funds to the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. The request follows reports of an interagency agreement that would shift administration of certain education grants to the Labor Department. Lawmakers argue the move lacks legal authority and conflicts with existing education and appropriations laws. In response, the Department of Education stated it has paused implementation of the agreement while it appeals a preliminary injunction and reviews the concerns raised by Congress.

Click here to read the letter.

Senate HELP Committee

On Thursday, June 26, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee will vote on several U.S. Department of Labor and Education nominees. 

Nominations for key roles within the Department of Labor and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission the Committee include: Jonathan Berry as Solicitor of the Department of Labor, Andrew Rogers for Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division, Anthony D’Esposito for Inspector General and Andrea Lucas has been nominated to continue serving as a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.The two Department of Education nominees to be voted on are Penny Schwann for Deputy Secretary of Education and Kimberly Richey for Assistant Secretary of or Civil Rights. The nominees  already testified in front of the committee earlier this month. 

Click here to access the vote.

H-2A Rollback

Last week the Department of Labor rolled back the Biden administration rule aimed at providing migrant workers with wage transparency protection and limited union representation under the H-2A program. DOL claimed it was halting enforcement of the rule because of “legal uncertainty, inconsistency, and operational challenges” for farmers caused by a series of preliminary injunctions. Under the 2024 rule, agricultural employers were required to create safety measures for workers. Laborers were also allowed to invite union representatives to attend disciplinary meetings or visit employer-sponsored housing.

House Education and Workforce Committee Hearing

On Tuesday, June 24, the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education will hold the hearing “Child Care and the American Workforce: Removing Barriers to Economic Growth.”

Click here to learn more and watch the hearing.