H.R. 8039

119 HR 8039 IH: Workforce and Education Partnership Act of 2026
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-03-24
 text/xml
 EN
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 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 8039  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   March 24, 2026   Mrs. Bice  (for herself and  Ms. Jacobs ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Education and Workforce    A BILL
To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to address workforce gaps, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Workforce and Education Partnership Act of 2026  .
2.
Amendments to the workforce innovation and opportunity act
(a)
Youth workforce development programs for high-Demand occupations
Section 129(b)(2) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3164(b)(2) ) is amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (D)(v), by striking  and  at the end;
(2)
in subparagraph (E), by striking the period and inserting  ; and ; and
(3)
by inserting at the end the following:
(F)
developing partnerships between educational institutions (including area career and technical education schools and institutions of higher education) and employers to create or improve workforce development programs to address the identified education and skill needs of the workforce and the employment needs of employers in the regions of the State, as determined based on the most recent analysis conducted under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 102(b)(1).
 .
(b)
Statewide adult workforce development programs for high-Demand occupations
Section 134(a)(3)(A) of such Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3174(a)(3)(A) ) is amended—
(1)
in clause (xiii), by striking  and  at the end;
(2)
in clause (xiv), by striking the period and inserting  ; and ; and
(3)
by inserting at the end the following:
(xv)
developing partnerships between educational institutions (including area career and technical education schools and institutions of higher education) and employers to create or improve workforce development programs to address the identified education and skill needs of the workforce and the employment needs of employers in the regions of the State, as determined based on the most recent analysis conducted under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 102(b)(1).
 .
(c)
Local adult workforce development programs for high-Demand occupations
Section 134(d)(1)(A) of such Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3174(d)(1)(A) ) is amended—
(1)
in clause (xi), by striking  and  at the end;
(2)
in clause (xii), by striking the period and inserting  ; and ; and
(3)
by inserting at the end the following:
(xiii)
the development of partnerships between educational institutions (including area career and technical education schools and institutions of higher education) and employers to create or improve workforce development programs to address the identified education and skill needs of the workforce and the employment needs of employers in the region, as determined based on the most recent analysis conducted by the local board under section 107(d)(2).
 .