[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8039 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8039

   To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to address 
                workforce gaps, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    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.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Workforce and Education Partnership 
Act of 2026''.

SEC. 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).''.
                                 <all>