HR 2099

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 14, 2025

Mr. Allen 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 authorize a study to review specific outcomes of entrepreneurial skills development programs, 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. STATE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD.

Section 101(d)(3)(D) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3111(d)(3)(D)) is amended—

(1) by striking “and jobseekers” and inserting “jobseekers, and entrepreneurs”; and

(2) by inserting “and entrepreneurial skills development and microenterprise services” after “occupations”.

SEC. 2. IDENTIFICATION OF ELIGIBLE PROVIDERS OF TRAINING SERVICES.

Section 122(a)(2)(C) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3152(a)(2)(C)) is amended by inserting “and providers of entrepreneurial skills development programs” after “organizations”.

SEC. 3. REQUIRED LOCAL EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ACTIVITIES.

Section 134(c)(2)(A) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3174(c)(2)(A)) is amended—

(1) in clause (iv)—

(A) in subclause (I)—

(i) in item (aa), by striking “; and” and inserting a semicolon; and

(ii) by adding at the end the following:

“(cc) provision of information on entrepreneurship, as appropriate; and”;

(B) in subclause (II), by adding “and” after the semicolon; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

“(III) referral to microenterprise services, as appropriate;”;

(2) in clause (vi)—

(A) in subclause (I), by inserting “, which may include resources to support entrepreneurship,” after “listings”; and

(B) in subclause (III), by inserting “, which may include entrepreneurship opportunities,” after “demand”; and

(3) in clause (xiii), by inserting “or entrepreneurial opportunities” after “workplace”.

SEC. 4. EVALUATIONS AND RESEARCH.

Section 169 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3224) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (4)—

(i) by redesignating subparagraph (K) as subparagraph (L); and

(ii) by inserting after subparagraph (J) the following:

“(K) Study on entrepreneurial skills development programs.—The Secretary shall, through a grant or contract, conduct a three-year multistate study on entrepreneurial skills development programs, which shall include the following:

“(i) A review of—

“(I) successful practices for developing entrepreneurial skills of individuals;

“(II) evidence-based and other best practices for mentoring potential entrepreneurs;

“(III) the qualifications needed for skills development providers to successfully develop the entrepreneurial skills of individuals;

“(IV) strategies for engaging employers and other private sector partners;

“(V) such program outcomes that correlate with entrepreneurial success;

“(VI) how such programs successfully measure the progress of participants in such programs;

“(VII) the extent to which such programs lead to industry recognized credentials;

“(VIII) the impact, including the economic impact, of such programs on States and local communities;

“(IX) the extent to which such programs affect business development and job creation in States and local communities;

“(X) how such programs identify potential program participants’ readiness for the program; and

“(XI) the average earnings of participants who complete such a program three years after the date of completion of such program.

“(ii) Recommendations for States and local communities to expand access to such programs.”; and

(B) in paragraph (5)(A), by inserting “which shall include individuals pursuing entrepreneurship,” after “particular service populations,”; and

(2) in subsection (c), by striking the third sentence and inserting the following: “Such projects may include demonstration and pilot projects relating to promoting self- employment, promoting entrepreneurship, promoting job creation (especially for in-demand industry sectors or occupations), averting dislocations, assisting dislocated farmers, assisting dislocated fishermen, developing career pathways and encouraging advancements, and promoting public works.”. <all>