House Education and Workforce Committee Passes WIOA Reauthorization Bill Along Party Lines

The House Education and Workforce Committee has advanced the A Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026 along party lines, moving the bill one step closer to a full floor vote. The bill, which would reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), maintains many elements from the 2024 version but includes several key changes.

Notable provisions include the removal of the term “opportunity youth,” level funding for the WIOA Youth program, and the expansion and renaming of the state block grant pilot as “Make America Skilled Again.” The bill also increases the number of state and local pilots while removing prior eligibility requirements for consolidation, and would shift adult education (AEFLA, WIOA Title II) from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor.

At the same time, the bill retains several provisions from the 2024 proposal: expanding eligibility for out-of-school youth (OSY), increasing work-based learning requirements, and investing in youth apprenticeship through a new $65 million Youth Apprenticeship Readiness Grant (YARG) program. It also includes provisions to codify the Reentry Employment Opportunities program with dedicated youth funding, allow greater flexibility through self-attestation and Individual Training Accounts, and require stronger state and local planning around OSY populations.

NYEC is continuing to review the legislation in detail and is actively engaging with House and Senate offices as the bill moves forward. Members are encouraged to share feedback or flag provisions that stand out with Nathan Hora at nathan.hora@nyec.org. NYEC will continue to provide updates as the process unfolds.

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