HR 594 117th Congress House Labor and Employment Building construction Education programs funding Employment and training programs Performance measurement Vocational and technical education

WORKER Act

Introduced: January 28, 2021 See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 7 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Mar 23, 2021

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.

Mar 22, 2021

Referred to the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law.

Feb 4, 2021

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

Jan 29, 2021

Referred to the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.

Jan 28, 2021

Referred to the Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support.

Jan 28, 2021

Introduced in House

Jan 28, 2021

Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, Science, Space, and Technology, Natural Resources, Oversight and Reform, Foreign Affairs, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Working On Rewarding and Keeping Employees Resilient Act or the WORKER Act

This bill addresses workforce development by advancing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, revising and implementing certain worker training, retention, and advancement programs, establishing the Distressed Community Investment Agency, and renaming the Department of Commerce as the Department of Innovation and Investment.

The bill requires (1) the Department of Education (ED) to award grants to eligible entities to implement certain formal and informal engineering education programs in elementary and secondary schools, and (2) the use of certain career and technical education program funds for supporting a hands-on learning approach.

The bill establishes in the Department of Labor an Office of Apprenticeship, including a National Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships, to promote apprenticeship programs.

Labor and ED must establish a voluntary Registered Apprenticeship-College Collaborative consisting of the sponsors carrying out registered apprenticeship programs, two- or four-year post secondary educational institutions, and organizations that represent such programs or institutions.

The bill requires states to provide a Labor-approved reemployment bonus program for individuals currently receiving unemployment benefits. It also allows states to use workforce development funds for a wage insurance program for individuals age 50 and over (age 45 and over for individuals in economically distressed communities) and establishes a training voucher program to assist workers in obtaining job skills training.

What's happening now March 23, 2021

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.

Related & companion bills 1

Bill text 1 version