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S. 342 117th Congress Senate

WORKER Act

Official title: A bill to advance STEM education, provide for improved worker training, retention, and advancement, and for other purposes.

Introduced: February 22, 2021 Introduced by: Catherine Cortez Masto Democratic · Nevada See on congress.gov
Labor and Employment Advisory bodiesCongressional oversightDepartment of LaborEducation programs funding
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Educational guidanceElementary and secondary educationEmployment and training programsExecutive agency funding and structureGovernment information and archivesHigher educationPerformance measurementPublic-private cooperationScience and engineering educationState and local government operationsTeaching, teachers, curriculaUnemploymentVocational and technical educationWages and earnings
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 22, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Feb 22, 2021
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action February 22, 2021

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

 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.

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.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 342: WORKER Act. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-342/
MLA
"S. 342: WORKER Act." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-342/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 342, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-342/.
Markdown link
[S. 342: WORKER Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-342/)
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