[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2099 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2099
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
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.''.
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