Employment Abundance Act
Sponsored By: Representative Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
Introduced
Summary
Limits unnecessary bachelor's degree requirements in federal hiring and contracting. This bill would require the Federal Acquisition Regulation Council and the Office of Personnel Management to write rules forcing federal contractors and executive agencies to review job classifications and identify positions where a college degree is not demonstrably necessary for essential job functions.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Skills-first hiring for federal jobs
The bill would push federal employers to value skills, not just degrees. Within one year of enactment, the FAR Council and OPM would issue rules. Contractors and executive agencies would review all job titles to see if a bachelor’s degree is truly needed. Within 180 days after the rules take effect, they would file reports listing jobs where the degree is not necessary and plans to use experience, certifications, or skills tests instead. These changes would apply to new contracts, appointments, and promotions after the rules take effect.
Enforcement and exceptions for degree rules
If a contractor or agency did not follow the review and reporting rules, regulators could act. Contractors could be ruled ineligible for future federal contracts. Agencies could face actions under Chapter 75 of Title 5 or other remedies set by OPM. The bill would also let employers keep degree rules when needed for job performance or when required by law, regulation, or professional licenses. So some jobs would still require degrees.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
NY • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov