Workforce Investments Accountability Act
Sponsored By: Representative Foxx
Introduced
Summary
This bill would tighten and standardize performance rules across Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programs to create stronger accountability and transparency. It would add new outcome measures, require standardized public reporting, permit vetted use of advanced analytics, and set escalating penalties for States and local areas that miss targets.
Show full summary
- States must accept or counter proposed federal performance targets and the Labor and Education secretaries must publish the statistical model and adjustment factors used to set those targets. Failing to meet standards can trigger required technical assistance and cuts to Governor reserved funds starting at 5% and rising up to a 10% cap for sustained underperformance.
- Local areas face a tighter 80% performance threshold and escalating penalties that can include allocation reductions and forced reorganization after repeated failures. Local areas must also use at least 50% of certain local funds to pay for training services for adults and dislocated workers.
- Reporting expands to new metrics like median earnings gain and an indicator for on-the-job training and apprenticeships, and State and provider data must be published in digital, printable, and multilingual formats. Eligible training providers must report disaggregated outcomes, credentials awarded, costs, and completions, and States may use validated advanced analytics under privacy and privacy safeguards.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
Reduces funds for low-performing areas
If enacted, the bill would require technical help when States miss 80% of adjusted performance levels. A specified failure or repeated shortfall can cut a Governor's reserved funds by 5%. A second consecutive year of a major failure can cut Governor-reserved funds by 8%, with total reductions under that subsection capped at 10% for a program year. Local areas that miss standards for a second consecutive year could lose 5% of their next-year allocation, and a third consecutive year could force reorganization or new local-board actions. Ten percent of certain unallocated reduced amounts would be set aside for Governor-provided technical assistance and the rest would be reallotted to eligible, non-reduced States or local areas, with some priority for top-improving States.
More local money for job training
If enacted, local areas would have to use at least 50% of the funds described in subparagraph (A) of section 134(c)(1) for payment of training services to adults and dislocated workers. This requirement would take effect on enactment and shift more local workforce dollars toward direct training services for jobseekers.
Stronger reporting and data rules
If enacted, the bill would change what workforce programs measure and report. It would add a median earnings gain measure and require employment to be measured in the fourth quarter after program exit. Eligible training providers would have to report disaggregated outcomes, credentials, costs per participant, and counts of people with barriers, subject to privacy rules. The Secretaries would publish the statistical adjustment model, standardized report templates, and propose expected performance levels by January 15 tied to State plans. Governors would name a State data entity to help match quarterly wage records and local areas could get wage records only to meet reporting rules and after meeting privacy and cybersecurity requirements. The bill would not require agencies to collect or report data for program years before enactment.
Smaller pay-for-performance incentive pool
If enacted, the bill would cap pay-for-performance incentive pools at no more than 5% of the funds reserved under section 128(a)(1). Providers and contractors would see a lower maximum incentive pool each program year; to find the dollar cap, multiply the Governor-reserved amount by 5%.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Foxx
NC • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in