JOBS Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Timothy Kaine
Introduced
Summary
Expands Pell Grants to short-term, employer-recognized job training programs. The bill would create a Job Training Federal Pell Grant program to fund certain 150 to 600 hour, 8 to 15 week career and technical programs and set rules for program approval, accreditation, and data sharing.
Show full summary
- Students and families: Students without a postbaccalaureate degree who enroll in eligible job training programs at institutions of higher education could receive Pell Grants. Time spent on a job training Pell Grant would count toward a student’s overall Pell eligibility, and full-time enrollees who fall below the normal Pell minimum could still get an award.
- Institutions and training providers: Programs must offer recognized postsecondary credentials, sufficient academic content, and institutional credit articulation for noncredit offerings. The Education Secretary would review program applications within 60 days and could require state board certification.
- Employers and workforce systems: Eligible programs must align with high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand sectors as validated by industry or sector partnerships. The Secretary would coordinate with the Department of Labor and the National Center for Education Statistics would collect eligible provider performance reports at least annually.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Pell Grants for short job training
If enacted, the bill would create a Job Training Pell Grant program starting with the award year that begins July 1, 2025. You would be able to get Pell for eligible short postsecondary programs that run 150–600 clock hours (about 8–15 weeks) if you do not have a postbaccalaureate degree and meet normal Pell rules. Eligible programs must be validated by industry or sector partnerships, be offered by WIOA‑listed training providers, award recognized credentials, and the Secretary would decide eligibility within 60 days. Periods you receive a job training Pell would count against your total Pell lifetime eligibility and part‑time Pell rules apply if you enroll less than full time.
Lower guaranteed Pell minimum
If enacted, the bill would cut the statutory minimum Pell fraction from 10 percent to 5 percent for award calculations starting July 1, 2025. That means the smallest Pell payments some students get could be smaller each award year. Affected recipients could see a modest reduction in their minimum Pell award amounts.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Timothy Kaine
VA • D
Cosponsors
Susan Collins
ME • R
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Tina Smith
MN • D
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Roger Marshall
KS • R
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Tammy Baldwin
WI • D
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Richard Blumenthal
CT • D
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Lisa Blunt Rochester
DE • D
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Cory Booker
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/4/2025
John Boozman
AR • R
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Shelley Capito
WV • R
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Christopher Coons
DE • D
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Catherine Cortez Masto
NV • D
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Kevin Cramer
ND • R
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Steve Daines
MT • R
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Tammy Duckworth
IL • D
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Kirsten Gillibrand
NY • D
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Maggie Hassan
NH • D
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Martin Heinrich
NM • D
Sponsored 2/4/2025
John Hickenlooper
CO • D
Sponsored 2/4/2025
John Hoeven
ND • R
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Cindy Hyde-Smith
MS • R
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Mark Kelly
AZ • D
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Angus King
ME • I
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Amy Klobuchar
MN • D
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Jeff Merkley
OR • D
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Jon Ossoff
GA • D
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Gary Peters
MI • D
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Jacky Rosen
NV • D
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Jeanne Shaheen
NH • D
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Dan Sullivan
AK • R
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Thomas Tillis
NC • R
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Tommy Tuberville
AL • R
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Chris Van Hollen
MD • D
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Mark Warner
VA • D
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Roger Wicker
MS • R
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Ron Wyden
OR • D
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Pete Ricketts
NE • R
Sponsored 2/13/2025
James Risch
ID • R
Sponsored 2/13/2025
Jon Husted
OH • R
Sponsored 5/1/2025
James Justice
WV • R
Sponsored 6/27/2025
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
John Barrasso
WY • R
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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