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119-hr-8133119th CongressWALLET

DPA Workforce and Skilled Labor Needs Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would require federal agencies using the Defense Production Act to identify workforce and skills gaps and allow DPA-funded assistance to recruit, train, place, and retain workers in defense‑critical occupations. It emphasizes apprenticeships and other training to strengthen the domestic industrial base.

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  • Workers: Would create funded opportunities for recruitment, training, placement, and retention in defense‑critical jobs, including apprenticeships. Entities that use the assistance for these purposes must keep records of performance standards for those workers.
  • Companies receiving DPA financial assistance: Agencies could direct that part of the financial assistance go specifically to workforce activities connected to the funded work.
  • Federal agencies and oversight: Agencies would have to report the identified gaps and provide short‑ and long‑term recommendations, including workforce training and apprenticeship proposals, in the Defense Production Act Committee annual report.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More training and hiring for defense workers

If enacted, each federal agency with Defense Production Act authority would identify worker and skills shortages that hurt the domestic defense supply base. For companies that get federal help under Title I or this title, agencies would be able to require part of the funds be used to recruit, train, place, or retain workers in defense‑critical jobs tied to the funded work. Recipients would have to keep records of performance standards for workers paid with that assistance. Agencies would include these findings and short‑ and long‑term recommendations, including on apprenticeships, in the DPA Committee's annual report. This would take effect on enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]

IL • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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