CREATES Act

Grants and public credential databases

This bill would fund competitive grants to help States build or improve public credential databases. Grants would be awarded by the Secretary of Labor with Education, last up to 3 years, be limited to one per State, and capped at $10,000,000; the Secretary would decide applications within 90 days. States that get a grant would have to create a public repository listing every credential and training provider, with costs, competencies, outcomes (earnings, employment, completion and pass rates), and return-on-investment information, and it could not include personal data. Repositories would use open, interoperable data formats, be updated continuously, align with existing WIOA and related rules, help providers collect performance indicators, provide counselor guidance, and require an initial report within one year and yearly reports thereafter. Funding would be authorized for fiscal year 2028, with amounts remaining available through September 30, 2029.