CREATES Act
Sponsored By: Representative McBath
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a competitive Department of Labor grant program to help states build publicly accessible credential repositories that publish open, interoperable data on training programs and credentials.
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- States could receive one competitive grant per state for a three-year period, with each grant capped at $10.0 million, to establish, expand, or improve a statewide credential repository.
- Workers, students, and jobseekers would get a searchable public database showing every credential and training provider in their state with costs, skills and competencies taught, required assessments and costs, postsecondary credit or transfer recommendations, career pathways, and outcomes like earnings and completion rates. The repository may not include personally identifiable information.
- Training providers, career counselors, employers, and policymakers would gain tools and linked open data to compare programs. States would collect primary performance indicators under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), keep data current, and use transparent, open, interoperable formats for cross‑state use.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grants for State credential repositories
If enacted, the bill would create a competitive Labor Department grant program to help States build or improve public credential repositories. Grants would run 3 years and could not exceed $10,000,000 per State. The Labor Secretary would decide on each State application within 90 days and may award only one grant per State. The bill would authorize such sums as necessary for fiscal year 2028, with funds available until September 30, 2029. States seeking grants would have to apply with plans for the repository, a data policy, and agreed tools, and grant recipients would report to the Secretary within one year and then annually.
Public searchable credential information
If enacted, State repositories would have to list every credential and every training provider in the State and show details people need to compare options. Required information would include costs, required assessments and their costs, competencies and skills taught, suggested postsecondary credit transfer if available, career pathways, and outcomes like earnings, employment, completion and pass rates, plus a State return-on-investment estimate. Repositories would be kept up to date, use transparent, linked, open, interoperable data, and offer search, compare, and analysis functions across States and sectors. States would have to help training providers collect WIOA performance indicators, give guidance to counselors, develop tools that use the open data, align repository entries with existing provider approval rules, and would not be allowed to collect or include any personally identifiable information.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
McBath
GA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]
UT • R
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov