National Workforce Transition Fund Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced
Summary
A National Workforce Transition Fund would be created to help workers move into stable jobs as artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies reshape labor markets. The bill pairs a new National Workforce Transition Board with a five‑year funding plan tied to temporary tax changes for AI data centers.
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- Workers and jobseekers would get a package of transition services. That includes access to training through individual training accounts, employer retention and redeployment programs, and priority for dislocated workers, recent graduates, and those with wage losses; training cost sharing requires participants to pay one‑third at enrollment and another one‑third if they do not complete.
- States, local workforce boards, and training providers would run grants and programs under stricter quality standards. Local allocations follow existing local funding shares, State higher education agencies would oversee credential grants, and providers must meet completion, placement, earnings, and credential portability criteria.
- Funding would come from a temporary expansion of bonus depreciation for defined "AI data centers" and an annual Treasury transfer of the revenue increase to the Fund for five years. An "AI data center" must include at least one graphics processing unit and at least 20 percent AI use.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Tax break for AI data center investment
If enacted, the bill would let owners claim bonus depreciation for property used in an "AI data center" placed in service after enactment. An AI data center would be a permanent facility (or group of structures) with centralized IT and at least one GPU, where at least 20% is used for developing or running AI. For leased centers, depreciation would follow specified Treasury rules. The bonus depreciation authority would end five years after enactment.
New national workforce oversight board
If enacted, the bill would create a National Workforce Transition Board at the Department of Labor. The Labor, Education, and Commerce Secretaries would serve on it and non-federal members would be split one-third business, one-third labor, and one-third government and higher education. Non-federal members would serve five-year terms and get daily pay and travel expenses. The Board would make a national workforce plan, set Fund priorities, and recommend performance measures.
New Treasury fund and funding rules
If enacted, the bill would create a National Workforce Transition Fund inside the Treasury to pay for workforce transition programs. The Treasury Secretary would be trustee and could invest unused money in U.S. obligations. The Treasury would each year transfer to the Fund an amount equal to the increase in revenue caused by the AI data center bonus depreciation rule. The Fund and most program authorities would end five years after enactment and Fund money would be available only by appropriation and must supplement, not replace, other workforce funds.
Grants, training, and participant costs
If enacted, the Fund would pay grants to modernize labor market data, to states for education and training, and to local areas for individual training accounts. Selected students and incumbent workers would pay one-third of program costs when they enroll and would owe another one-third if they do not complete the program. Local ITA money would follow existing local funding shares and employers could get subgrants only if they submit workforce transition plans and compacts. Grants could also fund supportive services like housing, child care, transportation, and health benefits.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
VA • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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