Sponsors (5)
The bill would provide guaranteed, well‑supported paid jobs to eligible people in high‑unemployment areas—boosting incomes, benefits, and job supports—but does so with open‑ended federal spending and higher costs and administrative burdens for employers and local governments while leaving many communities without aid.
Low-income and unemployed residents in eligible areas would gain access to guaranteed, paid jobs for up to three years, increasing household income and job stability.
Program participants would receive federal-employee–level benefits (health insurance and paid leave), improving health coverage and paid-leave access for workers in the program.
Participants would get supportive services and training (transportation, child care, housing assistance, needs payments), reducing barriers to work and helping sustained employment.
Taxpayers face open-ended federal costs because grants are funded by 'such sums as may be necessary,' creating fiscal uncertainty and potentially large federal spending.
Local governments, small businesses, and other employers would face higher labor costs from mandated wages, FEHB-level insurance, and paid leave, which could strain budgets or reduce hiring elsewhere.
Many needy communities (including some rural and urban areas) would be excluded because grants are limited to areas with unemployment ≥150% of the national rate and awards are capped to 15 entities.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a DOL competitive pilot grant program to fund three-year local job-guarantee programs in areas where unemployment is ≥150% of the national rate, with set wage, benefit, and eligibility standards.
Introduced February 12, 2026 by Bonnie Watson Coleman · Last progress February 12, 2026
Creates a Department of Labor–run competitive pilot grant program that awards three-year federal grants to state/local governments, Tribal entities, or contiguous combinations in areas where local unemployment is at least 150% of the national rate to establish locally run "job guarantee" programs. Grants fund paid employment with required wage and benefit standards, worker eligibility rules, and allowable supportive services; grants end after three years or if the entity loses eligible status. The program sets minimum employment standards (age and residency requirements, collective-bargaining coverage, duration of participation), wage floors tied to local prevailing rates or comparable required wages, health insurance comparable to the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, and minimum paid family leave; the Secretary of Labor must solicit applications using the most recent BLS data and may accept Tribal data when federal data are unavailable.