Sponsors (2)
The bill channels new federal funds and program requirements to retrain workers for automation‑related jobs and reduce participation barriers—potentially improving reemployment and regional capacity—but does so at the cost of higher federal spending, added administrative complexity, and a risk that poorly targeted or short‑term programs will leave many nontechnical or hard‑to‑reach workers behind.
Unemployed and dislocated workers (including low‑ and middle‑income households) gain clearer access to federally supported training for automation‑related and technology jobs, improving reemployment prospects, potential wages, and national productivity.
Workers receive supports (transportation stipends, paid leave, childcare) and program features that reduce barriers to participation and help preserve household income during retraining.
The bill includes dedicated funding mechanisms (including a $40M annual authorization for national dislocated worker grants FY2026–2030 and other grant authorities) to support rapid response, reemployment assistance, and regional training programs.
The legislation increases federal spending (including multi‑year authorizations) and could raise budgetary pressures on taxpayers or require offsets.
If training is poorly designed or poorly targeted, funds may not yield stable employment for displaced workers, producing weak reemployment outcomes and wasted resources.
New administrative, compliance, and membership requirements (including cross‑references to WIOA/HEA and labor/nondiscrimination standards) could increase burdens on state agencies, local partners, and small providers, slowing implementation and raising operating costs.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Creates competitive grants for automation-displaced worker training, expands WIOA to authorize automation-related training, and authorizes $40M/yr for national dislocated worker grants for FY2026–2030.
Official title: Address the needs of workers in industries likely to be impacted by rapidly evolving technologies.
Introduced February 12, 2026 by Richard Joseph Durbin · Last progress February 12, 2026
Creates a competitive grant program (starting FY2026) to fund demonstration and pilot projects that train workers displaced or at risk of displacement by automation, and amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to explicitly allow automation-related and technology-sector training. It defines key terms (including an expansive definition of “automation”), tightens eligible partnership membership to require workforce board and economic development representation, requires recipient reporting on outcomes and nondiscrimination, and authorizes an additional $40 million per year for national dislocated worker grants for FY2026–2030.