Sponsor
Michael Baumgartner
Representative · R-WA
Representative · R-WA
The bill invests WIOA funds to build statewide and multistate workforce data systems and credential registries that could substantially improve matching of training to jobs and accountability, but it does so by diverting a portion of reserved funds, creating privacy risks, imposing future sustainment costs, and potentially leaving underresourced states behind.
State and local workforce agencies and multistate consortia can receive federal grants to build longitudinal workforce data systems and staff capacity, improving reporting on employment and earnings and enabling more evidence‑based program management.
Learners and workers gain interoperable credential registries and portable learning/employment records that make it easier to find, prove, and transfer skills and credentials.
Policymakers, employers (including small businesses), and jobseekers get more timely, standardized labor‑market and earnings data to better align training programs with in‑demand skills and improve job‑training outcomes.
Jobseekers and dislocated workers may face reduced direct services because 5–10% of reserved WIOA funds are redirected to build these data systems.
Individuals (students and workers) face increased privacy and re‑identification risks from collecting and linking personal employment, wage, education, and credential data across systems.
State and local governments and taxpayers may bear ongoing matching or sustainment costs and need staff capacity after grant periods end, straining limited budgets.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires a 5–10% set-aside of certain WIOA reserved funds to create grants for building and improving state workforce data systems, reporting, and privacy practices.
Official title: To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to add the Workforce data quality initiative.
Introduced April 6, 2026 by Michael Baumgartner · Last progress April 6, 2026
Creates a new grant program that directs a set-aside of 5–10% of certain WIOA reserved funds each program year to help states and other eligible entities build and improve workforce longitudinal data systems. Grants will fund activities to strengthen performance reporting, standardize workforce data across programs, produce timely information on in-demand skills and jobs, protect privacy, and increase transparency and evidence-based decisionmaking. Establishes application requirements and allowable uses for grantees, including descriptions of proposed activities and budgets, expected outcomes, measures to support performance reporting and data standardization, and privacy and security procedures. The law amends WIOA funding reservation language to create the set-aside and permit use of those reserved funds for this initiative.