H.R. 2099

119 HR 2099 IH: To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to authorize a study to review specific outcomes of entrepreneurial skills development programs, and for other purposes.
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2025-03-14
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 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 I  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  H. R. 2099  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   March 14, 2025   Mr. Allen  introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Education and Workforce    A BILL
To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to authorize a study to review specific outcomes of entrepreneurial skills development programs, and for other purposes.
1.
State workforce development board
Section 101(d)(3)(D) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3111(d)(3)(D) ) is amended—
(1)
by striking  and jobseekers  and inserting  jobseekers, and entrepreneurs ; and
(2)
by inserting  and entrepreneurial skills development and microenterprise services  after  occupations .
2.
Identification of eligible providers of training services
Section 122(a)(2)(C) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3152(a)(2)(C) ) is amended by inserting  and providers of entrepreneurial skills development programs  after  organizations .
3.
Required local employment and training activities
Section 134(c)(2)(A) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3174(c)(2)(A) ) is amended—
(1)
in clause (iv)—
(A)
in subclause (I)—
(i)
in item (aa), by striking  ; and  and inserting a semicolon; and
(ii)
by adding at the end the following:
(cc)
provision of information on entrepreneurship, as appropriate; and
  ;
(B)
in subclause (II), by adding  and  after the semicolon; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
(III)
referral to microenterprise services, as appropriate;
  ;
(2)
in clause (vi)—
(A)
in subclause (I), by inserting  , which may include resources to support entrepreneurship,  after  listings ; and
(B)
in subclause (III), by inserting  , which may include entrepreneurship opportunities,  after  demand ; and
(3)
in clause (xiii), by inserting  or entrepreneurial opportunities  after  workplace .
4.
Evaluations and research
Section 169 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3224 ) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (b)—
(A)
in paragraph (4)—
(i)
by redesignating subparagraph (K) as subparagraph (L); and
(ii)
by inserting after subparagraph (J) the following:
(K)
Study on entrepreneurial skills development programs
The Secretary shall, through a grant or contract, conduct a three-year multistate study on entrepreneurial skills development programs, which shall include the following:
(i)
A review of—
(I)
successful practices for developing entrepreneurial skills of individuals;
(II)
evidence-based and other best practices for mentoring potential entrepreneurs;
(III)
the qualifications needed for skills development providers to successfully develop the entrepreneurial skills of individuals;
(IV)
strategies for engaging employers and other private sector partners;
(V)
such program outcomes that correlate with entrepreneurial success;
(VI)
how such programs successfully measure the progress of participants in such programs;
(VII)
the extent to which such programs lead to industry recognized credentials;
(VIII)
the impact, including the economic impact, of such programs on States and local communities;
(IX)
the extent to which such programs affect business development and job creation in States and local communities;
(X)
how such programs identify potential program participants’ readiness for the program; and
(XI)
the average earnings of participants who complete such a program three years after the date of completion of such program.
(ii)
Recommendations for States and local communities to expand access to such programs.
 ; and
(B)
in paragraph (5)(A), by inserting  which shall include individuals pursuing entrepreneurship,  after  particular service populations, ; and
(2)
in subsection (c), by striking the third sentence and inserting the following:  Such projects may include demonstration and pilot projects relating to promoting self-employment, promoting entrepreneurship, promoting job creation (especially for in-demand industry sectors or occupations), averting dislocations, assisting dislocated farmers, assisting dislocated fishermen, developing career pathways and encouraging advancements, and promoting public works. .