CAREERS Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Langworthy, Nicholas A. [R-NY-23]
- Committees
- Agriculture Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Feb 14, 2025
Bottom line
The CAREERS Act aims to strengthen rural economies by broadening the scope and enhancing the focus of the USDA's RISE Grant Program, better aligning it with career and technical education and local workforce development needs.
What it actually does
This bill amends the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grant Program of the Department of Agriculture to expand the types of educational institutions eligible for participation, specifically including area career and technical education schools. It mandates the integration of career pathway programs and industry or sector partnerships, aligning them with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and local workforce development boards. The bill also introduces new reporting requirements for grant recipients and reauthorizes the program through fiscal year 2030.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that this bill will significantly enhance workforce development in rural communities by ensuring federal grants are directly tied to local industry needs and established career pathways. They contend that including career and technical schools and mandating coordination with local workforce boards will lead to more effective skills training, address critical issues like worker displacement and youth migration, and foster greater economic resilience.
Opponents contend
Critics might express concerns that expanding the program's scope and adding new administrative and reporting requirements, without a corresponding increase in dedicated funding, could dilute the program's impact or create undue burdens for smaller rural entities. Some may also question the overall effectiveness of such programs in fundamentally transforming rural economies.
The bill is concise and can be read quickly, allowing ample time for stakeholders to understand its provisions and implications.
Section 2(a)(1)(A)(i) and (ii)
Expansion of Eligible Educational Institutions
This provision amends the definitions within the RISE Grant Program to explicitly include 'an area career and technical education school' as an eligible institution for partnerships. This change broadens the types of educational organizations that can participate in or receive federal grants under the program, ensuring that vocational and technical training providers are directly recognized and can access funding to support rural workforce development efforts.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that formally including career and technical education schools acknowledges their crucial role in preparing a skilled workforce and ensures that federal funding can directly support practical, demand-driven training tailored to the specific needs of rural industries.
Critics contend
No specific opposition is typically raised against expanding eligibility to include vocational schools, as it is generally viewed as a beneficial broadening of access to resources for workforce development.
Tradeoffs
The primary tradeoff might involve a slight increase in administrative complexity for the USDA in managing a more diverse range of institutional partners, though this is generally considered outweighed by the benefits of increased program reach and relevance.
Section 2(a)(1)(A)(iii), (a)(1)(B), (a)(2)(A)(i), (a)(2)(B), (a)(3)(A), (a)(3)(B), (a)(4)(C)
Mandating Career Pathway Programs and Local Workforce Board Integration
This provision introduces and defines 'career pathway' and 'industry or sector partnership' by cross-referencing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). It mandates that career pathway programs include a member from the local workforce development board to ensure integration with local workforce activities. The bill also explicitly directs the RISE program to support these career pathway programs and partnerships, focusing on specific rural industry sectors such as telecommunications, healthcare, manufacturing, and agribusiness, or other in-demand sectors identified by local boards.
Section 2(a)(4)(B), (a)(4)(C), (a)(5)
Enhanced Reporting Requirements and Program Reauthorization
This provision introduces new performance metrics for grant recipients, requiring them to report on the number of individuals who complete skills development, recognized postsecondary credentials, or specialized education through career pathways or industry partnerships. For career pathway programs, it mandates reporting employment and earnings outcomes using specific indicators from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Additionally, the bill reauthorizes the RISE Grant Program for fiscal years 2025 through 2030, ensuring its continued operation.
The bill incorporates definitions for 'career pathway' and 'industry or sector partnership' directly from Section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and mandates reporting on employment and earnings outcomes using indicators described in Section 116(b)(2)(A)(i) of WIOA.
Section 2(a)(1)(B) and Section 2(a)(4)(C)
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice for maintaining consistency across federal programs and leveraging existing definitions and reporting frameworks. It avoids redundancy and ensures alignment with broader national workforce development strategies.
Case for: Proponents argue that aligning with WIOA ensures consistency in workforce development efforts across federal agencies and leverages established performance metrics, making program evaluation more coherent and comparable.
Case against: Critics might suggest that relying heavily on external statutes without explicit explanation within the bill text can make the legislation less accessible to those unfamiliar with WIOA, potentially creating barriers for new applicants or smaller organizations in rural areas.
Estimated impact: Ensures federal rural development grants are integrated into the broader national workforce development strategy, potentially streamlining administration for entities already engaged with WIOA and standardizing performance measurement.