Workforce Dignity Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]
- Committees
- Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Jun 15, 2026
Bottom line
The Workforce Dignity Act renames "sheltered workshops" to "community rehabilitation programs" in various federal laws, clarifying that this is a terminological update without changing the substance or application of those laws.
What it actually does
This bill amends several federal laws, including the Small Business Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, title 40 of the United States Code, and title IV of the Social Security Act. Its sole operative purpose is to replace every instance of the term "sheltered workshop" with "community rehabilitation program" across these statutes, explicitly stating that this change is not intended to alter the application of the underlying law.
Section 2(a) through 2(e)
Renaming "Sheltered Workshop" to "Community Rehabilitation Program" Across Federal Statutes
This section systematically replaces the term "sheltered workshop" with "community rehabilitation program" in five different federal statutes. These include the Small Business Act (regarding programs for blind and handicapped individuals), the Small Business Administration Reauthorization and Amendment Act of 1988 (concerning the Task Force on Purchases From the Blind and Severely Handicapped), the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (related to deductions for personal exemptions), title 40 of the United States Code (regarding protection for veterans preference employees), and the Social Security Act (pertaining to foster care programs). This change is explicitly stated to be a terminological update with no intent to alter the application of the underlying law.
This rule of construction clarifies that the Act's purpose is solely to amend Federal law by removing the term "sheltered workshop" and replacing it with "community rehabilitation program" without any intention to change the actual application or substance of such law.
Section 2(f)
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice for clarifying the scope and intent of a technical amendment, ensuring that the change is understood as purely semantic and does not introduce unintended legal consequences or interpretations.
Case for: Supporters would argue this clause is essential to prevent unintended legal interpretations or challenges that might arise from a simple name change, ensuring continuity of services and benefits without disruption.
Case against: While unlikely to face opposition, some might argue that if the intent is truly just a name change, such a clause is redundant, or that it highlights a missed opportunity to substantively review the programs themselves.
Estimated impact: Ensures that the legal and programmatic functions associated with "sheltered workshops" remain unchanged despite the new terminology, thereby providing stability for all programs and individuals involved.