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Workforce for an Expanding Economy Act
12/31/2022, 4:58 AM
Summary of Bill HR 4288
One key aspect of the bill is the establishment of a grant program that will provide funding to states and local governments to support workforce development initiatives. These initiatives may include job training programs, apprenticeships, and other educational opportunities that will help individuals acquire the skills needed to secure well-paying jobs in high-demand industries.
Additionally, the bill includes provisions to support partnerships between businesses, educational institutions, and workforce development organizations. These partnerships will help ensure that training programs are aligned with the needs of employers, ultimately leading to better job placement and retention rates for program participants. Overall, the Workforce for an Expanding Economy Act seeks to address the skills gap in the US labor market by investing in workforce development programs that will help individuals succeed in today's economy. By providing funding and resources to support these programs, the bill aims to create a more skilled and competitive workforce that will drive economic growth and prosperity in the United States.
Congressional Summary of HR 4288
Workforce for an Expanding Economy Act
This bill establishes a new nonimmigrant visa for temporary nonagricultural workers (H-2C visa) to fill jobs that have remained open for a certain amount of time and are located in an area where the unemployment rate is 4.9% or less. This visa shall only be available for certain occupations, and those requiring a bachelor's degree or higher level of education shall not be eligible.
The bill imposes various requirements related to H-2C positions, such as requiring that the employer make certain efforts to recruit a U.S. worker beforehand. The employer must register the opening before filling it with an H-2C worker, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall maintain a publicly available registry of registered positions.
For the first fiscal year after the bill's enactment, no more than 65,000 positions may be registered. For subsequent fiscal years, the number shall be increased or decreased depending on how many positions were registered the previous year and how quickly the allotment was filled. A certain number of allocations shall be reserved for small businesses.
An employer seeking to hire H-2C workers shall register with DHS and provide documentation establishing that the employer meets various qualifications. An employer may become ineligible for registration for certain actions, such as having been penalized for a pattern of willful violation of wage and hour laws.
H-2C workers shall not be entitled to certain federal public benefits.
The Bureau of the Census shall report to Congress on the impact of the H-2C program.
