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Federal Skills Act of 2023
12/15/2023, 4:05 PM
Summary of Bill S 383
The Federal Skills Act of 2023 proposes the establishment of a new grant program that will provide funding to states, local governments, and non-profit organizations to develop and implement training programs in areas such as healthcare, technology, and advanced manufacturing. These programs will focus on providing individuals with the technical skills and knowledge needed to secure well-paying jobs in these industries.
Additionally, the bill includes provisions to support apprenticeship programs, expand access to career and technical education in high schools, and promote partnerships between employers and educational institutions. By investing in these initiatives, the Federal Skills Act of 2023 aims to help close the skills gap and ensure that American workers are prepared to compete in the global economy. Overall, the Federal Skills Act of 2023 is a comprehensive piece of legislation that seeks to address the challenges facing the American workforce by investing in training programs and initiatives that will help individuals gain the skills they need to succeed in high-demand industries.
Congressional Summary of S 383
Federal Skills Act of 2023
This bill generally provides statutory authority for the executive order titled Modernizing and Reforming the Assessment and Hiring of Federal Job Candidates, which was issued on June 26, 2020. The order generally prescribes certain limits as to the consideration and use of post-high school educational requirements for positions in the competitive service.
Among other things, the order specifies that an executive agency may only institute a minimum educational requirement for a position in the competitive service if it is legally required for the position, and may only consider a candidate's education with respect to other minimum requirements if it directly reflects the competencies necessary for the position.
The order requires the Office of Personnel Management to review and revise the classification and qualification standards for positions in the competitive service so as to comply with these requirements. The order also requires changes to be made public, and to take effect, within 120 days and 180 days of the date of the order, respectively. (The bill requires a similar timeline with respect to the date of enactment of the bill.)
The bill additionally specifies that it does not affect student loan forgiveness or student loan cancellation options that are available to borrowers under federal law as of the day before the date of enactment of the bill.
