H.R. 5779

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5779 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5779

To establish a program of workforce development as an alternative to 
college for all, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 17, 2025

Mr. Miller of Ohio introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To establish a program of workforce development as an alternative to 
college for all, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``American Workforce Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) American workforce contract.--The term ``American 
workforce contract'' means a contract approved by the Director, 
and entered into by an employer and a prospective trainee under 
section 4(b)(6).
(2) American workforce program.--The term ``American 
workforce program'' means a program established under section 
4(a) that provides, for each participating trainee, a paid, 
full-time position in which the trainee is engaged in--
(A) structured on-the-job work, as specified by the 
American workforce contract involved; and
(B) educational workforce training described in 
section 4(f), as specified by the American workforce 
contract.
(3) Competency-based credential.--The term ``competency-
based credential'' means a credential awarded on the basis of a 
performance-based test that--
(A) is taken to demonstrate proficiency in 
knowledge and abilities essential to the industry or 
occupation; and
(B) does not place restrictions on how, when, or 
where the test taker studied and acquired the knowledge 
and abilities.
(4) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
the American Workforce Division, appointed under section 3(b).
(5) Employer.--The term ``employer'' means a for-profit 
employer, as defined in section 3 of the Fair Labor Standards 
Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203), other than a public agency, as 
defined in that section.
(6) Prospective trainee.--The term ``prospective trainee'' 
means an individual who--
(A) applies to an employer to enter into an 
American workforce contract; and
(B) on the date of application, meets the 
requirements of paragraph (8)(A).
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
of Commerce.
(8) Trainee.--The term ``trainee'' means any individual 
who--
(A) on the date of application to an employer to 
enter into an American workforce contract--
(i) is a United States citizen;
(ii) has a high school diploma or its 
generally recognized equivalent; and
(iii) has not earned a bachelor's or higher 
degree, such as a master's or doctoral degree; 
and
(B) entered into an American workforce contract, 
which is still in effect, with the employer.
(9) Workforce project.--The term ``workforce project'' 
means a project carried out under an American workforce 
contract as part of the American workforce program.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF AMERICAN WORKFORCE DIVISION.

(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Economic 
Development Administration of the Department of Commerce an American 
Workforce Division that administers, subject to the availability of 
appropriations, the American workforce program established under 
section 4(a).
(b) Director.--
(1) In general.--The American Workforce Division shall be 
headed and administered, in accordance with the provisions of 
this Act, by a Director. The Director shall be appointed by the 
President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. 
The Director shall report directly to the Secretary and shall 
perform, in addition to any functions specified in law for or 
required to be delegated to such officer, such additional 
functions as the Secretary may prescribe.
(2) Qualifications.--The Director shall have significant 
experience in the private sector.
(3) Authority before confirmation.--Until the initial 
appointment of an individual to the position of Director, by 
and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and, thereafter, 
if the individual serving as the Director dies, resigns, or is 
otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the 
office of the Director, the Secretary of Commerce shall 
designate an officer or employee of the Department of Commerce 
to perform the functions and duties of the Director under this 
Act temporarily in an acting capacity.
(c) Responsibilities of the Director.--The Director shall be 
responsible for each of the following:
(1) Reviewing, and approving or disapproving, each proposed 
American workforce contract received by the Director not later 
than 1 month after the date of receipt of the proposed 
contract.
(2)(A) Maintaining records of American workforce contracts 
and ensuring compliance with the contracts.
(B) Publishing a standardized template for American 
workforce contracts, which template shall not exceed 3 pages, 
and shall be used by prospective trainees and employers to 
draft a proposed American workforce contract to submit to the 
Director for review and approval.
(3) In accordance with subsection (d), receiving 
complaints, carrying out investigations, and taking 
disciplinary and corrective action.
(4) In accordance with subsection (e), making 
determinations and taking disciplinary and corrective action.
(5) Coordinating activities with State governments and 
local governments to--
(A) publicize the opportunity to receive workforce 
education subsidies for workforce projects, with 
employers in high-wage, high-demand industries and 
occupations; and
(B) encourage employers to recruit students from 
secondary schools to participate in the workforce 
projects.
(6) Developing and maintaining a comprehensive, publicly 
accessible, and user-friendly website to allow employers from 
each State to simply indicate their demand for workers in their 
industry or occupation, post it online, and accept applications 
for training from prospective trainees and ensures prospective 
trainees can easily search and compare options.
(7) Preparing 5- and 10-year reports under section 6, and 
submitting the reports to Congress.
(8)(A) Collecting, on an ongoing basis, up-to-date contact 
information, including an email, phone number, and mailing 
address, for each employer participating in a workforce project 
in the American workforce program.
(B) Annually collecting the following information about the 
American workforce program:
(i) The total number of new and continuing trainees 
training in each workforce project under an American 
workforce contract.
(ii) The annual completion rate for trainees, 
calculated by comparing the number of trainees in a 
designated American workforce program cohort who 
successfully completed a workforce project with an 
employer and were hired as full-time regular employees 
by the same employer, with the number of trainees in 
that cohort who began participating in a workforce 
project.
(iii) The annual rate of trainees who successfully 
completed a workforce project with an employer but were 
not hired as full-time regular employees by the same 
employer compared with the number of trainees who began 
participating in a workforce project.
(iv) The median length of time for workforce 
project completion.
(v) A survey conducted by the Director, based on a 
random sample and designed to generate statistically 
significant results, to estimate the post-American 
workforce program employment retention rate for former 
trainees, calculated 1 and 2 years after completion of 
a workforce project, broken down by--
(I) former trainees who are employed by the 
employer with whom they completed their 
workforce project;
(II) former trainees employed in the same 
industry or occupation as the industry or 
occupation in which they completed that 
workforce project, but by a different employer; 
and
(III) former trainees who are employed, but 
in an industry or occupation that is not the 
industry or occupation described in subclause 
(II).
(vi) The credentials attained by trainees through 
the American workforce program, broken down by type 
(such as competency-based credentials, certifications, 
and licenses) and the number of such credentials 
attained.
(vii) The annualized average earnings of former 
trainees, calculated over a significant time period 
after completion of a workforce project.
(viii) Median and mean workforce education subsidy 
provided per trainee.
(ix) Basic demographic information, such as age, 
sex, and area of residence, on trainees.
(d) Whistleblower Complaints.--
(1) Complaint.--A trainee (including an employee 
participating as a trainee) in a workforce project may file a 
complaint with the Director alleging that the employer involved 
is not complying with the terms of the American workforce 
contract involved.
(2) Preliminary determination.--The Director shall begin an 
investigation into the complaint within 1 month after the date 
of receipt of the complaint. Not later than 90 days after the 
beginning of the investigation, if the Director determines that 
there is clear and convincing evidence that the complaint is 
valid, the Director shall make a preliminary determination on 
disciplinary or corrective action.
(3) Notice and opportunity to respond.--If the Director 
makes a preliminary determination under paragraph (2) of 
noncompliance, the Director shall provide the employer with 
reasonable notice and opportunity to respond to the preliminary 
determination.
(4) Disciplinary or corrective action.--Disciplinary or 
corrective action under this subsection may consist of--
(A) issuing to the employer a warning or temporary 
suspension, of not more than 5 years, from 
participation in the American workforce program; and
(B) assessing a civil penalty against the employer 
of not more than the amount of funds received by the 
employer through workforce education subsidies during 
the past 2 years.
(5) Appeal.--If the Director so determines that the 
appropriate disciplinary or corrective action includes a 
suspension, the employer shall have 90 days to appeal the 
validity of the disciplinary or corrective action to the 
Director, with mandatory review by the Secretary of Commerce.
(6) Final determination.--After such mandatory review, the 
Director shall make a final determination on the validity and 
on the appropriate disciplinary or corrective action, 
contingent on approval from the Secretary of Commerce.
(e) Noncompliance Determinations.--
(1) Accountability.--The Director--
(A) may, in order to make a preliminary 
determination about whether there is clear and 
convincing evidence that employers participating in 
workforce projects are complying with the terms of the 
American workforce contracts involved and meeting the 
requirements of the American workforce program--
(i) demand and review relevant materials 
from the employers; and
(ii) conduct random, periodic compliance 
reviews of workforce projects; and
(B) shall review information in public disclosure 
documents submitted under section 4(g), including 
reviewing completion rates provided under section 
4(g)(2)(A) to make a preliminary determination about 
whether there is clear and convincing evidence that 
employers are participating in a workforce project with 
a completion rate below 25 percent over 4 years.
(2) Notice and opportunity to respond.--If the Director 
makes a preliminary determination under paragraph (1) of 
noncompliance or participation in a workforce project described 
in paragraph (1)(B), the Director shall provide the employer 
with reasonable notice and opportunity to respond to the 
preliminary determination.
(3) Warning or civil penalty.--
(A) In general.--The Director may, at the 
discretion of the Director, issue a warning to or 
assess a civil penalty against an employer if, after 
carrying out paragraph (2), the Director makes a final 
determination that there is clear and convincing 
evidence that--
(i) the employer is participating in a 
workforce project described in paragraph 
(l)(B); or
(ii) the employer is violating the terms of 
an American workforce contract or the 
requirements of the American workforce program.
(B) Calculation of civil penalty.--A civil penalty 
assessed under subparagraph (A) shall be in an amount 
that is not more than the amount of funds received by 
the employer through workforce education subsidies 
during the past 2 years.
(4) Suspension.--The Director may, at the discretion of the 
Director, temporarily suspend an employer from the American 
workforce program for not more than 5 years if, after carrying 
out paragraph (2), the Director makes a final determination 
that there is clear and convincing evidence that--
(A) the employer is participating in a workforce 
project described in paragraph (1)(B); or
(B) the employer is consistently or egregiously 
violating the terms of an American workforce contract 
or the requirements of the American workforce program.
(f) Interference With Proceedings or Inquiries.--It shall be 
unlawful for any employer to discharge or in any other manner 
discriminate against any trainee because such trainee--
(1) has filed any complaint under subsection (d);
(2) has given, or is about to give, any information in 
connection with any inquiry or proceeding under this Act 
(including any inquiry or proceeding under subsection (d) or 
(e)); or
(3) has testified, or is about to testify, in any such 
inquiry or proceeding under this Act.

SEC. 4. AMERICAN WORKFORCE PROGRAM.

(a) In General.--The Director shall establish, subject to the 
availability of appropriations, an American workforce program, and 
carry out the program by supporting workforce projects with American 
workforce contracts, distributing workforce education subsidies and 
bonuses for hiring, and providing technical and administrative support.
(b) Contracts.--
(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a workforce 
education subsidy, bonus for hiring, or technical support under 
this Act for a workforce project, an employer and prospective 
trainee shall prepare a proposed American workforce contract 
under this subsection, based on the standardized template 
created by the Director, and submit the proposed contract to 
the Director for approval. The page limitation placed on the 
Director's template under subsection (c)(2)(B) shall not apply 
to the proposed American workforce contract prepared by the 
trainee and employer or the final American workforce contract.
(2) Provisions.--The proposed contract between an 
individual who is a prospective trainee and the employer shall 
include each of the following:
(A) Parties involved.--The name of the individual, 
the employer participating in the workforce project, 
and any third-party entity with whom the employer is 
partnering to provide the educational workforce 
training component of the project (referred to in this 
Act as a ``third party training entity'').
(B) Term.--The term, which shall not be shorter 
than 6 weeks, of the workforce project (including 
specifying total time to completion) and the amount of 
time the individual will spend in structured on-the-job 
work and in educational workforce training (including 
specifying hours per week, month, and year).
(C) Work and training plan.--A detailed overview of 
the curriculum for the educational workforce training, 
a description of the structured on-the-job work, and a 
description of skills and competencies to be attained 
through the workforce project.
(D) Written workforce agreement.--A proposed 
written workforce agreement for the individual that 
outlines each of the following:
(i) The terms and conditions of the 
individual's work and training.
(ii) The wage or salary an individual will 
receive as a trainee and the estimated starting 
wage or salary, in accordance with the 
requirements of subsection (e), for each 
position, described in subsection (e), that the 
individual is receiving training for and being 
considered for.
(iii) The technical and professional 
standards that will be met by the individual 
for successful completion of the workforce 
project.
(iv)(I) Expected long-term and short-term 
outcomes for the individual, including 
qualifying positions of the type the individual 
is being trained for at the employer and third-
party training entities (if applicable), and 
the estimated wage or salary range for the 
occupation the individual is being trained for.
(II) The projected growth of the relevant 
industry or occupation, if information on that 
growth is available to the employer or 
obtainable with such technical assistance as 
the Director may provide.
(v) The circumstances under which the 
individual's wage or salary will increase 
during the workforce project.
(vi) A description of voluntary mentorship 
opportunities that may be available.
(vii) A disclosure of the amount of the 
payment from a workforce education subsidy that 
the employer will receive per payment period 
from the Director and any costs or expenses 
that will be charged to the trainee or could 
reasonably be expected to be charged to the 
trainee.
(viii) If 1 or more competency-based 
credentials exist for the relevant industry or 
occupation, a description of the top 1 to 3 
such credentials that the individual might earn 
on successful completion of the workforce 
project.
(ix) If no competency-based credential 
exists for the industry or occupation, a 
description of any other credential, such as a 
certification or license, that the individual 
might earn in the relevant industry or 
occupation due to experience in the workforce 
project.
(3) Review of credentials.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 1 month after 
receiving for review a proposed American workforce 
contract, the Director shall review the credentials 
specified in the contract under clause (viii) or (ix) 
of paragraph (2)(D) and may note any additional 
credentials the Director determines a trainee should 
consider earning. Any such credential noted by the 
Director shall be described in the contract.
(B) Rules of construction.--Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to--
(i) permit the Director to reject an entire 
proposed American workforce contract solely 
because of the Director's view of a credential 
described in the proposed contract; or
(ii) require a trainee to agree to earn a 
competency based credential or another 
credential specified in the American workforce 
contract, as a condition of using funding 
provided through a workforce education subsidy 
under this section.
(4) Review of contract.--
(A) In General.--Not later than 1 month after 
receiving a proposed American workforce contract, the 
Director shall review, and approve or disapprove, the 
proposed contract (including conducting the review 
under paragraph (3) and determining whether the 
employer has provided the appropriate written 
disclosure document under subsection (g)).
(B) Presumption of Approval.--There shall be a 
presumption of approval for a proposed American 
workforce contract, in that such a contract that has 
not been disapproved by the Director shall be 
considered to be approved on the 32nd day after the 
date of that receipt. A proposed American workforce 
contract may only be disapproved for failing to meet 
the requirements of this Act. If such a proposed 
contract is disapproved, the Director shall describe 
the reason, with a citation to the requirement not met, 
and a recommendation for how the proposed contract 
shall be amended to comply with this Act.
(5) Review of resubmission.--If an employer and individual 
submit a proposed contract under paragraph (1) that is not 
approved under paragraph (4), the employer and individual may 
resubmit the amended proposed contract for review as described 
in paragraph (4). For purposes of paragraph (4)(B), the 
reference to the date of receipt shall be considered to be the 
date of receipt of the resubmitted proposed contract.
(6) Entry into contract.--Once a proposed contract has been 
approved under paragraph (4) or (5), the individual and 
employer involved may enter into the contract and initiate the 
workforce project.
(7) Current employees.--A participating employer may enter 
into an American workforce contract with, and enroll into their 
workforce project, an employee who holds a position with the 
employer if the employer agrees to--
(A) maintain employment for that employee at the 
employee's wage or salary on the date of enrollment, or 
a higher wage or salary; and
(B) provide an increase to the employee's annual 
wage or salary, if the employee successfully completes 
the workforce project, that is equal to not less than 
25 percent of the value of the educational workforce 
subsidy provided for the project.
(c) Workforce Education Subsidies.--Not earlier than the date on 
which an individual and employer enter into an American workforce 
contract approved by the Director, the Director shall provide an 
education workforce subsidy to the employer operating the workforce 
project. Each of the following rules shall apply to the workforce 
education subsidy and the trainee involved and employer:
(1) The workforce education subsidy may be used to 
subsidize the cost of educational workforce training (onsite or 
with an eligible third-party training entity), not the wage or 
salary of the trainee.
(2) The employer shall pay, at regular intervals, the 
trainee a wage or salary at a rate that is not less than the 
higher of--
(A) the rate in effect under section 6(a)(l) of the 
Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)(l)); 
or
(B) the rate in effect under a State or local 
minimum wage law that applies to the State or locality 
in which the trainee is engaged in labor or service for 
the employer.
(3) The employer shall provide a working environment for 
the trainee that meets all applicable Federal, State, and local 
safety laws and regulations.
(4) Neither the Director nor any other officer or employee 
of the executive branch of the Federal Government may make the 
workforce education subsidy contingent on any requirement not 
specified in this Act.
(5) The employer shall not currently be suspended from 
participating in workforce projects subsection (d) or (e) of 
section 3.
(6) Participation in the workforce project involved shall 
not make the employer subject to the jurisdiction of the Office 
of Federal Contract Compliance Programs of the Department of 
Labor as a Federal contractor, including not being subject to 
Executive Order 11246.
(7) The employer shall comply with all applicable Federal, 
State, and local statutory laws pertaining to nondiscrimination 
in employment.
(8) The workforce education subsidy may not be used for--
(A) diversity, equity, and inclusion training, or 
culturally responsive training; or
(B) any other training that may violate--
(i) title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 
1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.), by contributing 
to a hostile work environment; or
(ii) title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 
1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), including its 
prohibition, on the grounds of race, color, or 
national origin, of discrimination under any 
program or activity receiving Federal financial 
assistance.
(9) The workforce education subsidy may not be used for 
political spending, electioneering, or any other purpose that 
is not directly related to educational workforce training.
(10) The Director shall make payments from the workforce 
education subsidy to the employer--
(A) in even installments, following the end of each 
financial quarter in which the training and on-the-job 
work specified in the American workforce contract have 
been completed by the trainee;
(B) in sums of not more than $1,500 per month; and
(C) for a total amount of not more than $9,000, as 
determined on the basis of the American workforce 
contract.
(11) A State government or locality may supplement the 
workforce education subsidy with additional funds, if the State 
government or locality does not make accepting such funds or 
any conditions attached to the funds a requirement of accepting 
Federal funding.
(12) If the trainee chooses to leave a workforce project 
after the halfway point of the term of the workforce project, 
the trainee will be considered to have used the entirety of one 
of the workforce education subsidies through which the trainee 
is eligible to receive educational workforce training.
(13) If the employer ceases operations, the trainee shall 
not be held at fault, meaning that the trainee may receive 
educational workforce training, funded with the full value of 
the workforce education subsidy, for a workforce project with a 
subsequent eligible employer, notwithstanding the time 
requirement of paragraph (15).
(14) The maximum period of time for which an employer 
(including a subsequent employer described in paragraph (13)) 
may receive payments, provided through the workforce education 
subsidy for education workforce training of a trainee, shall be 
3 years.
(15)(A) In order for a trainee to enroll in a workforce 
project with a subsequent eligible employer through a second or 
third such subsidy, the trainee shall receive the related 
educational workforce training not less than 1 year after the 
conclusion of the trainee's most recent training through a 
workforce education subsidy.
(B) The time limit described in subparagraph (A) shall not 
apply to a trainee who--
(i) completed a workforce project with, but was not 
hired by, an employer; and
(ii) seeks to receive such training through a 
workforce project with the trainee's next employer.
(16) The employer shall meet the applicable minimum ratios 
specified under section 5(d).
(17) The employer shall use E-Verify for each trainee 
enrolled and individual hired or employed during the period for 
which the employer accepts funds through a subsidy provided 
under this Act, regardless of whether the trainee or individual 
participated in a workforce project.
(18) The employer shall publish a public disclosure 
document, consistent with subsection (g).
(d) Bonus for Hiring.--
(1) In general.--If a trainee, on completion of a workforce 
project, is hired as a full-time, regular employee of the 
employer participating in the workforce project, with a wage or 
salary described in subsection (e)(l), the employer shall 
receive a bonus of $1,000 (in addition to any payment received 
through a workforce education subsidy). The Director shall pay 
the bonus not sooner than the date that is 6 months after the 
trainee is so hired.
(2) Rules.--Subject to paragraph (3), each of the rules 
described in paragraphs (5), (6), (8), (9), (11), (16), (17), 
and (18) shall apply to the bonus, and the trainee hired and 
employer, except that a reference in those paragraphs--
(A) to a workforce educational subsidy shall be 
considered to be a reference to the bonus; and
(B) to a trainee shall be considered to be a 
reference to the trainee hired.
(3) Use of bonus.--An employer who receives a bonus under 
this subsection may use the bonus funds to supplement the wage 
or salary of the trainee hired.
(e) Position for the Trainee.--
(1) Wages.--An employer participating in a workforce 
project shall be training each trainee and considering each 
trainee for a position that would have an annual wage or salary 
of not less than 80 percent of--
(A) the annual median household income of the 
county in which the job involved is located (or an 
hourly wage based on that income and adjusted for a 
2,080-hour annual work period), as determined by the 5-
year estimates of the American Community Survey of the 
Bureau of the Census; or
(B) if the county involved is not in a micropolitan 
or metropolitan area, the annual median household 
income for the nearest micropolitan or metropolitan 
area, as determined by the Bureau of the Census.
(2) Remote work.--An employer providing remote work for a 
trainee or employee (in a position referred to in paragraph 
(I)) shall use the trainee's or employee's location when 
determining an applicable wage or salary under this Act. Such a 
trainee or employee engaging in remote work shall live in the 
United States and file Federal income taxes in the United 
States.
(3) Work.--An employer participating in a workforce project 
shall provide structured on-the-job work for each trainee in a 
job that requires specialized knowledge and experience and 
involves the performance of complex tasks, to prepare the 
trainee for a position referred to in paragraph (1).
(f) Educational Workforce Training.--In providing for educational 
workforce training through a workforce project to a trainee, an 
employer shall meet each of the following requirements:
(1) Skills.--The employer shall ensure that the training is 
designed in a manner that enables trainees to obtain and 
demonstrate competency and obtain progressively advancing and 
portable skills that are necessary for the industry or 
occupation involved.
(2) Partners.--The employer may partner with any of the 
following eligible third-party training entities, and may pay 
such a third-party training entity with funds from a workforce 
education subsidy, in order to provide the training for 
trainees in the workforce project:
(A) A trade, industry, or employer group or 
association.
(B) A corporation or other related organized 
entity.
(C) An educational institution, such as an 
institution of higher education, including a community 
college, or a secondary school.
(D) A State or local government agency or entity.
(E) A nonprofit organization.
(F) A union.
(G) A joint labor-management organization.
(H) A certification or accreditation body or entity 
for an industry or occupation.
(I) A consortium or partnership of entities such as 
entities described in any of subparagraphs (A) through 
(H).
(3) Credentials.--The employer shall ensure that, in 
conjunction with that training, the trainee shall be made aware 
of any widely used competency-based credentials in the 
employer's industry or occupation. If a competency-based 
credential is described in the trainee's American workforce 
contract, the employer shall not forbid the trainee, or provide 
a disincentive to discourage the trainee, from taking a related 
competency-based credential exam.
(4) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(A) Community college.--The term ``community 
college'' means an institution of higher education (as 
defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) at which the highest 
degree that is predominately awarded to students is an 
associate degree.
(B) Institution of higher education.--The term 
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning 
given that term in section 102 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002).
(g) Public Disclosure Document.--
(1) In General.--The Director shall require each 
participating employer seeking approval for a proposed American 
workforce contract to provide a written disclosure document, 
about the employer's workforce project, that includes each of 
the following statistics and information:
(A) The total expected cost, if any, for a trainee 
during or at the completion of the workforce project, 
such as the cost of fees for a certification 
examination.
(B) The expected wage or salary for the position of 
the employer that the workforce project is designed to 
train for.
(C) The length of the workforce project.
(D) The total expected number of hours of 
structured on-the-job work per week, and of hours of 
educational workforce training per week, for a trainee 
during the workforce project.
(E) The total expected number of hours for which a 
trainee will be paid during the course of the workforce 
project.
(F) The hourly wage or salary for a trainee during 
the course of the workforce project.
(G) Information stating any certifications, 
licenses, or other credentials that trainees in the 
workforce project might earn on successful completion 
of the workforce project.
(2) Additional public disclosure for established workforce 
projects.--Three years after an employer has completed a 
workforce project, the Director shall require the employer to 
include, in its written disclosure document, documentation that 
includes each of the following statistics:
(A) The completion rate for trainees in a workforce 
project with the employer, calculated over the previous 
3 years.
(B) The percentage of trainees that completed a 
workforce project with, and were hired by, the employer 
participating in the project, calculated over the 
previous 2 years.
(C) The average wage or salary of currently 
employed (as of the date of collection of the wage or 
salary information) trainees who completed a workforce 
project, during the last 3 years, presented in a way 
that does not reveal individually identifiable wage or 
salary information.
(3) Availability.--The disclosure documents described in 
paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be made available to the general 
public by the Director.

SEC. 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

(a) Workforce Project After Payment Period.--Nothing in this Act 
shall be construed to require a workforce project to end after 3 years, 
the maximum period of time for which an employer may receive payments 
through a workforce education subsidy for a trainee, if the employer 
pays for the cost of the associated educational workforce training for 
the portion of the project after that maximum period.
(b) Relationship to Other Projects.--Individuals who do not meet 
the criteria described in section 2(8)(A) may participate in projects, 
structured like workforce projects described in this Act, if the 
employer or an organization other than the Federal Government provides 
the necessary funding for wages or salaries, and educational workforce 
training.
(c) Third-Party Training Entity.--The Secretary may not pressure, 
or provide an incentive or disincentive to, an employer to choose 1 
eligible entity over another as a third-party training entity. The 
choice of a third-party training entity shall be made entirely by an 
employer.
(d) Regulations on Ratios.--
(1) Ratios.--Beginning 5 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary may issue regulations that specify 1 
or more ratios, based on categories of jobs as defined by the 
Secretary, between the number of job openings for a prospective 
position, as a full-time regular employee, related to a 
workforce project, and the number of trainees in that project.
(2) Objectives.--In issuing the regulations, the Secretary 
shall consider the following objectives:
(A) Assuring that a trainee has a reasonable 
opportunity to be hired as a full-time, regular 
employee by the employer participating in the workforce 
project.
(B) Ensuring that an employer's hiring discretion 
is not limited in a manner that would incentivize an 
employer to lower standards for a position that is 
particularly difficult or dangerous.
(e) Criteria.--The Secretary may establish criteria regarding 
technical matters and provide technical assistance for meeting the 
requirements of this Act.
(f) Required Regulations.--Regulations required under this Act 
shall be issued by the corresponding officer within 3 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, except as otherwise specified.

SEC. 6. EVALUATION REPORTS AND SUNSET.

(a) 5-Year Report.--Not later than 5 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to 
Congress a report including each of the following information, 
analysis, and recommendations:
(1) A comparison of the American workforce program to other 
major career and technical education or apprenticeship programs 
administered by the Federal Government, including the 
registered apprenticeship program carried out under the Act of 
August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the ``National 
Apprenticeship Act''; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 
et seq.), and to the workforce investment activity programs 
administered under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
(29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.), on the basis of--
(A) the completion rate of participants in each 
program;
(B) the average earnings of participants in each 
program, calculated during--
(i) the related career and technical 
education, apprenticeship, workforce 
investment, or workforce project; and
(ii) the period beginning 3 years and 
ending 5 years after the participants complete 
the related career and technical education, 
apprenticeship, workforce investment, or 
workforce project;
(C) the percentages obtained by dividing--
(i) the number of participants and rate of 
growth in participants for each program; by
(ii) the number of individuals in the labor 
force and the rate of growth of the labor 
force, respectively;
(D) the level of direct engagement by employers 
with, and satisfaction from employers in, each program; 
and
(E) the diversity of the industries and occupations 
of the employers who utilize each program.
(2) The overall completion rate for the American workforce 
program, the completion rate for workforce projects by industry 
and occupation, the number of trainees who dropped out of the 
program entirely, broken down by industry and occupation, and 
the number who left a workforce project for another workforce 
project.
(3) The results of a survey, based on a random sample and 
designed to generate statistically significant results, of 
trainees who have participated in the program.
(4) The results of a survey, based on a random sample and 
designed to generate statistically significant results, of 
employers who have participated in the program, including a 
breakdown by size of employer.
(5) Data collected under section 3(c)(8)(B).
(6) Information and technical criteria, other regulations, 
and guidance issued by the Secretary to administer the program.
(7) Information on the rate of uptake by individuals and 
employers that are eligible to participate in the program, and 
recommendations for ways in which this rate of uptake could be 
improved.
(8) Analysis on considerations for Congress about expanding 
the use of intermediary institutions, such as nonprofits, to 
better advertise the program.
(9)(A) Analysis on considerations for Congress in expanding 
eligibility of the program for United States citizens who do 
not have a high school diploma or its generally recognized 
equivalent.
(B) Analysis on considerations for Congress in encouraging 
trainees to obtain industry-recognized credentials that help to 
provide recognition of a portable skill.
(C) Analysis on considerations for Congress on the effect 
and necessity of regulations described in section 5(d).
(D) Recommendations for Congress on encouraging 
participation in workforce projects by small businesses.
(10) Analysis on considerations for Congress about how to 
effectively engage high school students in a workforce project, 
including--
(A) how coursework for a technical high school, or 
career and technical education in a high school, could 
qualify towards the completion of a workforce project; 
and
(B) how time spent in structured on-the-job work or 
educational workforce training for a workforce project 
could count towards high school graduation.
(11) Recommendations for improvement and reauthorization of 
the American workforce program by Congress.
(b) 10-Year Report.--Not later than 10 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to 
Congress a report containing the information, analysis, and 
recommendations described in subsection (a).
(c) Sunset.--The program authorized by section 4 and the position 
of the Director shall cease to exist on the earlier of--
(1) the date on which the Director submits the report 
described in subsection (b) to Congress; or
(2) the day that is 11 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act.
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