S. 4578

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4578 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4578

To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to establish a 
career pathways grant program.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 20, 2026

Ms. Hassan (for herself, Mr. Young, Ms. Collins, and Mr. Kaine) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to establish a 
career pathways grant program.

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 ``Gateway to Careers Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. CAREER PATHWAYS GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) In General.--Subtitle D of title I of the Workforce Innovation 
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3221 et seq.) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:

``SEC. 173. CAREER PATHWAYS GRANT PROGRAM.

``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Career pathway partnership applicant.--
``(A) In general.--The term `career pathway 
partnership applicant' means a partnership that 
includes--
``(i) a workforce development partner;
``(ii) an education partner; and
``(iii) an employer partner.
``(B) Workforce development partner.--A workforce 
development partner described in subparagraph (A) means 
one or more of the following:
``(i) A State board or a local board.
``(ii) An industry association or other 
representative of multiple employers in the 
target industry, including an eligible industry 
or sector partnership.
``(iii) A community-based organization with 
experience in providing employment, education, 
or support services relevant to the career 
pathway and student populations receiving 
services under the grant under this section.
``(iv) Another State entity with experience 
transitioning individuals into the workforce 
(including through a community rehabilitation 
program (as defined in section 7 of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 705))), 
such as a State comprehensive rehabilitation 
center.
``(C) Education partner.--An education partner 
described in subparagraph (A) means one or more of the 
following:
``(i) An institution of higher education, 
as defined in section 101 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001), or a 
postsecondary vocational institution, as 
defined in section 102(c) of such Act (20 
U.S.C. 1002(c)).
``(ii) An area career and technical 
education school that provides education at the 
postsecondary level.
``(iii) A local educational agency, as 
defined under section 8101 of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
7801).
``(iv) An eligible provider, as defined 
under section 203.
``(D) Employer partner.--An employer partner 
described in subparagraph (A) means a representative of 
multiple businesses or other employers in the career 
pathways field, including small and medium-sized 
employers.
``(2) Eligible industry or sector partnership.--The term 
`eligible industry or sector partnership' means--
``(A) an industry or sector partnership, which 
shall, at a minimum, include multiple representatives 
described in each of clauses (i) through (iii) of 
paragraph (26)(A) of section 3; or
``(B) a partnership, of multiple entities described 
in section 3(26) and a State board or local board, that 
is in the process of establishing an industry or sector 
partnership.
``(3) Measurable skill gains.--The term `measurable skill 
gains' has the meaning given the term in section 
361.155(a)(1)(v) of title 34, Code of Federal Regulations (or 
successor regulations).
``(4) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
of Labor.
``(5) Universal design for learning.--The term `universal 
design for learning' has the meaning given the term in section 
103 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1003).
``(b) Program Established.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Education, shall establish a career pathway grant 
program, through which the Secretary shall award grants, on a 
competitive basis, to State workforce agencies to enable the 
State workforce agencies to award subgrants to career pathway 
partnership applicants to carry out the activities described in 
subsection (e).
``(2) Grant awards to career pathway partnership 
applicants.--In the case of a State in which the State 
workforce agency does not apply for a grant under this section, 
the Secretary may award a grant to a career pathway partnership 
applicant to carry out the activities described in subsection 
(e) in such State.
``(c) Application for Grants.--A State workforce agency that 
desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an 
application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the 
Secretary may require.
``(d) Geographic Equity.--In awarding grants under this section, 
the Secretary shall ensure an equitable geographic distribution of such 
grants, including to rural areas and other regions that have 
traditionally been underserved by regional economic development and 
industry or sector partnership activities.
``(e) Subgrants to Career Pathway Partnership Applicants and 
Technical Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--A State workforce agency that receives a 
grant under this section shall use the grant funds--
``(A) to award subgrants to career pathway 
partnership applicants; and
``(B) to provide technical assistance in applying 
for subgrants under this section to eligible career 
pathway partnership applicants.
``(2) Applications.--A career pathway partnership applicant 
desiring to receive a subgrant under this section shall submit 
an application to the State workforce agency, at such time and 
in such manner as the State workforce agency may require. Such 
application shall include the following information:
``(A) A description of the career pathway program 
that will be supported under the subgrant, including a 
description of the in-demand industry sectors or 
occupations that will be targeted and the industry-
recognized credentials or other recognized 
postsecondary credentials to be awarded.
``(B) A description of how the career pathway 
program supported under the subgrant is aligned and 
coordinated with other employment, education, and 
support services offered in the geographic area served 
under the subgrant, including those provided under this 
Act, the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 
et seq.), the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical 
Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.), the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.), the 
supplemental nutrition assistance program established 
under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 
et seq.), and the program of block grants to States for 
temporary assistance for needy families under part A of 
title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et 
seq.).
``(C) A description of the populations that will be 
served under the subgrant, including an analysis of any 
barriers to employment, such as supportive services, 
including in postsecondary education, access, and 
completion, that such populations face, and an analysis 
of how the services to be provided under the subgrant 
will address those barriers.
``(D) A description of the activities and services 
to be provided under this subgrant, consistent with 
paragraph (4).
``(E) A description of the performance outcomes 
that the career pathway partnership applicant plans to 
achieve, including a description of how the career 
pathway partnership applicant will evaluate and measure 
student progress and measurable skill gains along a 
career pathway.
``(F) Such other information as the State workforce 
agency may require.
``(3) Priority.--In awarding subgrants under this 
subsection, the State workforce agency shall--
``(A) give priority to career pathway partnership 
applicants that include as a partner in the partnership 
a public institution of higher education at which the 
highest degree that is predominantly awarded to 
students is an associate's degree, including 2-year 
Tribal Colleges or Universities under section 316 of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c), 
public 2-year State institutions of higher education, 
and the campuses of 4-year public institutions of 
higher education at which the highest degree that is 
predominantly awarded to students in an associate's 
degree;
``(B) give priority to career pathway partnership 
applicants that seek to serve individuals with a 
barrier to employment or individuals with a barrier to 
postsecondary education; and
``(C) give priority to career pathway partnership 
applicants that will use subgrant funds for an 
activity, strategy, or intervention that--
``(i) demonstrates, using evidence-based 
data, improving student outcomes or other 
relevant outcomes based on--
``(I) strong evidence from not less 
than 1 well-designed and well-
implemented experimental study;
``(II) moderate evidence from not 
less than 1 well-designed and well-
implemented quasi-experimental study; 
or
``(III) promising evidence from not 
less than 1 well-designed and well-
implemented correlational study with 
statistical controls for selection 
bias;
``(ii) demonstrates a rationale based on 
high quality research finding or positive 
evaluation that such activity, strategy, or 
intervention is likely to improve student 
outcomes or other relevant outcomes; and
``(iii) includes ongoing efforts to examine 
the effects of such activity, strategy, or 
intervention.
``(4) Use of funds.--
``(A) Developing and implementing career pathway 
programs.--A career pathway partnership applicant that 
receives a subgrant under this subsection shall use the 
subgrant funds to carry out activities that support the 
development and implementation of a career pathway 
program, which shall include one or more of the 
following:
``(i) The planning and implementation of 
agreements between the partners of the career 
pathway partnership applicant to support 
seamless transitions between elements of the 
career pathway program offered by different 
partners, as appropriate.
``(ii) The development and expansion of new 
or existing programs at the career pathway 
partnership applicant that utilize integrated 
education and training strategies, and support 
multiple entry and exit points for working 
learners, which may include--
``(I) dual-enrollment approaches 
for secondary students or disconnected 
youth seeking to participate in a 
career pathway program;
``(II) strategies that help working 
students and other nontraditional and 
adult student populations access skills 
and recognized credentials; and
``(III) strategies that incorporate 
the principles of universal design for 
learning and other evidence-based 
practices known to support individuals 
with disabilities.
``(iii) The provision of evidence-based 
professional development for faculty and other 
staff at the career pathway partnership 
applicant, which may incorporate the principles 
of universal design for learning, as 
appropriate.
``(iv) The acquisition of equipment 
necessary to support the delivery of career 
pathway programs supported through the 
subgrant, and minor alterations to support the 
use of the equipment.
``(v) Any other evidence-based activities 
identified by the career pathway partnership 
applicant as necessary to support the 
development or implementation of career pathway 
programs, as long as such activities are 
clearly outlined in the subgrant application.
``(B) Student support services.--In addition to the 
activities described in subparagraph (A), a career 
pathway partnership applicant receiving a subgrant 
under this subsection shall use subgrant funds to 
provide student support services to students engaged in 
career pathway programs to enable career pathway 
program participation and completion, which may 
include--
``(i) the provision of direct support 
services such as childcare, transportation, 
mental health and substance use disorder 
treatment, assistance in obtaining health 
insurance coverage, and assistance in accessing 
the supplemental nutrition assistance program 
established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 
2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), the special 
supplemental nutrition program for women, 
infants, and children established by section 17 
of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
1786), housing, and other benefits, as 
appropriate;
``(ii) offering career pathway navigation 
and case management services, including 
providing information and outreach to target 
populations to encourage individuals to take 
part in programs and service offerings; and
``(iii) the provision of emergency grants 
to help students facing financial hardships 
that may impact enrollment or completion of an 
element of a career pathway program.
``(5) Reports.--
``(A) Report to the secretary.--Each State 
workforce agency receiving a grant under this section 
shall submit a report to the Secretary, on an annual 
basis, describing--
``(i) the activities provided under the 
subgrants awarded under this section, including 
activities carried out directly by career 
pathway partnership applicants;
``(ii) the students receiving services 
under the subgrants, disaggregated by age, race 
or ethnicity, gender, barriers to employment, 
and income;
``(iii) the quality of jobs in which 
students receiving services through a career 
pathway program carried out through subgrants 
under this section are employed after exit from 
the program; and
``(iv) indicators of performance for 
students receiving services through a career 
pathway program carried out through subgrants 
under this section, disaggregated by 
participant type as described in clause (ii), 
including, at a minimum--
``(I) the percentage of program 
participants who are in unsubsidized 
employment prior to enrollment in the 
career pathway program;
``(II) the percentage of program 
participants who are in unsubsidized 
employment during the second quarter 
after exit from the program;
``(III) the percentage of program 
participants who are in unsubsidized 
employment during the fourth quarter 
after exit from the program;
``(IV) the median earnings of 
program participants who are in 
unsubsidized employment prior to 
enrollment in the career pathway 
program;
``(V) the median earnings of 
program participants who are in 
unsubsidized employment during the 
second quarter after exit from the 
program;
``(VI) the percentage of program 
participants who obtain a recognized 
postsecondary credential, or a 
secondary school diploma or its 
recognized equivalent, during 
participation in or within 1 year after 
exit from the program;
``(VII) the percentage of program 
participants who, during a program 
year, are in an education or training 
program that leads to a recognized 
postsecondary credential or employment 
and who are achieving measurable skill 
gains toward such a credential or 
employment; and
``(VIII) the percentage of program 
participants receiving support 
services, disaggregated by type of 
service.
``(B) Report to congress.--The Secretary shall 
submit a report to Congress, on a biennial basis, on 
the information submitted to the Secretary under 
subparagraph (A).
``(f) Duration of Awards.--Each grant and subgrant awarded under 
this section shall be for a period of not more than 4 years. A career 
pathway partnership applicant may apply for subsequent subgrants after 
the completion of a subgrant period.
``(g) Evaluation and Administration.--The Secretary shall reserve--
``(1) not less than 1 percent and not more than 3 percent 
of the funds made available under subsection (h) for each 
fiscal year to--
``(A) conduct a rigorous, independent evaluation of 
the activities funded under this section; and
``(B) disseminate and promote the utilization of 
evidence-based practices related to career pathway 
programs for postsecondary students; and
``(2) not more than 3 percent of the funds made available 
under subsection (h) for each fiscal year for administrative 
costs associated in carrying out this section.
``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out the activities described in this section, 
such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2027 and for each 
subsequent fiscal year thereafter.''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of 
the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 172, the following:

``Sec. 173. Career pathways grant program.''.
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