Summary of HR 2099 (Introduced March 14, 2025)

HR 2099 seeks to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to broaden who is served and to add new services, while authorizing a study to evaluate outcomes of entrepreneurial skills development programs.

Purpose and intent

• Expand the scope of WIOA to explicitly include entrepreneurs in addition to jobseekers.
• Add entrepreneurial skills development and microenterprise services to the set of services available under WIOA, expanding opportunities for individuals pursuing entrepreneurship as part of workforce development.
• Authorize a study to review outcomes of entrepreneurial skills development programs, aiming to inform the effectiveness and design of such programs.

Key provisions (as introduced)

1) Amends Section 101(d)(3)(D) of WIOA (29 U.S.C. 3111(d)(3)(D)):
- Replaces the term “jobseekers” with “jobseekers, and entrepreneurs.” This expands the targeted beneficiary group to explicitly include entrepreneurs.
- Adds the phrase “and entrepreneurial skills development and microenterprise services” after the term “occupations,” thereby incorporating targeted entrepreneurial training and microenterprise support into the suite of services available under the Act.

2) Authorized study (per the bill’s title and stated purpose):
- Authorizes a study to review specific outcomes of entrepreneurial skills development programs. The provided version content does not include the study’s detailed scope, methodology, or funding, but the bill intends to evaluate outcomes related to entrepreneurial training and related supports.

Affected parties and impacts

• Primary beneficiaries: jobseekers and entrepreneurs who participate in WIOA-funded programs.
• Programmatic impact: States, Local Workforce Development Boards, and other WIOA partners would be expected to integrate entrepreneurial skills development and microenterprise services into their service offerings.
• Data and outcomes: The authorized study would aim to generate evidence on outcomes of entrepreneurial skills development programs, potentially informing future program design and funding decisions.

Procedural status and timeline

• Introduced in the House on March 14, 2025.
• Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce on March 14, 2025.
• Current status: Introduced in House; no further action at the time of the provided information.

Sponsors

• Primary: Rep. Rick W. Allen
• Cosponsor: Rep. Mark DeSaulnier

Notes and considerations

• The amendment text provides precise changes to the statutory language in Section 101(d)(3)(D) of WIOA, centering both entrepreneurs and new service offerings (entrepreneurial skills development and microenterprise services).
• The bill’s effectiveness will depend on subsequent legislative action, including any Senate consideration, potential further refinement of the study’s scope, and any related funding or implementation provisions.
• As introduced, there are no specified appropriations in the provided text; the study and expanded services’ funding would be determined in later legislative steps.