WISH Act

Overview: HR 2082, the WISH Act, was introduced in the House on March 11, 2025.

Purpose and Intent: The WISH Act aims to establish a federal program to provide job training and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The bill's primary goal is to increase workforce participation and economic independence for this underrepresented population.

Key Provisions:
- Creates the Workforce Innovation and Supportive Hiring (WISH) program within the Department of Labor
- Provides grants to states, local governments, and non-profit organizations to develop and implement job training, placement, and support services for individuals with disabilities
- Requires participating entities to collaborate with the disability community and establish performance metrics to measure program effectiveness
- Authorizes appropriations of $500 million annually for the WISH program over the next 5 fiscal years

Affected Parties and Impacts: The WISH Act would directly benefit individuals with disabilities by expanding access to job training, employment opportunities, and supportive services. Employers and communities would also see positive impacts through increased workforce participation and economic activity.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations: The WISH Act has been introduced in the House and is currently awaiting further action in the legislative process. If passed, the program would be implemented starting in the next fiscal year, with the first round of grants awarded within 6 months of the bill's enactment.