Congress expands job-training system to include entrepreneurship pathways
H.R. 2099 — To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to authorize a study to review specific outcomes of entrepreneurial skills development programs, and for other purposes. · Filed by Rick Allen (R-GA) · 2 cosponsors · Introduced Mar 14, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to expand entrepreneurship and microenterprise services within the federal job-training system. It requires the Department of Labor to conduct a three-year study examining how well entrepreneurial skills programs work, what practices succeed, and whether they lead to business creation and earnings gains. The bill also directs states and local workforce boards to provide information about entrepreneurship and referrals to microenterprise services as part of their standard employment assistance.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core function is to integrate entrepreneurship training into existing federal job-training infrastructure and mandate a study of program effectiveness. It is a straightforward expansion of workforce services, not a tax measure, deregulation, or appropriation.
What the text implies
- The study's findings may influence future federal funding allocation toward entrepreneurship vs. traditional job-placement services, potentially shifting resources within workforce boards.
- Requiring states to provide entrepreneurship information and referrals may create administrative burden on local workforce boards without dedicated new funding, depending on appropriations.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
microenterprise development organizations; nonprofit business-training providers; workforce development contractors