On March 10, the House Education and Workforce Committee Democrats announced Ranking Member Bobby Scott’s (D-VA) introduction of legislation to make short-term training programs more affordable for adult learners, and to help businesses recruit highly-qualified candidates. The Jobs to Compete Act (H.R. 1655) would extend Pell Grant eligibility to adults in high-quality, short-term training programs. 

The Committee Democrats state the expansion is particularly important as demand for short-term training courses has increased among adult learners and employers. Also, the federal investment in workforce development programs has fallen by two-thirds over the past 40 years, when adjusted for inflation.

Additionally, Committee Democrats argue, expansion will help alleviate financial barriers many students face in accessing and completing short-term training programs, while also preparing workers to compete in the modern economy. View the Committee Democrats’ Fact Sheet on the Jobs to Compete Act for more information.

On February 28, the ranking member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging Mike Braun (R-IN) introduced a similar bill, the bipartisan JOBS Act of 2023 (S. 161) with Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), to expand Pell Grant eligibility to short-term job training programs. The House companion (H.R. 793) was introduced by Representative Bill Johnson (R-OH).