H.R. 3681 — Leveraging Educational Opportunity Networks Act

This section states 12 congressional findings concerning the U.S. workforce, including that 60% of workers (nearly 70 million) lack a bachelor's degree; short-term training programs such as boot camps and micro-credentialing are growing; 32% of the labor force (51.9 million workers) earns less than $15 per hour, with 1.1 million at the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour; 6.3 million workers (4.1%) lived at or below poverty in 2020; there were 10.1 million job openings versus 5.7 million job seekers as of April 2023; 39 million people attended some college but earned no degree; industry-recognized credentials increase earnings by 18%; and African American men face high incarceration rates (1 in 3 expected to be incarcerated lifetime) contributing to 27% unemployment among formerly incarcerated individuals.

This section establishes a competitive grant program administered by the Secretary of Labor for eligible entities—defined as consortia including a 501(c)(3) organization, a national training organization with dues-paying members in at least 10 states, a non-higher education accredited institution, or a postsecondary career and technical network—to develop and implement career and technical education (CTE) programs that meet local employer needs, last at least 12 weeks, pay enrollees a living wage, lead to a recognized postsecondary credential, operate in at least 10 states, prioritize enrollees reading at no higher than a 6th-grade level, and enroll at least 50% offenders, low-income economically isolated individuals, or those from underserved or persistently poor communities. Grant recipients must use funds to (1) develop and implement the CTE program and provide need-based stipends, pre-training transition support (e.g., camaraderie-building, tutoring, cognitive behavioral techniques), conflict resolution, employer check-ins, and supportive services (with at least 70% of funds allocated to the CTE program and stipends); (2) partner with living-wage employers offering career growth, industry input, internships, and hiring; and (3) conduct employer demand assessments, identify growth sectors, produce industry analyses, and recruit enrollees. The Secretary must ensure geographic diversity among grantees and prioritize applications targeting industries such as construction, disaster relief, manufacturing, supply chain, IT, financial services, shipbuilding, and health care. Grant recipients must submit annual reports to the Secretary beginning one year after award, detailing enrollee earnings before and six months after program completion, percentages in unsubsidized employment 30-90 days and 280-365 days post-exit, and starting wages.