H.R. 8203 — Workforce Recovery and Resilience Act

This section establishes a new subsection (d) requiring the Secretary of Labor, as part of activities described in subsection (c)(2), to evaluate and disseminate to states and local areas information on evidence-based and promising practices for addressing economic and workforce impacts associated with high rates of substance use disorders. Such information must (1) be updated annually to reflect the most recent research and (2) include effective practices shared by states and local areas and guidance on applying for funding available under section 170(b)(1)(E).

This section expands national dislocated worker grants under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) by (1) authorizing awards to states or local workforce development boards to provide employment and training activities related to substance use disorder prevention and treatment—including addiction treatment, mental health treatment, and pain management—in areas where widespread substance use, addiction, and overdoses have created demand exceeding state and local resources; and (2) establishing eligibility for such grants to include dislocated workers, long-term unemployed individuals, individuals unemployed or underemployed due to widespread substance use in the area, and individuals employed or seeking employment in relevant health care professions. (Thus, the grants enable workforce assistance to combat substance abuse impacts on employment, akin to existing grants for economic dislocations and disasters.)