A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Pathways to Prosperity Act aims to establish, improve, or expand high-quality workforce development programs at community colleges. It creates a competitive grant program where the Secretary makes awards to eligible institutions to build industry partnerships. These partnerships focus on providing students with recognized, stackable credentials for high-skill or in-demand occupations. The bill outlines specific requirements for applications, including employer engagement and labor market data. It also establishes performance indicators to evaluate the success of these programs.
Yes· 3 of 13
- Scored +7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill prioritizes serving low-income individuals and provides funds to reduce unmet financial needs.
- Scored +6
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
The bill creates pathways for new entrants to the workforce through stackable credentials.
- Scored +6
Does this make college cost less?
Grants may be used to reduce or eliminate unmet financial need related to the cost of attendance.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Expanded Career Opportunities: The bill aims to expand opportunities for individuals to obtain recognized postsecondary credentials that are stackable and portable for high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors (Section 172(a)(2)).
-
Support for Vulnerable Populations: The Secretary may provide technical assistance and outreach to institutions that serve a high number of low-income individuals, individuals with barriers to employment, or rural-serving institutions (Section 172(b)(2)(A)).
-
Priority for High-Need Individuals: Grant priority is given to institutions serving individuals with barriers to employment or incumbent workers needing to improve foundational skills (Section 172(d)(4)(A)).
-
Career Support Services: Grant recipients are required to provide career services, which can include career navigation, coaching, mentorship, case management, and access to necessary course materials or technological devices (Section 172(e)(2)(B)).
-
Financial Assistance: Funds may be used to reduce or eliminate unmet financial need related to the cost of attendance for program participants (Section 172(e)(3)(D)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Strict Performance Requirements: Institutions must meet specific levels of performance, and if they fail to do so, they will be subject to a performance improvement plan (Section 172(f)(4)).
-
Restrictions on Grant Duration: First grants are limited to a period of no more than 2 years, which may impact the long-term planning of certain programs (Section 172(c)(2)(A)).
-
Wait Times for Subsequent Funding: An institution that receives a covered grant may not receive a subsequent grant until 2 years after the end of the previous grant period (Section 172(c)(3)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill prioritizes serving low-income individuals and provides funds to reduce unmet financial needs. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The bill creates pathways for new entrants to the workforce through stackable credentials. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — The bill supports incumbent workers who need to gain or improve foundational skills. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill includes Tribal Colleges and Universities as eligible institutions for the grant program. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill includes provisions to support and assist rural-serving institutions.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make college cost less? — Grants may be used to reduce or eliminate unmet financial need related to the cost of attendance. Does this put more money into public schools? — The bill provides competitive grants to community colleges and vocational institutions for workforce development. Does this get reliable internet to more people? — The bill encourages virtual service delivery to facilitate technology-enabled learning.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill expands opportunities for students to gain high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand credentials through industry partnerships. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — By building industry-specific partnerships, the bill helps businesses access a more skilled workforce.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill helps individuals access higher wages and credentials which can help lift them out of poverty.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill specifically provides for technical assistance and outreach to rural-serving eligible institutions.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the Secretary to make evaluation data and annual performance reports available on a public website.
- 3/19/2026
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
- 12/9/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
3 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Raphael WarnockDemocrat · Georgia