H.R.714 - Jobs Now Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.714, the "Jobs Now Act of 2025," proposes to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act by establishing a pilot program. This program would award grants to local governments and community-based organizations. The goal is to create jobs and retain employees providing public services.
The bill prioritizes areas with high unemployment, foreclosure, and poverty rates. It also encourages the hiring and training of veterans, individuals with disabilities, those receiving unemployment benefits, and dislocated workers.
The Act authorizes appropriations of $1 billion for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund the pilot program.
Expected Effects
The Jobs Now Act aims to mitigate job losses in public services due to budget cuts. It also seeks to stimulate local economies through job creation and training programs.
If enacted, the bill would provide financial assistance to local governments and community organizations. This would enable them to retain existing employees and create new positions in public service and the private sector.
The pilot program's success will be evaluated through a report to Congress. This report will detail the number of individuals hired, trained, or retained, and identify best practices for similar programs.
Potential Benefits
- Direct job creation and retention in local communities.
- Support for public services by preventing layoffs.
- Prioritization of veterans, individuals with disabilities, and dislocated workers in employment and training programs.
- Targeted assistance to areas with high unemployment, foreclosure, and poverty rates.
- Potential for improved skills and employability through training programs.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for inefficient use of funds if grants are not properly managed or targeted.
- Risk of political influence in the grant allocation process.
- Limited scope of the pilot program may not address broader economic challenges.
- Possible displacement of private sector jobs if public service positions are created without careful consideration of market needs.
- The two-year duration of the pilot program may be insufficient to assess long-term impacts.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble). It aims to "promote the general Welfare" by addressing unemployment and supporting local communities.
Congress has the power to appropriate funds for such programs under Article I, Section 8, which grants the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States.
However, the specific implementation of the grant program would need to ensure equal protection under the law (14th Amendment) and avoid any discriminatory practices in hiring or training.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).