June 17, 2025
Mr. Torres of New York introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
To direct the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council and the Office of Personnel Management to issue regulations that require all Federal contractors and executive agencies to conduct comprehensive reviews of job classifications to identify positions for which a college degree is required without a demonstrable occupational necessity.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Employment Abundance Act
.
Sec. 2. Federal contractor job classification review
(a) In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act—
(1)
the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council shall issue regulations that require any Federal contractor that enters into a contract subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation to—
(A)
conduct a comprehensive review of all job classifications within their Federal contract-related workforce;
(B)
identify each position that requires a bachelor’s degree or higher as a condition of employment; and
(C)
determine whether such educational requirements are demonstrably necessary for the performance of essential job functions; and
(2)
the Office of Personnel Management shall issue regulations that require each Executive agency (as defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code) to—
(A)
conduct a comprehensive review of all job classifications within such agency;
(B)
identify each position that requires a bachelor’s degree or higher as a condition of appointment or promotion; and
(C)
determine whether such educational requirements are demonstrably necessary for the performance of essential job functions.
(b) Reporting requirement
Not later than 180 days after the effective date of the regulations issued pursuant to subsection (a)—
(1)
each Federal contractor shall submit to the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council a report outlining the results of its job classification review, including—
(A)
a list of positions where a degree requirement was determined to lack demonstrable occupational necessity; and
(B)
a plan to revise such job classifications, including alternative criteria that may be used, such as relevant work experience, certifications, or skills assessments; and
(2)
each executive agency shall submit to the Office of Personnel Management a report outlining the results of its job classification review, including—
(A)
a list of positions where a degree requirement was determined to lack demonstrable job necessity; and
(B)
a plan to revise such job classifications by including alternative criteria that may be used, such as relevant work experience, certifications, or skills assessments.
(c) Compliance and enforcement
Failure to comply with the requirements under this section may—
(1)
for Federal contractors, result in administrative actions, including ineligibility for future Federal contracts, as determined by the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council; and
(2)
for agencies, result in administrative actions under chapter 75 of title 5, United States Code, or other remedies determined by the Office of Personnel Management.
(d) Rule of construction
Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit Federal contractors or agencies from maintaining educational requirements for a case in which such requirements are shown to be necessary for job performance or are mandated by law, regulation, or professional licensure standards.
(e) Applicability
This section applies with respect to—
(1)
any contract entered into on and after the effective date of the regulations issued pursuant to subsection (a)(1); and
(2)
any appointment or promotion occurring on or after the effective date of the regulations issued pursuant to subsection (a)(2).