April 6, 2026
Mr. Mackenzie (for himself and Mr. Krishnamoorthi) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to provide to States and local areas information on the best practices for addressing the effects that substance use disorder has on the workforce, and to provide local areas with grants to provide training activities related to the treatment and prevention of substance use disorder.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Workforce Recovery and Resilience Act
.
Sec. 2. Technical assistance
Section 168 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3223) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(d) Communities impacted by substance use disorders
The Secretary shall, as part of the activities described in subsection (c)(2), evaluate and disseminate to States and local areas information regarding evidence-based and promising practices for addressing the economic and workforce impacts associated with high rates of substance use disorders, which information shall—
(1)
be updated annually to reflect the most recent and available research; and
(2)
include information—
(A)
shared by States and local areas regarding effective practices for addressing such impacts; and
(B)
on how to apply for any funding that may be available under section 170(b)(1)(E).
Sec. 3. National dislocated worker grants
Section 170 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3225) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (b)(1)—
(A)
in subparagraph (C), by striking and
at the end;
(B)
in subparagraph (D)(ii), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
(E)
to an entity described in subsection (c)(1)(B) to provide employment and training activities related to the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders, including addiction treatment, mental health treatment, and pain management, in an area that, as a result of widespread substance use, addiction, and overdoses, has higher-than-average demand for such activities that exceeds the availability of State and local resources to provide such activities.; and
(2)
in subsection (c)(2)—
(A)
in subparagraph (A)—
(B)
by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively; and
(C)
by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
(C) Substance use related grants
In order to be eligible to receive employment and training assistance under a national dislocated worker grant awarded pursuant to subsection (b)(1)(E), an individual shall be—
(i)
a dislocated worker;
(ii)
a long-term unemployed individual;
(iii)
an individual who is unemployed or significantly underemployed as a result of widespread substance use in the area; or
(iv)
an individual who is employed or seeking employment in a health care profession involved in the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders, including such professions that provide addiction treatment, mental health treatment, or pain management.