4.11 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (P.L. 113-128, 2014)
Section 122 governs state eligible training provider lists and section 116 sets common performance indicators and wage-record matching; authorizations lapsed after FY 2020 and programs continue on annual appropriations. Provider lists are an early, non-interoperable form of credential registry, and WIOA state plans are the vehicle Labor now uses to encourage talent marketplaces.
Source: GovInfo: P.L. 113-128
4.12 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21, July 4, 2025) — Workforce Pell Grants
Programs of 150 to 599 clock hours over 8 to fewer than 15 weeks; governors must approve programs as serving high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand sectors; the credential must be stackable and portable across more than one employer; 70 percent completion and placement thresholds and a value-added earnings test. Effective July 1, 2026. Every eligibility test is a data question about a credential.
4.13 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, section 70414 — 529 qualified postsecondary credentialing expenses
Eligibility turns on named federal lists: state WIOA section 122(d) provider lists, the VA WEAMS directory, the military COOL directory, accredited industry credentials, registered apprenticeship certificates, and occupational licenses. Federal tax law now relies on credential directories to define what counts.
Source: Cornell LII: 26 U.S.C. 529
4.14 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, section 71119 — Medicaid community engagement
80 hours a month of work, community service, a work program including WIOA, or at least half-time education. States must implement by January 1, 2027, and must verify from existing reliable data before asking the individual.
4.15 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, section 10102 — SNAP work requirements
Extends work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents to ages 18 to 64, expanding the population that must document work and training activity.
4.16 Perkins V (P.L. 115-224, 2018)
Recognized postsecondary credential attainment is an accountability indicator, aligned with WIOA; administered by Labor under a May 2025 interagency agreement. CTE accountability depends on knowing which credentials students earned and what they are worth.
4.17 10 U.S.C. 2015 — credentialing for service members
Requires a program for members to earn civilian-recognized credentials, with quality standards; the statutory basis for COOL and service credentialing programs.
Source: Cornell LII: 10 U.S.C. 2015
4.18 10 U.S.C. 1143 — certification of job skills on separation
Certification of job skills and experience on separation, training information made available to states and employers for licensing, and SkillBridge. A long-standing mandate to verify military training for civilian use.
Source: Cornell LII: 10 U.S.C. 1143
4.19 FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, section 574 (P.L. 118-159) — separation competency record
Each member receives at separation a standardized “competency record” of training, certifications, and qualifications, with authentication; a report with state and employer feedback is due December 23, 2026. The statute does not require a digital or machine-readable format — the closest enacted analogue to a military LER.
Source: GovInfo: P.L. 118-159
4.20 Military Spouse Licensing Relief Act (P.L. 117-333, 50 U.S.C. 4025a)
A license in good standing is portable to a new state on relocation under orders. Portability in law still requires proof of the license in practice.
Source: Cornell LII: 50 U.S.C. 4025a
4.21 10 U.S.C. 1784(h), made permanent by FY 2025 NDAA section 581 — interstate licensing compacts
Authorizes the Department to support interstate licensing compacts through the Council of State Governments. Compacts and verifiable license records address the same barrier from two sides.
4.22 Chafee program (42 U.S.C. 677) — Education and Training Vouchers
The existing statutory channel for education and training support for current and former foster youth.
4.23 Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-5) — TANF outcome pilots
TANF outcome pilots in five states measuring employment and earnings, moving TANF toward the same outcome measures the workforce system uses.
4.24 Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act (P.L. 115-435, 2019)
Machine-readable, open-by-default federal data: the statutory basis for publishing credential data in open formats.
4.25 REAL ID Modernization Act (P.L. 116-260, 2020)
Brings mobile driver's licenses into the REAL ID framework, implemented by the TSA final rule (89 FR 85340) incorporating ISO/IEC 18013-5. Federal acceptance of a credential held in a phone wallet is already law for identity.
Source: GovInfo: TSA final rule
4.26 MATCH Act of 2026 — Modernizing Access to Talents, Credentials, and Hiring Act (H.R. 8183)
Would amend WIOA to define “talent marketplace,” “credential registry,” and “learning and employment record” (a digital, machine-readable record of an individual's education and employment history, verified by employers and providers), fund Workforce Data Quality Initiative grants from a 5 to 10 percent reservation of existing WIOA funds, and let governors establish talent marketplaces. Introduced April 2, 2026 by Rep. Owens with Reps. Moore (UT), Messmer, and McBath; ordered reported, as amended, by Education and Workforce on July 21, 2026, 33 to 0; no floor action. The WIOA reauthorization bill (H.R. 8210, ordered reported April 21, 2026, 19 to 14) carries the same definitions.
Source: GovInfo: H.R. 8183 text · House Education and Workforce: markup
4.27 Workforce Data Enhancement Act (S. 4382)
Competitive grants for data linkage, standards adoption, skills and credential data, and learning-records systems, with priority for multi-state interoperable infrastructure. Introduced April 23, 2026 by Sens. Hickenlooper and Marshall; referred to HELP. The nearest Senate analogue to the MATCH Act's data title.
4.28 Skills-Based Federal Contracting Act of 2025 (H.R. 5235)
Bars minimum education requirements for contractor personnel in federal solicitations unless justified in writing, extending skills-based hiring from the federal workforce to the federal contractor workforce. Passed the House February 23, 2026 and the Senate by unanimous consent September 30, 2026; cleared for the President and not yet signed as of October 2, 2026.
Source: GovInfo: bill status
4.29 Fostering the Future Act (H.R. 7432; S. 4854)
Raises the Education and Training Voucher from $5,000 to $12,000 and allows its use for Workforce Pell programs and apprenticeships. Passed the House May 19, 2026; in Senate Finance.
4.30 FY 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 8800; S. 4784)
House section headings include skills-based hiring for Department civilian positions and skills-based requirements for contractor personnel. House passed July 22, 2026; Senate pending.
4.31 Stop Identity Fraud and Identity Theft Act of 2026 (H.R. 7270)
Treasury grants for state mobile driver's licenses and digital IDs aligned to NIST guidelines. Referred January 27, 2026.
4.32 Veteran and Spouse Licensing Flexibility Act of 2025 (H.R. 5035)
License portability for veterans and spouses. Referred August 26, 2025.