Bill · H.R. 8183· House(119-HR-8183)
MATCH Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 4/2/2026
- Last activity
- 7/21/2026 — Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 33 - 0.
- Sponsored by
- Burgess Owens
- Cosponsors
- - 2 - 1
- Introduced
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "MATCH Act of 2026," seeks to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. It introduces the concept of a "talent marketplace" to match individuals with employment and learning opportunities. These marketplaces would utilize digital tools like credential registries and skills profile generators. To support this, the bill establishes a Workforce Data Quality Initiative through a grant program. These grants aim to help States build workforce longitudinal data systems and talent marketplaces. Finally, the bill provides for the establishment of these marketplaces by Governors and offers technical assistance for website development.
Yes· 3 of 8
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?+3
Digital talent marketplaces provide easier pathways for students and young jobseekers to find employment and training.
Would students be better off under this?+3
The bill helps students navigate and compare educational and training opportunities through standardized skill profiles.
Is this likely to create jobs?+3
The bill facilitates better matching between individuals and employment opportunities through digital talent marketplaces.
The opposite
Does this give people more control over their personal data?-2
The creation of digital, machine-readable employment and education records introduces inherent data security and privacy risks.
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?-2
The requirement for digital records and the collection of user data may pose risks to individual privacy.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Job and Education Matching: The establishment of a "talent marketplace" is designed to match individuals with employment and learning opportunities using information from employers, jobseekers, and students (Section 2(a)(ii)).
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User Control Over Personal Records: The "learning and employment record" allows individuals to control their own information and use it for matching with opportunities (Section 2(a)(C)(ii)).
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Clearer Skill Descriptions: The use of a "skills profile generator" and "standardized terminology" helps describe skills gained through employment or education in a consistent way (Section 2(a)(D) and Section 2(a)(E)).
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Increased Transparency: The Workforce Data Quality Initiative aims to improve transparency regarding labor market trends and the specific job skills needed to find work (Section 2(b)(1)(D)(E)).
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Better Access to Program Comparisons: The bill mandates that state websites be consumer-tested, searchable, and navigable to allow people to compare different eligible programs (Section 2(c)(3)(A)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Privacy Risks: While the bill includes requirements for security and privacy, the collection and storage of digital, machine-readable employment and educational histories inherently involve handling sensitive user data (Section 2(b)(2)(D)).
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Requirement of Self-Attestation: Some information in the digital learning and employment records may be self-attested before being verified by employers or educators (Section 2(a)(C)(i)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Students+3Good For Young Adults+3Good For Low Income Households+2
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+3Improves Small Business Support+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+2
- Education And Technology
- Improves College Affordability+1Improves Data Privacy-2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+3Improves Privacy Rights-2
- 7/22/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/21/2026
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 33 - 0.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/13/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/2/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Lucy McBathDemocrat · Georgia
Blake MooreRepublican · Utah
Mark MessmerRepublican · Indiana