House Education and Workforce Committee advances HR 8210 reauthorization amid partisan fight over adult education

The House Committee on Education and Workforce voted to report HR 8210, the Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026, to the full House after adopting an amendment in the nature of a substitute and approving the committee report recommendation by a recorded vote of 19 to 14.

The chair opened the markup saying the reauthorization ‘‘takes a practical, targeted approach to modernizing our workforce system’’ and highlighted provisions to expand short-term training tied to in‑demand jobs, strengthen employer engagement and work‑based learning, and improve performance data and credential transparency. The amendment in the nature of a substitute (ANS_01), introduced by Mr. Wahberg (of Michigan), was explained as technical fixes and targeted improvements to recognize apprenticeship and earn‑and‑learn models.

The most sustained dispute at the markup centered on Title II, the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act. Mr. Scott, the committee ranking member, criticized the bill for departing from last Congress’s bipartisan text and said it ‘‘poison[ed]’’ the bipartisan framework by moving adult education programs to the Department of Labor, warning that the change would prevent Senate consideration and weaken core literacy and foundational instruction. "Adult education is not just job training," Rep. Scott said in his remarks, arguing those programs belong at the Department of Education.

Democrats repeatedly argued the transfer would reduce program quality and expertise. "Does the Department of Labor have the expertise in teaching adult learners how to read? I doubt it," Rep. Bonamichi (Oregon) asked, emphasizing literacy and instructional needs. Several Democratic members also said the bill strips language referencing historically Black colleges and other equity‑focused terms and cuts discretionary spending compared with prior bipartisan agreements.

Republicans defending the bill countered that better alignment of basic skills and job training would improve outcomes. An amendment sponsor and several supporters said the measure increases resources for training, supports talent marketplaces and credential registries, and creates a limited accountable pilot to allow states flexibility while maintaining performance requirements. "We're focused on outcomes," one proponent said, arguing the move reflects how states and localities connect education to work.

The markup included numerous amendments from both parties. Ranking Member Scott offered substitute amendments and targeted amendments to restore the prior bipartisan text and limit certain pilots; those amendments were debated and recorded votes were postponed during the markup. In the end, the committee chair called the question on reporting HR 8210 with the adopted amendment; the clerk announced the final vote as 19 yeas and 14 nays.

What happens next: the committee transmitted HR 8210 and accompanying materials to the House for further consideration. Members were allowed to insert additional views into the committee record by the end of the day. Several members on both sides urged renewed negotiations to rebuild bipartisan consensus before floor consideration.

Votes at a glance: The committee agreed to report HR 8210 with the amendment in the nature of a substitute. Final recorded tally on the motion to report: 19 yeas, 14 nays. Multiple amendment roll‑call votes were requested and postponed during the markup.