# What the Federal Jobs Guarantee Development Act Actually Does

This bill creates a test program where the federal government would guarantee jobs to anyone who wants one in certain struggling communities. Here's what that means in practical terms: if you live in an area selected for this pilot program and you're 18 or older, you could apply for a guaranteed job. The government would be required to offer you employment—you wouldn't be turned away because there aren't enough positions available.

The program would only operate in up to 15 communities across the country that have unemployment rates at least 50% higher than the national average. So this targets areas that are really struggling economically. The jobs would last for three years, and the program includes some important protections: you'd earn at least the prevailing wage for similar work in your area (often higher than minimum wage), get health insurance comparable to what federal employees receive, and receive paid family leave and paid sick leave. The bill also specifies that these jobs can't replace existing workers or break union contracts—they're meant to be new positions, not layoffs in disguise.

The types of jobs emphasized include child care, senior care, clean energy work, and infrastructure projects. Participants would also get access to training (up to eight weeks paid), help with transportation or child care if needed, and support from advisors to help them develop skills and move toward better careers. The bill even includes a tax credit for private employers who hire people after they've completed at least three months in the job guarantee program, creating a bridge from public jobs to private employment.

The federal government would fund this through grants to local governments, tribal nations, or regional partnerships. There's oversight built in—annual audits, performance reporting, and an independent evaluation to measure whether the program actually improves employment, reduces poverty, and helps communities. If an area misuses the money, the government can recoup it.

Federal Jobs Guarantee Development Act of 2023

Watson Coleman, Bonnie

Federal Jobs Guarantee Development Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Labor to establish a pilot program to provide grants to eligible entities (i.e., political subdivisions of states and Tribal entities with a high unemployment rate) for programs to guarantee employment to individuals residing in the areas served by such entities.