Rep. Ritchie Torres Introduces the Employment Abundance Act into the U.S. House of Representatives

Today, Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) introduced the “Employment Abundance Act,” a federal law requiring the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to issue regulations mandating that all federal contractors conduct a comprehensive review of job classifications to identify positions for which a college degree is required without a demonstrable occupational necessity, into the U.S. House of Representatives.

On the bill’s introduction, Rep. Torres said:

“Unnecessary college degree requirements have long acted as artificial barriers to opportunity, excluding countless talented Americans from good-paying jobs they are perfectly qualified to do.

“The Employment Abundance Act is about opening doors and ensuring that relevant skills, experience, and ability matter more than a diploma. By requiring federal contractors to rigorously justify degree requirements, we hope to foster a more inclusive, abundant labor market that values merit and potential over pedigree and elitism.”

The bill text reads as follows (PDF is attached here):

Section 1. Short Title

This Act may be cited as the “Employment Abundance Act.”

Section 2. Federal Contractor Job Classification Review

(a) In General.— Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council shall issue regulations that require any Federal contractor that enters into a contract subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation to:

1.     conduct a comprehensive review of all job classifications within their Federal contract-related workforce;

2.     identify each position that requires a bachelor’s degree or higher as a condition of employment; and

3.     determine whether such educational requirements are demonstrably necessary for the performance of essential job functions.

(b) Reporting Requirement.— Not later than 180 days after the effective date of the regulations issued pursuant to subsection (a), each Federal contractor shall submit to the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council a report outlining the results of its job classification review, including:

1.     a list of positions where a degree requirement was determined to lack demonstrable occupational necessity; and

2.     a plan to revise such job classifications, including alternative criteria that may be used, such as relevant work experience, certifications, or skills assessments.

(c) Compliance and Enforcement.— Failure to comply with the requirements under this section may result in administrative actions, including ineligibility for future Federal contracts, subject to regulations issued by the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council.

(d) Rule of Construction.— Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit Federal contractors from maintaining educational requirements for a case in which such requirements are shown to be necessary for job performance or are mandated by law, regulation, or professional licensure standards.

(e) Applicability.— This section applies with respect to any contract entered into on and after the effective date of the regulations issued pursuant to subsection (a).