PHCC joined with Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), AHRI, HARDI, ASHRAE, NATE, and the National Air Filtration Association (NAFA) to demonstrate HVAC industry support the Employer Directed Skills Act sponsored by Senator Ted Budd (R-NC).

Currently, jobseekers looking for employment training opportunities under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act (WIOA) would be assessed by a workforce investment board (WIB) or similar job training center to determine skills and qualifications before being sent to an employer on a WIOA grant to train in a particular field. Under Senator Budd’s legislation, employers and training providers can assume the responsibility of skills assessment in order to more effectively determine if a job candidate is an ideal fit for that field. This makes the WIOA process more efficient by allowing employers (rather than career centers) to leverage their expertise in a specific field (such as HVAC) to determine a candidate’s competency in that field before onboarding them for training.

The legislation is currently in the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee awaiting further action. The language was included in a broader WIOA reauthorization package that passed the House of Representatives in 2024 with broad bipartisan support but hit several obstacles that were not overcome by the time Congress adjourned at the end of the year.

PHCC and its industry partners will work vigorously to ensure its passage as a stand-alone bill or part of must-pass legislation before this session of Congress adjourns in December. HVACR Industry Alliance letter can be found here.