{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://hern.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1954", "Hern\u2019s Education and Workforce Freedom Act pass Ways and Means committee markup", "2024-07-09", "2024", "2024-07", "Republican", "House", "OK", "Kevin Hern", "H001082", "hern.house.gov", "hern", "https://hern.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Representative Kevin Hern\u2019s (OK-01) Education and Workforce Freedom Act passed out of the House Ways and Means Committee. The legislation would allow 529 plans to be used for additional educational expenses in connection with attending K-12, including homeschooling, and will also expand to include workers obtaining credentials or licenses through career technical/ vocational education.\n\nThe legislation is co-sponsored by Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA-01), Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA-10), and Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN-01).\n\n\u201cPresident Trump\u2019s tax cuts expanded the success of 529 accounts that enable millions of Americans to invest their hard-earned dollars towards their children\u2019s educations,\u201d said Rep. Hern. \u201cAt a time when inflation is hurting the American people, and the dollar is being stretched thin, 529 accounts need to be expanded to make K-12 education more affordable and also accommodate the needs of the American workforce.\u201d\n\n\u201cMore than 16 million Americans use 529 accounts to save and invest their hard-earned money in their children\u2019s future,\u201d said Chairman Smith. \u201cCongress can do more to ensure these accounts are flexible and available to more families so they can pursue the educational path that is right for them. Thanks to Congressman Hern\u2019s leadership, this legislation, the Education and Workforce Freedom Act, will allow 529 plans to be used for additional educational expenses in connection with attending K-12 and even homeschool, and it will also be expanded to include workers getting credentials or licenses through career technical/vocational education. This is an incredible step forward that will unleash a new wave of educational hope, opportunity, and freedom for millions of American students, workers, and their families.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve met with local businesses, truckers, manufacturers, tradesmen, and healthcare facilities across southern Minnesota, and many of them are facing an unprecedented workforce shortage and an increasing need for skilled labor,\u201d said Rep. Finstad. \u201cThe Education and Workforce Freedom Act ensures that young people, especially those entering the trades, have access to the programs and resources they need to meet the demands of today\u2019s workforce and succeed. I am pleased to see that this legislation passed the House Ways and Means Committee and I look forward to its progress through the legislative process.\u201d\n\n\u201c529 Plans are a vital tool for families to invest in their child\u2019s education,\u201d said Rep. Collins. \u201cI am proud to have helped craft this legislation, which expands the use of 529s to all kinds of widely recognized trades including pilot programs, aircraft mechanics schools, Commercial Driver\u2019s License training, and more. This bill will give all Americans aspiring to something other than just a four year degree another option to save for school, achieve their dreams, and build a career.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe majority of America\u2019s workforce consists of middle-skill jobs that require more than a high school education but not a bachelor\u2019s degree, and key industries are struggling to find adequately trained workers to fill these roles,\u201d said Rep. Wittman. \u201cThe Education and Workforce Freedom Act will expand Americans\u2019 access to resources to pay for post-secondary credentialing and licensing programs, which will help more Americans obtain and retain these good-paying jobs. I\u2019m proud to see this critical piece of legislation pass the House Ways and Means Committee, and I urge my colleagues to support it when it comes to the House floor.\u201d\n\nYou can view Rep. Hern\u2019s remarks HERE and read the full bill text HERE.\n\nBackground Information\n\nRep. Hern\u2019s legislation is supported by the American Society of Association Executives, Tomorrow's Workforce Coalition, Professional Certification Coalition, and Job Creators Network.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:24:45Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://hern.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1954"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.134432852268219, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}