WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressmen Dwight Evans (D-PA-3rd) and Chuck Edwards (R-NC-11th) have introduced the Leveraging Educational Opportunity Networks (LEON) Act, a bipartisan bill designed to combat poverty and address structural labor shortages. The legislation seeks to empower workers by funding competitive grants for organizations that partner with local employers to provide no-cost professional certification training for high-demand jobs, including those in construction, disaster recovery, and manufacturing.
“Too many families—in Pennsylvania’s 3rd District and across the country—have been shut out from employment opportunities that offer them a pathway to the middle class,” said Congressman Evans. “The LEON Act would help build a national career technical education system that would break down barriers and prepare low-income people with the skills that employers need.”
The initiative responds to challenges in regions hit hard by labor shortages and disasters. Congressman Edwards pointed to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, emphasizing the need for skilled workers to support long-term recovery. “Western North Carolina is still recovering from the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene last fall, and recovery is going to take years,” Edwards explained. “The LEON Act would enable us to quickly train the workers we need to help us build stronger, more resilient communities and economies.”
Under the proposed legislation, the U.S. Department of Labor would provide grants to accredited, not-for-profit, post-secondary educational institutions to deliver the training without charging students.
The bill is named after Rev. Dr. Leon H. Sullivan, a civil rights leader and founder of Opportunities Industrialization Centers (OIC), a global skills-training organization established in 1964.
Louis J. King II, president and CEO of OIC of America, underscored the transformative potential of the act. “With no-cost training, we can transform lives, stabilize and strengthen communities, and address our national labor shortage. The LEON Act is an opportunity to future-proof tomorrow’s workforce by preparing adults for jobs that provide a pathway to the middle class,” said King.
If enacted, the LEON Act could serve as a critical stepping stone for individuals seeking to escape poverty while helping to close critical workforce gaps in key industries.
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