Congress·In Committee·S. 3864

Senate Committee Reviews Federal Jobs Guarantee Pilot Program for 15 High-Unemployment Communities

Federal Jobs Guarantee Development Act of 2026

about 1 month ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

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Key Points

The Labor Department would create a test program in up to 15 communities with very high unemployment. In these areas, the government would guarantee a job to any adult who wants one. The goal is to see if providing a job to everyone who needs one can help fix local economies and reduce poverty.
Participants would work on important community projects like providing childcare, caring for seniors, building clean energy systems, or repairing local roads and bridges. The law ensures these new positions do not replace existing workers or interfere with current union agreements.
Workers in the program would earn a living wage and receive health insurance similar to what federal employees get. They would also be guaranteed paid sick leave and paid family leave. To help them prepare for the work, the program provides up to eight weeks of paid job training.
The policy includes extra support to help people stay employed, such as money for transportation, childcare, and housing. It also provides specific help for people with criminal records or disabilities to ensure they have an equal chance to participate in the workforce.
After the three-year pilot ends, the government will study how the program changed the community. Researchers will look at whether it lowered crime, improved public health, or helped the environment. Additionally, private businesses that hire people who finished the program would receive a special tax credit.

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Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Who is affectedScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Feb 12, 2026Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Feb 12, 2026

Introduced in Senate

Related News

2 articles

BenefitsPRO·about 1 month ago

New federal bill proposes guaranteed jobs pilot for high unemployment hubs

The Federal Jobs Guarantee Development Act of 2026, reintroduced by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Sen. Cory Booker, would establish a pilot program in 15 high-unemployment communities. The bill guarantees jobs with living wages and benefits like health insurance and paid leave for all adults.

RealClearPolicy·almost 8 years ago

Cory Booker’s New Big Idea: Guaranteeing Jobs

The Federal Jobs Guarantee Development Act would give 15 local areas federal money to guarantee all residents a job. While proponents see it as a way to end poverty and fix infrastructure, critics warn of bureaucratic inefficiency and the potential to disrupt private sector labor markets.

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