Since its enactment in 2014, WIOA has served as a fundamental pillar of the nation’s workforce development system, connecting job seekers with training for in-demand skills and employment services that match them with relevant employers. The law aims to increase the supply of qualified workers and better align workforce skills with employer demand. However, since WIOA’s authorization expired in 2020, workforce development programs nationwide have faced directional and financial uncertainty.

TCIA joined the Jobs and Careers Coalition (JCC), a Washington-based business group focused on job training and workforce development, in urging Congress to prioritize reauthorizing WIOA at the beginning of the 119th Congress’s second session. Reauthorization would provide greater certainty for employers and workforce providers while modernizing the law to reflect current economic conditions. The letter emphasizes the importance of maintaining a workforce system that can adapt to economic volatility driven by technological innovation. Specifically, they explain that, as the demand for various technical skills continues to increase, “persistent skills mismatches hinder our ability to meet the needs of our customers or grow the economy.”

The letter further recommends that Congress return to the text of H.R. 6655, A Stronger Workforce for America Act, a bipartisan bill that almost passed out of Congress’s 118th session, as the template for reauthorizing and reforming the nation’s public workforce system. The letter highlights the key provisions of H.R. 6655 that are most promising for the needs of industry and workers, including: guaranteeing that at least 50% of funds allocated to local workforce areas go directly to skill development rather than administrative costs to cut out bloat; collaborating with employers to improve alignment between training content and industry demand; and raising the spending cap for retraining incumbent workers to meet the new skill demands of evolving industries. Furthermore, the letter outlines that the best way to achieve such goals is by working through local businesses and workforce authorities.

Reintroduction of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)
TCIA also joined a coalition of 217 businesses and industry associations in signing a letter in support of the Improve and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Act (S. 3265/H.R. 6231), a bipartisan and bicameral bill that would extend and enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). The WOTC is a federal tax incentive designed to encourage employers to hire individuals from groups that often face barriers to employment, including veterans, SNAP recipients and other underserved populations. First enacted as part of the Small Business Job Protection Act in 1996, the WOTC has been renewed multiple times but expired at the end of 2025.

The letter highlights the importance of a long-term extension of the tax credit, noting that S. 3265/H.R. 6231 is critical, as “a recent EY analysis estimates that increased costs to employers due to WOTC’s expiration will cost the economy 131,000 direct jobs a year.” The bill also proposes several enhancements that would significantly increase the credit’s effectiveness. These include extending eligibility to new groups, such as spouses of current active-duty military who may face employment difficulty due to relocation, adding a second level of credit for employees who work 400 or more hours within the year, and indexing the tax credits to address inflation.

As the letter suggests, extending and enhancing the WOTC would provide meaningful benefits to communities with lower workforce participation rates while offering relief to essential industries experiencing workforce shortages, including the tree care industry.

TCIA remains committed to collaborating with Congress and other stakeholders to implement effective solutions and ensure the growth and sustainability of the tree care workforce. TCIA will continue to monitor these legislative developments and provide updates as Congress takes action on workforce development and hiring incentive initiatives in 2026.

Basil Thomson is a partner at Ulman Public Policy, TCIA’s Washington, D.C.-based advocacy and lobbying partner.