Take Action: 3 Urgent Priorities Where HR Pros Can Make a Difference

This fall, SHRM Government Affairs is urging SHRM Members to take action on three priorities that will shape the future of work: reauthorizing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), supporting the Youth Workforce Readiness Act of 2025 (H.R. 2910), and advancing the Connecting Small Businesses with Career and Technical Education Graduates Act of 2025 (H.R. 1642). Each activation offers HR professionals a chance to make their voices heard and drive real policy change.

1. Reauthorizing WIOA

Originally signed into law in 2014, WIOA is a cornerstone of the U.S. workforce development system. But the needs of workers and employers have changed significantly over the last decade. SHRM is urging Congress to modernize WIOA to streamline access to training, expand opportunities for underrepresented workers and caregivers, and promote skills-based hiring. 
 
Take Action: Urge Congress to reauthorize WIOA and ensure the U.S. workforce system reflects today's labor market realities.

2. Supporting Youth Workforce Readiness

More than 4.7 million young people in the U.S. are disconnected from school and work — limiting their future opportunities and straining talent pipelines. The bipartisan Youth Workforce Readiness Act would expand programs that provide career exploration, job readiness, mentoring, and work-based learning opportunities for opportunity youth (young people ages 16 to 24 who are not in school or working). SHRM strongly supports this legislation because it invests in the next generation of workers while helping employers meet critical workforce needs. 
 
Take Action: Tell Congress to support the Youth Workforce Readiness Act and prepare the next generation of workers.

3. Connecting Small Businesses with CTE Graduates

This bipartisan bill, which has already passed the House of Representatives and is under consideration in the Senate, supports workforce development by helping career and technical education (CTE) graduates transition into the workforce. It directs Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and Women's Business Centers (WBCs) to provide small businesses with information on hiring CTE graduates and offers graduates guidance on starting small businesses.

Strengthening the K-12 talent pipeline requires collaborative solutions that address both gaps in the education system and the broader challenges affecting students' workforce readiness. That is why SHRM supports CTE programs and advocates for policies that expand access to these opportunities. 
 
Take Action: Encourage your senators to pass the Connecting Small Businesses with Career and Technical Education Graduates Act and help small businesses connect with job-ready CTE graduates.

These three priorities won't move forward without the voice of HR. By contacting your members of Congress through the SHRM Advocacy Action Center, you can help advance policies that close skills gaps, empower employers, and prepare the workforce of the future.