H.R. 2155 – New HOPE Act

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 2:52 PM UTC

The New HOPE Act amends the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act to let states use Perkins funding to look at occupational licenses and certifications that may be unnecessary barriers for workers. It directs state education leaders to work with other state agencies to identify, combine, or remove such licenses, aiming to make it easier for people to enter jobs while still protecting consumers.

Key Provisions

Adds a new state leadership activity (paragraph 18) that requires states to consult and coordinate with other agencies to identify, consolidate, or eliminate licenses or certifications that create unnecessary entry barriers for workers and offer limited consumer protection.
Makes minor punctuation changes to the existing list of state leadership activities.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

April 26, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 26, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

April 26, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued April 26, 2017

I

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2155

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 26, 2017

Mr. Walberg (for himself and Mr. Cuellar) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

A BILL

To amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to authorize funds to identify and eliminate excessive occupational licensure.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the New Hope and Opportunity through the Power of Employment Act or the New HOPE Act.

2.

State leadership activities

Section 124(c) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2344(c)) is amended—

(1)

by striking and at the end of paragraph (16);

(2)

by striking the period at the end of paragraph (17) and inserting ; and; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(18)

consulting and coordinating with other State agencies for the identification, consolidation, or elimination of licenses or certifications which pose an unnecessary barrier to entry for aspiring workers and provide limited consumer protection.

.