American Worker Opportunity & Transition Act
Jobs are changing. Workers need support. This bill provides training, income while you learn, free community college, and digital skills—paid for by automation companies, not you.
🎓 What Does This Bill Do?
Robots and AI are taking over some jobs. That's not bad—but workers need help transitioning to NEW jobs! This bill creates a big training fund: you get money while you learn, up to $12,000 for training, help going to community college, digital skills bootcamps, and support for small businesses to hire trained workers. It's paid for by the companies that make automation technology.
🏛️ Five Big Parts
Bridge Income
Up to $700/week while training—for up to 39 weeks
FutureSkill Accounts
$12,000 over 5 years for approved job training
Community College
Free tuition through federal-state partnership
Digital Skills
Bootcamps and rural hubs for tech training
Small Business Help
Training grants and loan guarantees for Main Street
💵 Bridge Income: Get Paid While You Learn
Lost your job to automation? Need new skills? This program pays you while you train for a better future.
📚 FutureSkill Training Accounts: $12,000 for Your Future
Your personal training account to pay for learning new skills that employers actually need.
💳 What You Get
Up to $12,000 over 5 years. Use it for tuition, books, supplies, exam fees, even childcare and transportation while training.
🎯 High-Demand Skills
Trades, healthcare, IT, advanced manufacturing—the jobs employers are ACTUALLY hiring for.
✅ Quality Providers
Only accredited schools that actually get people jobs. Bad programs get kicked out.
🤝 Employer Partnerships
Grants for businesses to partner with training programs. On-the-job training pays employers 50% of wages!
🏫 Community College: The Affordable Path
Community colleges are the best deal in education. This bill makes them even better.
Free Tuition
Federal pays 75%, state pays 25%
Short-Term Pell
Pell Grants for 8+ week job programs
Apprenticeship Grants
Expand earn-while-you-learn programs
Tool Grants
Up to $1,200 for tools and equipment
💻 Digital Skills: Get Ready for the Tech Economy
The future is digital. These programs help young adults—especially in rural areas—get tech skills.
🚀 Digital Bootcamps
8-24 week intensive training in coding, web development, UX design, digital marketing, and data analytics. Ages 18-30.
🌾 Rural Digital Hubs
High-speed internet, computers with professional software, video/audio equipment, and coworking space in small towns.
Support includes: childcare, transportation, equipment loans, financial assistance for low-income participants
🏪 Small Business: Skills for Main Street
Small businesses need skilled workers too! This bill helps them find and train the people they need.
Training Grants
For community colleges and workforce boards
SBA Loan Guarantees
Up to 85% guarantee for workforce loans
Hire Commitment
Must partner with training programs to qualify
Tuition Vouchers
For low-income students in high-demand fields
💲 Tax Credits: Rewards for Training Workers
Employers who train workers get tax breaks. Workers who learn get credits too.
👷 Employer Apprenticeship Credit
Per apprentice. $5,000 for high-demand industries. Extra $750 for small businesses under 100 employees.
📚 Lifelong Learning Credit
For adults 25+ going back to school. Refundable! Up to 4 years total. Phases out at $75K-$95K income.
💰 How It's Paid For: $9-14 Billion/Year
Automation companies pay to help workers transition. No debt. No borrowing.
🔄 No Double Taxation!
The automation tax is collected ONCE and split: 60% to this program, 40% to the Worker Asset Recognition Act (WARA). One return. One payment. Simple.
📊 How the Money Is Spent: $14.5B Hard Cap
🛡️ Built-In Protections
No Deficit Spending
Trust Fund structure. Can't spend more than revenue.
Auto-Reduction
If revenue falls short, spending cuts automatically.
100% Voluntary
Nobody forced to retrain or relocate. Your choice.
States Free to Opt Out
No mandates. No commandeering. State autonomy.
Small Business Exempt
Under 50 employees or $2.5M payroll exempt from admin rules.
10-Year Sunset
Must be reauthorized. GAO review in Year 8.
🎓 Opportunity for Every Worker
The economy is changing. Jobs are transforming. But change doesn't have to mean getting left behind. This bill says: if automation takes your job, we'll help you get a better one. Training money. Income while you learn. Free community college. Digital skills. All paid for by the companies profiting from automation—not by you. That's showing your work.
Gregory Burgess for Congress
No Party Preference • California's 2nd Congressional District
"Show Your Work" Campaign