The American Workforce Act establishes a federal job training program offering paid, on-the-job training as an alternative to college for workers with a high school diploma. The bill creates an American Workforce Division within the Department of Commerce to oversee contracts between employers and trainees, with the federal government providing education subsidies of up to $9,000 per trainee (capped at $1,500 monthly) to cover training costs. Employers must meet strict requirements including paying competitive wages (at least 80% of county median income), using E-Verify, retaining successful trainees with mandatory 25% wage increases, and publicly disclosing program details and performance data; non-compliance can result in civil penalties or suspension from the program for up to five years. The bill includes whistleblower protections for trainees and requires comprehensive program evaluations at years 5 and 10, with the program automatically ending after 11 years unless Congress votes to reauthorize it.
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