I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 6587 

To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to enhance technical 

assistance and support for communities impacted by substance use disorders. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 5, 2023 

Mrs. CHAVEZ-DEREMER introduced the following bill; which was referred to 

the Committee on Education and the Workforce 

A BILL 

To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 

to enhance technical assistance and support for communities impacted by substance use disorders. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Opioid Crisis Work5 force Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. 

7 Section 168 of the Workforce Innovation and Oppor8 tunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3223) is amended by adding at the 

9 end the following: 

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1 ‘‘(d) COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY OPIOID ADDIC2 TION AND OTHER SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.—The 

3 Secretary shall, as a part of the activities described in sub4 section (c)(2), evaluate and disseminate to States and 

5 local areas information regarding promising and proven 

6 practices for addressing the economic and workforce im7 pacts associated with high-rates of opioid addiction and 

8 other substance use disorders. Such information shall be 

9 updated annually to reflect the most recent and available 

10 research, include information shared by States and local 

11 areas regarding effective practices, and include informa12 tion on how States and local areas experiencing high rates 

13 of opioid addiction can apply for funding available under 

14 section 170(b) to enhance their ability to implement such 

15 practices.’’. 

16 SEC. 3. OPIOID CRISIS NATIONAL DISLOCATED WORKER 

17 GRANTS. 

18 Section 170 of the Workforce Innovation and Oppor19 tunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3225) is amended— 

20 (1) in subsection (b)(1)— 

21 (A) in subparagraph (C), by striking 

22 ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

23 (B) in subparagraph (D)(ii), by striking 

24 the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; 

25 and 

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1 (C) by adding at the end the following: 

2 ‘‘(E) to an entity described in subsection 

3 (c)(1)(B) to provide employment and training 

4 activities related to the prevention and treat5 ment of opioid use disorders, including addic6 tion treatment, mental health treatment, and 

7 pain management, in an area that, as a result 

8 of widespread opioid use, addiction, and 

9 overdoses, has higher-than-average demand for 

10 such activities that exceeds the availability of 

11 State and local resources to provide such activi12 ties.’’; and 

13 (2) in subsection (c)(2)— 

14 (A) in subparagraph (A)— 

15 (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) 

16 and (D) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respec17 tively; and 

18 (C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) 

19 the following: 

20 ‘‘(C) OPIOID-RELATED GRANTS.—In order 

21 to be eligible to receive employment and train22 ing assistance under a national dislocated work23 er grant awarded pursuant to subsection 

24 (b)(1)(E), an individual shall be— 

25 ‘‘(i) a dislocated worker; 

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1 ‘‘(ii) a long-term unemployed indi2 vidual; 

3 ‘‘(iii) an individual who is unemployed 

4 or significantly underemployed as a result 

5 of widespread opioid use in the area; or 

6 ‘‘(iv) an individual who is employed or 

7 seeking employment in a health care pro8 fession involved in the prevention and 

9 treatment of opioid use disorders, includ10 ing such professions that provide addiction 

11 treatment, mental health treatment, or 

12 pain management.’’. 

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