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 commu-
nities impacted by substance use disorders. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Opioid Crisis Work-
force Act’’. 
SEC. 2. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. 
Section 168 of the Workforce Innovation and Oppor-
tunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3223) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
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‘‘(d) COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY OPIOID ADDIC-
TION AND OTHER SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.—The 
Secretary shall, as a part of the activities described in sub-
section (c)(2), evaluate and disseminate to States and 
local areas information regarding promising and proven 
practices for addressing the economic and workforce im-
pacts associated with high-rates of opioid addiction and 
other substance use disorders. Such information shall be 
updated annually to reflect the most recent and available 
research, include information shared by States and local 
areas regarding effective practices, and include informa-
tion on how States and local areas experiencing high rates 
of opioid addiction can apply for funding available under 
section 170(b) to enhance their ability to implement such 
practices.’’. 
SEC. 3. OPIOID CRISIS NATIONAL DISLOCATED WORKER 
GRANTS. 
Section 170 of the Workforce Innovation and Oppor-
tunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3225) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (D)(ii), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; 
and 
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(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(E) to an entity described in subsection 
(c)(1)(B) to provide employment and training 
activities related to the prevention and treat-
ment of opioid use disorders, including addic-
tion treatment, mental health treatment, and 
pain management, in an area that, as a result 
of widespread opioid use, addiction, and 
overdoses, has higher-than-average demand for 
such activities that exceeds the availability of 
State and local resources to provide such activi-
ties.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) 
and (D) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respec-
tively; and 
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) 
the following: 
‘‘(C) OPIOID-RELATED GRANTS.—In order 
to be eligible to receive employment and train-
ing assistance under a national dislocated work-
er grant awarded pursuant to subsection 
(b)(1)(E), an individual shall be— 
‘‘(i) a dislocated worker; 
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‘‘(ii) a long-term unemployed indi-
vidual; 
‘‘(iii) an individual who is unemployed 
or significantly underemployed as a result 
of widespread opioid use in the area; or 
‘‘(iv) an individual who is employed or 
seeking employment in a health care pro-
fession involved in the prevention and 
treatment of opioid use disorders, includ-
ing such professions that provide addiction 
treatment, mental health treatment, or 
pain management.’’. 
Æ 
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