Sen. Tim Kaine proposes new legislation to address vocational shortages

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) has introduced legislation, known as the JOBS Act, that would allow students who qualify for Pell Grants to use the federal money toward vocational school.

The “Jumpstarting Our Businesses by Supporting Students Act” (JOBS) is sponsored has bipartisan support and would provide students access to education they previously would not have had access to before. Currently, Pell Grants offered by the government are only applicable for students attending two-year and four-year colleges and universities. The money is typically awarded through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that students file in October.

Kaine said job growth has increased in America, but vocational jobs and businesses are facing larger shortages than ever before. He said one of the barriers to getting people in the field is access to the money needed for school. The proposal would allow the students who qualify for the low-income federal grant to diversify their educational path.

“I’ve long believed that Pell Grants should be able to be utilized by folks seeking high-quality career and technical education,” Kaine said. “I’ve had this bill in the past, reintroducing it this week ... with a broad bipartisan group of colleagues and also significant support from external stakeholders.”

According to a press release sent out by Kaine’s team, a similar bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives as well.