The new bill authored by U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath in the U.S. House aims to help states share credential data to support informed education and employment decisions, according to the U.S. Congress.
H.R.8304 was introduced on April 15, 2026 during the 2026 regular session of the 119th Congress. The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill requires the Secretary of Labor to create a grant program enabling states to establish or enhance credential repositories. These repositories aim to gather and share comprehensive information on credentials, their quality, and education and career pathways, allowing individuals to make informed choices about education and employment. The Secretary will award competitive grants, capped at $10 million for up to three years, with states having to demonstrate their plans for repository development, data policy, and public engagement. The repositories must be publicly accessible, continuously updated, and ensure data privacy by excluding personally identifiable information. The bill authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 2028, with funds remaining available until September 30, 2029.
The bill was introduced by Rep. Lucy McBath (Democrat-GA-6th District) and co-sponsored by Rep. Burgess Owens (Republican-GA-4th District).
Since the beginning of the current session, Rep. McBath has introduced another 12 bills.
Congressional bills can originate in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate, except for revenue-related measures, which must begin in the House. After introduction, bills are assigned to committees for review, hearings, amendments and debate before they can advance to a vote in each chamber. If both chambers approve identical versions, the legislation is sent to the president, who may sign it into law or veto it. Congress operates in two-year terms, with each term numbered sequentially and divided into two annual sessions. The legislative process and official bill records are maintained by the U.S. Congress and published through Congress.gov.
Lucy McBath is a Representative from Georgia, born on June 1, 1960, in Joliet, Will County, Illinois. She earned a B.A. from Virginia State University in 1982 and has been elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Sixteenth and the three succeeding Congresses, serving since January 3, 2019.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| H.R.8304 | 04/15/2026 | CREATES Act |
| H.R.8055 | 03/24/2026 | Extending WIC for New Moms Act |
| H.R.7599 | 02/17/2026 | Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2026 |
| H.R.7333 | 02/03/2026 | Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2026 |
| H.R.5476 | 09/18/2025 | Preparing And Retaining All (PARA) Educators Act |
| H.R.4701 | 07/23/2025 | Charting My Path for Future Success Act |
| H.R.4602 | 07/22/2025 | Countering Threats and Attacks on Our Judges Act |
| H.R.3985 | 06/12/2025 | Helping Student Parents Succeed Act |
| H.R.3115 | 04/30/2025 | Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 |
| H.R.3114 | 04/30/2025 | Clean Slate Act of 2025 |
| H.R.2790 | 04/09/2025 | GOSAFE Act |
| H.R.2789 | 04/09/2025 | Adult Education WORKS Act |
| H.R.1132 | 02/07/2025 | To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to direct the Secretary of Labor to award grants to community colleges for high-quality workforce development programs. |
Information in this article was obtained from the U.S. Congress. The source data can be found here.
