The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) has announced its support for the Employer-Directed Skills Act, bipartisan legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate on Feb. 11 by Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) and in the House by Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY) that would reimburse employers for up to 50% of workforce training costs.

The bill directly supports ACCA’s 2025-26 policy priority to strengthen the HVACR workforce by making federal workforce development funds more accessible to contractors’ in-house training programs.

“Our members consistently tell us that attracting and retaining skilled workers is their top priority," said ACCA president and CEO Barton James. “The Employer-Directed Skills Act addresses this challenge by making Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds more accessible, flexible, and effective for employers and workers alike. We are immensely grateful to Senator Budd and his team for their work on this bill and their commitment to strengthening and modernizing the skilled trades workforce.”

Under current workforce programs, government agencies determine who receives training and what programs they attend, often resulting in a mismatch between training and employer needs. The Employer-Directed Skills Act shifts control to employers, allowing them to select candidates and direct their training in critical skills.

With too few career-ready graduates from trade schools, contractors are investing millions in their own training programs to address the critical labor shortage. The legislation would reimburse companies with 50 or fewer employees for 50% of training costs, with scaled reimbursements for larger companies. Participating employers would work with local workforce boards to establish training accounts and receive reimbursement upon completion of training.

Contractors can support the legislation by signing the association’s action alert, “Employer Directed Skills Act: Federal Support for Contractor-Led Training,” which urges their representatives to co-sponsor the bill. Sign here.

ACCA’s advocacy team will continue tracking the legislation as it moves through Congress and will provide members with updates on opportunities to support the bill.