Labor & Employment Law Daily Wrap Up, CONGRESSIONAL NEWS—Workforce development, AI, and labor oversight have permeated Capitol Hill's summer agenda, (Jul 16, 2026)

By WK Editorial Staff

A flurry of hearings, markups, and nomination proceedings suggests workforce policy remains a top congressional priority heading into the second half of the year.

Congressional committees have spent much of the past six weeks examining issues ranging from apprenticeship programs and artificial intelligence to labor agency oversight and Department of Labor leadership. Lawmakers have used a series of hearings, markups, and nomination proceedings to explore how federal policy should respond to an evolving workforce.

The focus intensified this week as the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) considered key labor nominees and prepared to hold a July 16 hearing on the nomination of Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling to lead the Department of Labor permanently. Those developments, coupled with recent House hearings and legislative markups, provide a snapshot of Congress's current labor and employment priorities.

Job training. On June 24, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce's Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held a hearing titled "Workforce Rewired: Modern Apprenticeships for a Modern Economy." The hearing examined the role apprenticeship programs can play in addressing skills shortages and connecting workers to high-demand careers. Witnesses discussed strategies for expanding apprenticeship opportunities beyond traditional trades and into sectors such as technology, health care, and professional services.

The hearing highlighted a broader concern shared by employers and policymakers alike: ensuring that workforce training programs keep pace with changing labor market needs. As employers continue to report difficulty filling certain positions, Congress has shown growing interest in career pathways that emphasize practical skills and employer engagement.

That interest also surfaced during the House Education and Workforce Committee's July 15 markup, which included consideration of workforce-development legislation among a broader package of education and workforce measures. The committee's continued legislative activity suggests workforce policy remains an active area of congressional interest even as broader labor reform proposals remain elusive.

AI's workplace impact. Artificial intelligence has become an increasingly prominent component of congressional workforce discussions. For example, on June 3, the House subcommittee held a hearing titled "Building an AI-Ready America: Higher Education in the Age of AI,"examining how educational institutions and workforce training programs are adapting to technological change. Lawmakers explored how AI may affect future workforce demands and what skills workers may need in an economy increasingly influenced by automation and advanced technologies.

Rather than treating artificial intelligence solely as a technology issue, lawmakers have increasingly approached it as a workforce issue, focusing on training, education, and labor market preparedness.

Congressional interest in the topic is expected to continue. The committee is scheduled to hold a July 24 field hearing titled "Building an AI-Ready America: How AI Is Creating Opportunities Across America's Workforce." The hearing is expected to examine how businesses and workers are adapting to AI-driven workplace changes and what opportunities may emerge as adoption increases across industries.

Oversight of labor agencies. In addition to workforce development initiatives, lawmakers have continued to devote attention to federal labor agencies and their role in shaping workplace policy.

On June 4, the House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing titled "Examining the Policies and Priorities of the NLRB." The proceeding provided lawmakers with an opportunity to review the National Labor Relations Board's recent activities and discuss broader labor-management issues affecting both unionized and nonunion workplaces.

The continued focus on the NLRB reflects the reality that many consequential workplace policy developments occur through agency action rather than legislation. For employers, unions, and workers, decisions issued by federal labor agencies can often have a more immediate effect than bills moving through Congress.

Health care workforce issues have also attracted congressional attention. On June 9, the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing entitled "On Call for America: Strengthening Access Through Locum Tenens Providers." Although focused primarily on health care delivery, the discussion touched on workforce shortages and staffing challenges affecting health care employers across the country. Lawmakers examined whether flexible staffing arrangements could help address access-to-care concerns, particularly in underserved communities.

Labor leadership. In the Senate, labor-related activity has centered heavily on nominations and agency leadership. On June 10, the HELP Committee held a hearing on nominees to serve as Commissioner of Labor Statistics and as members of the NLRB, positions that help shape labor policy, economic data collection, and labor-management relations.

Most recently, on July 15, the committee held an executive session to consider those nominations, continuing its review of candidates who could influence labor policy implementation and administration for years to come. The nominations include candidates for the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the NLRB, both of which play significant roles in the federal labor and employment landscape.

Attention is now turning to Keith Sonderling's July 16 nomination hearing to become Secretary of Labor. Sonderling currently serves as Acting Secretary of Labor and previously served as Deputy Secretary of Labor and as a commissioner of the EEOC. He has also been closely associated with discussions surrounding artificial intelligence and the workplace, a topic expected to remain prominent throughout the hearing.

The hearing is likely to provide senators with an opportunity to examine Department of Labor priorities, labor market conditions, workforce development initiatives, workplace technology issues, and the agency's broader regulatory agenda.

Looking Ahead. Workforce development and apprenticeship expansion remain central topics for lawmakers seeking to address skills gaps and labor shortages. Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a major workforce policy issue as Congress examines its implications for education, training, and employment. Oversight of labor agencies such as the NLRB continues to generate significant congressional interest, while nominations to key labor-policy positions may help shape the federal government's approach to workplace regulation moving forward.

While major labor legislation has yet to emerge from these discussions, the breadth of recent committee activity suggests workforce policy will remain a prominent issue on Capitol Hill. As lawmakers continue their oversight and legislative efforts through the summer, employers, workers, and labor practitioners alike will be watching closely to see which of these discussions ultimately translate into policy action.

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