House Education and Labor subcommittee hears testimony on learning and employment records

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers and education and industry leaders told a House Education and Labor subcommittee on Jan. 16 that learning and employment records, or LERs, could streamline hiring and broaden opportunity — but only if privacy protections, open standards and equitable access are ensured.

The subcommittee’s hearing brought together university, technology and credentialing representatives to describe pilots, technical standards and the data governance needed to scale digital, verifiable skill records. "LERs exist to translate what individuals know and can do into real opportunity," Scott Pulsipher, president of Western Governors University, said in his testimony, describing an "achievement wallet" that helps students find local jobs and apply with verified skills.

Advocates pointed to recent state pilots as proof of concept. Greg DeDonato, vice president of business development at EBSCO Ed, described Alabama’s statewide talent marketplace launched in 2024, saying "more than 132,000 Alabamians now have validated LERs," that 19,000 credentials have been translated into competencies and that dozens of employers are engaged in the system. Scott Cheney, CEO of Credential Engine, said his organization’s research finds roughly 1,850,000 unique credentials in the U.S., arguing that open, interoperable data standards and better outcome reporting are needed to reduce confusion and waste.

Witnesses and members agreed on the potential for LERs to reduce reliance on four‑year degrees and surface short‑term credentials and work‑based learning. "When readiness is signaled through verified skill, opportunity expands to include those who might otherwise have been overlooked," Pulsipher said. Proponents also said LERs can improve employer matching and reduce time‑to‑hire when integrated with applicant tracking and HR systems.

Lawmakers pressed witnesses on several risks. Ranking Member Adams and others emphasized that workers must retain control over their records to limit retaliation and misuse. Cheney and others repeatedly called for extending existing data privacy and security laws to cover LERs and for clear consent mechanisms. "Self‑sovereignty has to be foundational," Cheney said.

Members also raised equity concerns: Rep. Bonamici and others flagged the digital divide, noting older workers, people with disabilities and residents of remote areas may lack reliable internet or digital literacy to benefit from LERs unless investments are made. Witnesses said mobile access and low‑cost ingestion tools help, but that federal support and standardization will be necessary to reach underserved communities.

Several members pushed for legislative and funding actions: witnesses urged using WIOA and other federal programs to require open data reporting, to support state credential registries, and to finance validation of credential quality. Representative Macbeth referenced the CREATES Act she introduced to fund state databases. Cheney recommended that federal funding be directed only to systems that meet open and interoperable standards.

On governance, witnesses described a decentralized, interoperable model rather than a single federal recognition regime: Kaplan, an advisor to the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, said the infrastructure should enable verified issuers to move credential data across state and institutional lines, like ATMs or credit‑card networks, with transparency about who issued each claim.

The hearing closed with no formal votes. The hearing record will remain open for 14 days for written statements and supplemental materials. Committee members signaled interest in pursuing legislative language on standards, privacy, and funding as discussion proceeds.

What’s next: The subcommittee left the record open for 14 days for written submissions and flagged the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act reauthorization and other programs as likely vehicles for policy action on standards, funding and outcome reporting.