The Alliance for Opportunity (A4O) applauds Representative Burgess Owens (UT-04) for introducing the “One Door to Work Act,” legislation that would grant states flexibility to implement Utah’s successful model of integrating safety net and workforce programs
“For too long, the federal government has stood in the way as states work to modernize their workforce and address the worker shortage slowing economic growth,” said Congressman Burgess Owens (UT-04). “With millions of jobs unfilled and too many Americans sidelined, it’s clear our workforce systems are outdated. The One Door to Work Act empowers states to integrate workforce and welfare systems, streamlining access to jobs, training, and education. Utah has proven this model works—it’s time to give every state the tools to help their people get back to work.”
Recent employment data has failed to fully capture our country’s ongoing workforce challenges. As the United States passes the fifth anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, our workforce participation rate continues to lag, and employers struggle to find enough workers. Despite 7.7 million open jobs nationwide, too many citizens remain disconnected from work and the dignity and opportunities for upward mobility that it brings. The One Door to Work Act seeks to remedy this crisis by giving states the freedom to create a better system that gives every individual a streamlined pathway to work.
The legislation builds upon prior efforts by Rep. Owens, including a version of the “One Door” bill that was included in HR 6655, A Stronger Workforce for America Act, in April 2024 with a vote of 378-26. Support for this reform has been growing steadily across the states, with 18 governors calling for federal leaders to empower state innovation.
“Louisiana created a taskforce to enact One Door efforts and is ready to implement reforms when Congress passes this bill. Extended unemployment takes a toll not only on the economy but also on individuals’ mental and physical health. The ‘One Door to Work Act’ offers a solution that provides dignity through meaningful work, benefiting individuals, families, and communities,” said Daniel J. Erspamer, CEO of the A4O member the Pelican Institute for Public Policy.
“Every state deserves the ability to design an integrated system that enables people to thrive. Right now, every wasted hour navigating these safety-net programs is an hour that could have been spent building a better future. This bill ensures that states can rethink the status quo and create pathways to opportunity for every citizen,” added Randy Hicks, president and CEO of the Georgia Center for Opportunity, one of the members of A4O.
Greg Sindelar, executive director of the Texas Public Policy Foundation and another member of A4O, added, “A productive workforce fuels both economic growth and social well-being. With millions of available jobs and stagnant workforce participation since the pandemic, the ‘One Door to Work Act’ is essential to help our country get back on track.”
Under the current system, an array of overlapping programs with inconsistent rules forces recipients to submit the same information multiple times to different caseworkers. This inefficiency not only discourages those seeking assistance but also fosters a cycle of poverty, where energy spent navigating redundant bureaucracy could instead be directed toward pursuing work and independence.
The “One Door” model addresses these inefficiencies by creating a cohesive safety net system—one designed to get work-capable recipients the support they need to get back on their feet and transition more swiftly into the workforce.
A4O urges bipartisan support for this legislation so that every state can benefit from a thriving workforce and more Americans can move from survival on government programs to lives of stability, independence, and purpose.