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Creates a new federal competitive grant program to support education, training, and outreach for careers in residential construction. The Department of Labor, working with the Department of Education, will run the program, set application and reporting rules, and is authorized $20 million per year for fiscal years 2025–2029 to operate the program and award grants to eligible schools and training providers.
Redesignates section 172 as section 173 and inserts a new section 172 titled "Education and training for careers in residential construction" into Subtitle D of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
Defines key terms used in the section: 'incumbent worker' by reference to 20 C.F.R. § 680.780 (or successor); 'junior or community college' by reference to section 312 of the Higher Education Act of 1965; 'rural area' as a nonmetropolitan area or the Housing Act of 1949 definition; and 'underserved population' by demographic/employment measures, low-income status, barriers to employment, or veterans.
Establishes a program under which the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, will award competitive grants to eligible entities to expand capacity for training, education, and outreach for careers in the residential construction industry.
Limits the grant award period to not more than 4 years.
Specifies eligible entities for grants: (1) junior or community colleges; (2) area career and technical education schools; or (3) providers of training services as described in section 122(a)(2).
Directly affected groups include vocational and technical schools, community colleges, apprenticeship sponsors, workforce training providers, and prospective apprentices and students seeking careers in residential construction. These entities could receive new federal grant support to develop or expand curricula, purchase equipment for hands-on training, run outreach to recruit trainees (including underserved populations), and provide career counseling and placement services. Employers in residential construction may benefit through a larger, better-trained applicant pool and potential collaborations with grantees for work-based learning or apprenticeship placements. The Department of Labor and Department of Education will incur administrative responsibilities to run competitions, monitor grantee compliance, and collect program performance data. The authorization of $20 million per year creates a modest, dedicated federal funding stream for workforce development in this sector, but actual program scale and local impact will depend on future appropriations, grant award rules, and how effectively funds are targeted to high-need areas or populations. Reporting and compliance requirements could impose administrative burdens on smaller training providers, but grant funds may help cover program costs.
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Introduced January 22, 2025 by Jacklyn Sheryl Rosen · Last progress January 22, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Introduced in Senate