HR1055-119

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Creating Opportunities for New Skills Training at Rural or Underserved Colleges and Trade Schools Act of 2025 or the CONSTRUCTS Act of 2025.

2. Education and training for careers in residential construction Subtitle D of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3221 et seq.) is amended— by redesignating section 172 as section 173; and by inserting after section 171 the following: In this section: The term incumbent worker has the meaning given the term in section 680.780 of title 20, Code of Federal Regulations, or a successor regulation. The term junior or community college has the meaning given the term in section 312 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058). The term rural area means any— nonmetropolitan area; or rural area, as defined under section 520 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490). The term underserved population means a group of individuals with a common demographic trait (such as individuals from the same gender, race, or ethnicity), the members of which— based on the most recent satisfactory demographic and employment data from the Bureau of the Census, comprise a percentage of individuals employed in the construction sector that is lower than the percentage of the total population of the United States comprised by such members; are low-income individuals; are individuals with barriers to employment; or are veterans. The Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall establish a program, through which the Secretary of Labor shall award, on a competitive basis, grants to eligible entities to expand their capacity to provide training services, education, and outreach activities for careers in the residential construction industry. A grant awarded under this section shall be for a period of not more than 4 years. To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall be— a junior or community college; an area career and technical education school; or a provider of training services, as described in section 122(a)(2). An eligible entity that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary of Labor at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including the following information: A description of the new or expanded training services, education, or outreach activities supported by the grant, including a description of how the new training services, education, or outreach activities will align with existing programming related to careers in the residential construction industry at the eligible entity, and the relevant faculty or technical instructors employed by the eligible entity on the date of the submission of the application or who may be employed by the eligible entity to carry out the training services, education, or outreach activities supported by the grant. A description of the populations that will be served through the training services, education, or outreach activities supported by the grant, including whether the participants in such training services, education, or outreach activities are— incumbent workers; individuals in rural areas; opportunity youth; in-school youth; or part of an underserved population. A description of the partnerships the eligible entity will facilitate through the grant, including the process by which the eligible entity will ensure that a partner provides fair wages and benefits that are commensurate with local pay and benefit packages, and a plan for sustaining activities and partnerships supported by the grant after the completion of the grant period. A description of the anticipated outcomes of the training services, education, or outreach activities supported by the grant, including, at a minimum, the recognized postsecondary credential, postsecondary credit, or degree to be earned by participants, and a timetable showing how the eligible entity will meet the primary indicators of performance described in section 116(b)(2)(A). A description of the intended impact of the training services, education, or outreach activities on the local housing market, including a description of how the new training services, education, or outreach activities will increase the supply of affordable housing. Such other information as the Secretary may require. In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary of Labor shall give priority to eligible entities that serve rural areas or underserved populations. An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds— to create or expand an evidence-based education or training program to provide skills needed in the residential construction industry, including skills related to— carpentry; framing; masonry; welding; plumbing; electrical work; construction management; architecture; HVAC; land surveying and geomatics construction mathematics; operating heavy equipment; and such other trades as identified by the Department of Labor; to create or expand an education or training program focused on increasing the skills of incumbent workers who are residential construction workers; to create a partnership with a local residential construction business or developer, either alone or in conjunction with a nonprofit organization, labor organization, entity in the State or local workforce development system, sponsor of a pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship program, YouthBuild program, or another community partner, with a focus on engaging with organizations that recruit employees or program participants from underserved populations; and to facilitate outreach to secondary school and elementary school students about the residential construction industry and education and training programs available under this section, which may include developing dual or concurrent enrollment programs (as defined under section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) for secondary students to participate in such education and training programs or integrating such programs in a relevant career and technical education program administered by an elementary school or secondary school. An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section may use the grant funds— to hire technical instructors or other faculty with demonstrated experience and expertise in residential construction to lead education or training programs related to skills and recognized postsecondary credentials needed for a career in the residential construction industry; to operate an education and training clinic in a rural area or area not otherwise served by an entity described in subsection (c), to the extent necessary and practicable; to develop promotion materials for the purpose of increasing awareness of the training services, education, or outreach activities; or to provide supportive services through merit-based and needs-based scholarships, to promote retention in, and completion of— an education or training program supported under this section; or tests or coursework related to certification. An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall— use flexible schedules in carrying out the education or training program, including night classes, part-time schedules, and online curricula, to accommodate individuals who work during the day or live in rural areas; and provide an individual, upon completion of the education or training program, supportive services for job search and placement to ensure the success of such individuals in achieving the education and career goals. Each recipient of funds under this section, and any entity that enters into a partnership with such recipient for the purpose of this Act, shall attest to the Secretary of Labor that the recipient or entity— is in compliance with each Federal, State, and local labor law; will remain in compliance with each Federal, State, and local labor law; and is not subject to a pending action or case relating to a violation of any law enforced by the Department of Labor, Federal Labor Relations Authority, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or National Labor Relations Board. In this subsection, the term Federal, State, and local labor law means any Federal, State, or local labor law that would be applicable to the recipient or entity described in paragraph (1), as determined by the Secretary of Labor. An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall, not later than 18 months after receiving such grant and annually thereafter for the duration of the grant period, submit to the Secretary of Labor a report containing the eligible entity’s outcomes with respect to the primary indicators of performance described in section 116(b)(2)(A). Not later than 6 months after receiving initial reports from each eligible entity receiving a grant under this section, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives a report containing, at a minimum, the information described in paragraph (1) for each such eligible entity. The term opportunity youth has the meaning given the term out-of-school youth in subparagraph (B) of section 129(a)(1), except that an individual described in subclauses (IV) and (V) of clause (iii) of such subparagraph may be attending school. There are authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030. The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act is amended— by striking the item relating to section 172; and by inserting after the item relating to section 171 the following: 172.Education and training for careers in residential construction(a)DefinitionsIn this section:(1)Incumbent workerThe term incumbent worker has the meaning given the term in section 680.780 of title 20, Code of Federal Regulations, or a successor regulation.(2)Junior or community collegeThe term junior or community college has the meaning given the term in section 312 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058).(3)Rural areaThe term rural area means any—(A)nonmetropolitan area; or (B)rural area, as defined under section 520 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490).(4)Underserved populationThe term underserved population means a group of individuals with a common demographic trait (such as individuals from the same gender, race, or ethnicity), the members of which—(A)based on the most recent satisfactory demographic and employment data from the Bureau of the Census, comprise a percentage of individuals employed in the construction sector that is lower than the percentage of the total population of the United States comprised by such members;(B)are low-income individuals; (C)are individuals with barriers to employment; or(D)are veterans.(b)Establishment of program(1)In generalThe Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall establish a program, through which the Secretary of Labor shall award, on a competitive basis, grants to eligible entities to expand their capacity to provide training services, education, and outreach activities for careers in the residential construction industry.(2)Grant periodA grant awarded under this section shall be for a period of not more than 4 years.(c)Eligible entitiesTo be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall be—(1)a junior or community college; (2)an area career and technical education school; or(3)a provider of training services, as described in section 122(a)(2).(d)ApplicationsAn eligible entity that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary of Labor at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including the following information:(1)A description of the new or expanded training services, education, or outreach activities supported by the grant, including a description of how the new training services, education, or outreach activities will align with existing programming related to careers in the residential construction industry at the eligible entity, and the relevant faculty or technical instructors employed by the eligible entity on the date of the submission of the application or who may be employed by the eligible entity to carry out the training services, education, or outreach activities supported by the grant.(2)A description of the populations that will be served through the training services, education, or outreach activities supported by the grant, including whether the participants in such training services, education, or outreach activities are—(A)incumbent workers; (B)individuals in rural areas;(C)opportunity youth;(D)in-school youth; or(E)part of an underserved population. (3)A description of the partnerships the eligible entity will facilitate through the grant, including the process by which the eligible entity will ensure that a partner provides fair wages and benefits that are commensurate with local pay and benefit packages, and a plan for sustaining activities and partnerships supported by the grant after the completion of the grant period. (4)A description of the anticipated outcomes of the training services, education, or outreach activities supported by the grant, including, at a minimum, the recognized postsecondary credential, postsecondary credit, or degree to be earned by participants, and a timetable showing how the eligible entity will meet the primary indicators of performance described in section 116(b)(2)(A).(5)A description of the intended impact of the training services, education, or outreach activities on the local housing market, including a description of how the new training services, education, or outreach activities will increase the supply of affordable housing. (6)Such other information as the Secretary may require.(e)PriorityIn awarding grants under this section, the Secretary of Labor shall give priority to eligible entities that serve rural areas or underserved populations.(f)Use of funds(1)Required usesAn eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds—(A)to create or expand an evidence-based education or training program to provide skills needed in the residential construction industry, including skills related to—(i)carpentry;(ii)framing;(iii)masonry;(iv)welding;(v)plumbing;(vi)electrical work;(vii)construction management;(viii)architecture;(ix)HVAC;(x)land surveying and geomatics(xi)construction mathematics;(xii)operating heavy equipment; and(xiii)such other trades as identified by the Department of Labor;(B)to create or expand an education or training program focused on increasing the skills of incumbent workers who are residential construction workers;(C)to create a partnership with a local residential construction business or developer, either alone or in conjunction with a nonprofit organization, labor organization, entity in the State or local workforce development system, sponsor of a pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship program, YouthBuild program, or another community partner, with a focus on engaging with organizations that recruit employees or program participants from underserved populations; and(D)to facilitate outreach to secondary school and elementary school students about the residential construction industry and education and training programs available under this section, which may include developing dual or concurrent enrollment programs (as defined under section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) for secondary students to participate in such education and training programs or integrating such programs in a relevant career and technical education program administered by an elementary school or secondary school. (2)Permissive usesAn eligible entity that receives a grant under this section may use the grant funds—(A)to hire technical instructors or other faculty with demonstrated experience and expertise in residential construction to lead education or training programs related to skills and recognized postsecondary credentials needed for a career in the residential construction industry; (B)to operate an education and training clinic in a rural area or area not otherwise served by an entity described in subsection (c), to the extent necessary and practicable; (C)to develop promotion materials for the purpose of increasing awareness of the training services, education, or outreach activities; or(D)to provide supportive services through merit-based and needs-based scholarships, to promote retention in, and completion of—(i)an education or training program supported under this section; or(ii)tests or coursework related to certification.(g)Assistance; flexible schedulesAn eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall—(1)use flexible schedules in carrying out the education or training program, including night classes, part-time schedules, and online curricula, to accommodate individuals who work during the day or live in rural areas; and(2)provide an individual, upon completion of the education or training program, supportive services for job search and placement to ensure the success of such individuals in achieving the education and career goals. (h)Compliance with applicable laws(1)In generalEach recipient of funds under this section, and any entity that enters into a partnership with such recipient for the purpose of this Act, shall attest to the Secretary of Labor that the recipient or entity—(A)is in compliance with each Federal, State, and local labor law;(B)will remain in compliance with each Federal, State, and local labor law; and(C)is not subject to a pending action or case relating to a violation of any law enforced by the Department of Labor, Federal Labor Relations Authority, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or National Labor Relations Board.(2)Federal, state, and local labor lawIn this subsection, the term Federal, State, and local labor law means any Federal, State, or local labor law that would be applicable to the recipient or entity described in paragraph (1), as determined by the Secretary of Labor.(i)Performance accountability(1)In generalAn eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall, not later than 18 months after receiving such grant and annually thereafter for the duration of the grant period, submit to the Secretary of Labor a report containing the eligible entity’s outcomes with respect to the primary indicators of performance described in section 116(b)(2)(A).(2)Report to CongressNot later than 6 months after receiving initial reports from each eligible entity receiving a grant under this section, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives a report containing, at a minimum, the information described in paragraph (1) for each such eligible entity.(j)Opportunity youth definedThe term opportunity youth has the meaning given the term out-of-school youth in subparagraph (B) of section 129(a)(1), except that an individual described in subclauses (IV) and (V) of clause (iii) of such subparagraph may be attending school.(k)Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.. Sec. 172. Education and training for careers in residential construction.Sec. 173. Authorization of appropriations..