[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 42 (Thursday, March 5, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S903-S904]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 4367. Ms. ROSEN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
her to the bill H.R. 6644, a bill to increase the supply of housing in
America, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table;
as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
TITLE __--CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW SKILLS TRAINING AT RURAL OR
UNDERSERVED COLLEGES AND TRADE SCHOOLS
SEC. __1. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Creating Opportunities for
New Skills Training at Rural or Underserved Colleges and
Trade Schools Act of 2026'' and ``CONSTRUCTS Act of 2026''.
SEC. __2. EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR CAREERS IN RESIDENTIAL
CONSTRUCTION.
(a) In General.--Subtitle D of title I of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3221 et seq.) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating section 172 as section 173; and
(2) by inserting after section 171 the following:
``SEC. 172. EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR CAREERS IN RESIDENTIAL
CONSTRUCTION.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Incumbent worker.--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.
``(2) Junior or community college.--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).
``(3) Rural area.--The 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 population.--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--
``(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 general.--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.
``(2) Grant period.--A grant awarded under this section
shall be for a period of not more than 4 years.
``(c) Eligible Entities.--To 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) Applications.--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:
``(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) in-school youth;
``(D) opportunity 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) Priority.--In 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 uses.--An 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) heavy equipment operation; 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 (20 U.S.C.
7801)) 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 uses.--An 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 Schedules.--An 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 general.--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--
``(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
[[Page S904]]
``(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 law.--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.
``(i) Performance Accountability.--
``(1) In general.--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).
``(2) Report to congress.--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
Workforce of the House of Representatives a report
containing, at a minimum, the information described in
paragraph (1) for each such eligible entity.
``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 to carry out this
section for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents in section
1(b) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act is
amended--
(1) by striking the item relating to section 172; and
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 171 the
following:
``Sec. 172. Education and training for careers in residential
construction.
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