STEM RESTART Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4452
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Labor and Employment
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-16: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-18T09:05:31Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The STEM RESTART Act (H.R. 4452) aims to help mid-career workers—those who are unemployed or underemployed and seeking to return or switch to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) jobs—by funding programs that offer paid training opportunities leading to higher-level positions. It targets small- and medium-sized businesses in STEM fields to create these opportunities, focusing on workers from rural areas and in-demand industries.
Key Provisions
- New Grant Program: Adds a section to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) for "RESTART grants" awarded by the Secretary of Labor on a competitive basis. These grants support "returnships," which are paid internships, apprenticeships, or similar programs lasting at least 10 weeks, providing above-entry-level pay, benefits (like health care), and training toward full-time STEM careers.
- Eligibility for Grants:
- Businesses: Small-sized (50–499 employees) or medium-sized (500–9,999 employees) U.S.-based companies in STEM fields, or groups of such companies. They must not be in bankruptcy and operate in high-demand sectors.
- Partnerships: Businesses can team up with "eligible providers" like colleges, nonprofits, labor organizations, or workforce training groups to deliver education and training.
- Grant Details:
- Duration: 3–5 years.
- Funding Amounts: $100,000–$1 million annually for small businesses; $500,000–$5 million for medium-sized or groups.
- Uses: Cover participant costs (training, equipment, travel, mentorship, pay, and benefits), support existing employees mentoring participants (up to 20% of funds), and partner arrangements. Programs must add new hires without replacing current staff.
- Application Requirements: Applicants must describe workforce needs, how the program aids rural or underemployed workers, ensure fair compensation, and commit to at least 10-week programs. Priority goes to programs in rural areas or high-demand sectors identified by state workforce boards.
- Reporting and Oversight:
- Grantees submit annual reports on participant numbers, demographics (by sex, race, ethnicity), job placements, and internship-to-job conversion rates.
- The Secretary evaluates data, shares best practices online, and reports to Congress every year.
- Funding Authorization: $50 million per year from fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Inserts a new Section 172 into WIOA's Subtitle D (National Programs), shifting the old Section 172 to Section 173 and updating the law's table of contents.
- Makes a minor conforming change in another law (the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention Act) to reference the renumbered section.
- Introduces definitions for terms like "returnship," "small-sized enterprise," "medium-sized enterprise," and "unemployed or underemployed individual" (based on Bureau of Labor Statistics standards, including displaced workers).
- Requires coordination with state workforce boards under WIOA for alignment with local programs.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Labor gains responsibility for administering grants, reviewing applications, collecting data, and reporting to Congress, potentially increasing administrative workload but promoting efficient STEM workforce programs.
- Citizens: Mid-career workers, especially those unemployed, underemployed, or from rural areas, gain access to paid training and above-entry-level STEM jobs, potentially reducing skill gaps and improving employment in high-demand fields. Disaggregated reporting may help address inequities by tracking outcomes for different demographic groups.
- Businesses and Economy: Small- and medium-sized STEM companies receive incentives to hire and train workers, boosting their capacity without displacing current employees, which could enhance innovation and competitiveness in U.S. industries.
- International Relations: No direct impacts; the focus is domestic workforce development.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Mid-Career Workers: Unemployed or underemployed individuals (including furloughed or displaced workers) seeking STEM reentry, particularly from rural areas.
- Small- and Medium-Sized STEM Businesses: Eligible for grants to create returnship programs, gaining financial support for hiring and training.
- Educational and Training Providers: Colleges, nonprofits, labor groups, and workforce organizations that partner with businesses for program delivery.
- State Workforce Boards: Involved in coordination, priority-setting for in-demand sectors, and alignment with local programs.
- Department of Labor and Congress: Oversee implementation, evaluation, and funding.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Builds on WIOA without altering core structures, ensuring programs supplement (not replace) existing employee pay and avoid displacement. Emphasizes competitive grants and data-driven evaluations to promote accountability and effectiveness.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; supports equal protection through demographic tracking and rural focus, aligning with federal workforce promotion powers under the Commerce Clause.
- Political: Encourages STEM workforce growth to maintain U.S. competitiveness, with a focus on rural and underserved workers that could appeal across party lines for economic development and equity. The $50 million annual authorization signals modest federal investment, potentially influencing future budget debates on job training.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Baird, James R. [R-IN-4], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-16: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-07-16: Introduced in House
- 2025-07-16: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- STEM Restoring Employment Skills through Targeted Assistance, Re-entry, and Training Act — issued 2025-07-16 — PDF (14 pages)