BUILDS Act

Bill Number

H.R. 5296

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-09-11: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Last Updated

2025-09-19T04:38:15Z

AI-Generated Summary

H.R. 5296: Building U.S. Infrastructure by Leveraging Demands for Skills (BUILDS Act)

Purpose

This bill directs the Secretary of Labor to award competitive grants that support industry or sector partnerships. These partnerships aim to align training efforts across multiple employers in targeted infrastructure sectors, such as transportation, construction, energy (including renewable and clean energy), information technology, and utilities. The goal is to boost industry competitiveness and growth while improving worker training, retention, and career advancement.

Key Provisions

• Grant Types and Limits: Offers implementation grants (up to $2.5 million for 3 years) for new partnerships and renewal grants (up to $1.5 million) for existing ones. Grants must ensure geographic diversity.
• Eligible Entities: Industry or sector partnerships involving businesses, labor organizations, local workforce boards, education providers, and others. Partnerships identify targeted industries through collaboration with business groups and economic agencies.
• Strategic Objectives: Require activities like recruiting stakeholders, identifying skill needs, aligning training curricula with industry demands, supporting registered apprenticeships and work-based learning programs, and addressing barriers for workers such as those with employment challenges.
• Activities Funded: Include planning (limited to $250,000 in the first year), business support (e.g., apprenticeship registration help, curriculum development), and worker support services (pre-employment training, case management, mentoring, and up to 6 months of wages during early employment).
• Performance and Reporting: Use portable credentials (such as recognized postsecondary credentials or apprenticeships) as measures. Annual reports evaluate progress toward objectives and performance under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
• Funding: Authorizes $500 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. The Secretary may use up to 10% for administration and technical assistance.
• Consultation: Requires input from the Secretaries of Transportation, Energy, Commerce, and Education, plus the Army Corps of Engineers.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

The bill creates a new standalone grant program administered by the Department of Labor. It incorporates definitions and structures from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (such as career pathways and industry partnerships), the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, and the National Apprenticeship Act, but does not amend those laws. It adds infrastructure-specific focus to workforce development without altering core provisions of existing statutes.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Increases coordination among federal departments and state/local workforce systems; expands roles for local boards in infrastructure-related training.
• Citizens: Enhances access to paid work-based learning and support services for individuals facing employment barriers, potentially increasing job placement and retention in infrastructure fields.
• International Relations: No direct effects identified.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Industry partnerships (businesses, labor unions, education providers).
• Workers in targeted infrastructure sectors, particularly those with barriers to employment.
• Federal agencies (primarily Labor, with input from Transportation, Energy, Commerce, Education).
• State and local workforce boards and governors.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

The legislation operates within Congress's authority over interstate commerce and labor standards. It has no apparent constitutional issues. Politically, the bill emphasizes infrastructure workforce development through public-private partnerships and includes bipartisan sponsorship.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]

Cosponsors (1)

Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]

Recent Actions

• 2025-09-11: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
• 2025-09-11: Introduced in House
• 2025-09-11: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Building U.S. Infrastructure by Leveraging Demands for Skills — issued 2025-09-11 — PDF (18 pages)