CONSTRUCTS Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 189
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Labor and Employment
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-22: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-25T12:18:23Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The CONSTRUCTS Act of 2025 aims to address workforce shortages in the residential construction industry by funding education, training, and outreach programs at junior or community colleges and area career and technical education schools. It focuses on building skills for careers in housing construction, particularly in rural areas and for underserved groups, to increase the supply of qualified workers and support affordable housing development.
Key Provisions
- Grant Program Establishment: The Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, will award competitive grants (up to 4 years) to eligible entities to expand training, education, and outreach for residential construction careers.
- Eligible Entities: Junior or community colleges, area career and technical education schools, or approved training providers.
- Application Requirements: Entities must submit detailed plans covering program alignment, target populations (e.g., incumbent workers, rural residents, youth, underserved groups), partnerships with businesses or nonprofits, expected outcomes (e.g., credentials, degrees), impact on local housing markets, and performance timelines.
- Priority for Awards: Preference given to programs serving rural areas or underserved populations (defined as groups underrepresented in construction, low-income individuals, those with employment barriers, or veterans).
- Required Uses of Funds:
- Develop or expand evidence-based training in skills like carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, construction management, and others.
- Enhance skills for current (incumbent) construction workers.
- Form partnerships with local businesses, developers, nonprofits, labor groups, or apprenticeship programs, emphasizing fair wages and recruitment from underserved groups.
- Conduct outreach to elementary and secondary school students, including dual enrollment options.
- Permissible Uses of Funds:
- Hire experienced instructors.
- Operate training clinics in underserved areas.
- Create promotional materials.
- Offer scholarships and supportive services (e.g., for job placement or certification tests).
- Additional Requirements:
- Programs must use flexible schedules (e.g., nights, part-time, online) and provide job placement support.
- Recipients and partners must comply with all federal, state, and local labor laws and attest to no pending violations.
- Annual performance reports on metrics like employment rates and credential attainment; the Secretary reports to Congress.
- Funding: Authorizes $20 million annually from fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends Subtitle D of Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA, 29 U.S.C. 3221 et seq.) by inserting a new Section 172 dedicated to residential construction training. It redesignates the existing Section 172 as Section 173 and updates the table of contents. No broader repeals or overhauls are made; it adds a targeted grant program without altering core WIOA structures like general workforce funding or eligibility rules.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Labor will administer grants, consult with the Department of Education, and track performance, potentially increasing administrative workload but also leveraging existing WIOA frameworks. Congressional oversight via reports could influence future funding.
- Citizens: Rural residents, underserved groups (e.g., low-income, veterans, underrepresented minorities), youth, and incumbent workers gain access to affordable training, credentials, and job placement, potentially leading to higher employment in construction and better wages. It may boost affordable housing supply by addressing labor shortages.
- International Relations: No direct impacts; the bill is domestic-focused on U.S. workforce and housing.
Main Stakeholders
- Educational Institutions: Junior/community colleges and career/technical schools as primary grant recipients.
- Workers and Job Seekers: Incumbent construction workers, rural individuals, in-school/out-of-school youth, and underserved populations (e.g., based on race, gender, income, or veteran status).
- Businesses and Developers: Residential construction firms partnering for training and hiring, required to offer fair wages.
- Community Organizations: Nonprofits, labor unions, apprenticeship sponsors, and YouthBuild programs involved in outreach and recruitment.
- Government: Departments of Labor and Education; congressional committees on health, education, labor, and workforce.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Emphasizes compliance with labor laws (e.g., wage, safety, anti-discrimination) enforced by agencies like the Department of Labor and EEOC, reducing risks of exploitation in training partnerships. Performance accountability ties into WIOA's existing metrics, ensuring measurable results without new enforcement mechanisms.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I to promote general welfare through workforce development; no apparent First Amendment, equal protection, or federalism issues, as it supports state/local education systems voluntarily.
- Political: Bipartisan introduction (by Sens. Rosen and Blackburn) signals broad support for rural and housing initiatives. Authorizing $100 million over 5 years could spark debates on federal spending priorities amid housing affordability crises, potentially influencing future infrastructure or workforce bills.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-22: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-01-22: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Creating Opportunities for New Skills Training at Rural or Underserved Colleges and Trade Schools Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-22 — PDF (12 pages)