Bill > HR4048

This bill establishes a new grant program through the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) apprenticeship programs outside of four-year colleges. The program will provide competitive grants to eligible recipients like states, Indian tribes, cities, public-private partnerships, and community colleges, with priority given to entities that already have registered apprenticeship programs, minority-serving institutions, and other designated organizations. Grant recipients can use funds for activities such as recruiting participants, improving apprenticeship programs, incorporating emerging technologies, forming industry consortiums, and developing advisory boards. The bill explicitly prohibits using grant funds to incentivize business relocation. Additionally, the bill creates an interagency task force composed of eight federal agency leaders, including heads of the EPA, NSF, and departments of Commerce, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, and Labor. This task force is required to submit a report to Congress within one year, identifying existing federal programs focused on STEM career development and training, particularly those operating through registered apprenticeship programs, community colleges, and minority-serving institutions. The task force will dissolve after submitting its report.

Business and Industry

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4048/all-info