Bill > HR4452

This bill amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to create a new national program called the STEM RESTART (Restoring Employment Skills through Targeted Assistance, Re-entry, and Training) Act, designed to support mid-career workers in reentering the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) workforce. The program will provide competitive grants to small and medium-sized businesses (defined as companies with 50-9,999 employees) to offer paid internships or "returnships" that provide opportunities above entry-level for unemployed or underemployed workers, with a particular focus on workers from rural areas. Eligible businesses must be located in the United States and operate in an in-demand STEM industry sector. The grants, ranging from $100,000 to $5,000,000 annually, will help businesses develop returnship programs lasting at least 10 weeks that provide participants with education, training, mentorship, and compensation comparable to full-time employees. Businesses must partner with eligible providers like educational institutions or workforce training organizations and are required to submit annual reports detailing participant demographics and employment outcomes. The bill authorizes $50 million in appropriations for each fiscal year from 2026 to 2030, with the Secretary of Labor responsible for administering the program and evaluating its effectiveness.

Education

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4452/all-info