Bill > HR7242

This bill, known as the "Homebuilders Corps Act of 2026," aims to bolster training and employment in the construction trades by amending the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Specifically, it mandates that the Secretary of Labor prioritize expanding training programs in residential construction trades, such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, masonry, and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning). Furthermore, it establishes a new program to provide grants of $5,000 to residential construction firms that hire graduates of Job Corps residential construction programs and employ them for a continuous 12-month period, requiring firms to submit documentation like W-2 forms to verify employment. The bill also promotes industry partnerships by facilitating agreements for trade associations to accept Job Corps graduates into registered apprenticeship programs and requires regular updates to construction curricula to include new technologies. Finally, it authorizes $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 to fund these grant programs, training priorities, and industry partnership activities.

Education

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7242/all-info