A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The BUILDS Act requires the Secretary of Labor to provide competitive grants to industry or sector partnerships. These grants aim to improve worker training, retention, and advancement within targeted infrastructure industries like energy, construction, and transportation. The program focuses on creating collaborative planning and resource alignment across multiple businesses. It specifically targets the recruitment of workers who face barriers to employment. Grants can be for initial implementation or renewals, lasting up to three years.
Yes· 3 of 36
- Scored +8
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Specifically targets individuals with barriers to employment and provides support services like child care and transportation.
- Scored +7
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
Creates apprenticeship and entry-level training opportunities for those entering the workforce.
- Scored +7
Is this likely to create jobs?
The bill provides grants to improve worker training and recruitment in high-priority infrastructure industries.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill increases government spending through the authorization of new competitive grants.
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?
The bill authorizes $2.5 billion in spending over five years.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Support for Workers with Barriers to Employment: The bill focuses on recruiting individuals with barriers to employment and providing strategies to help them overcome these hurdles (Section 5(d)(6)).
- Comprehensive Support Services: Individuals in work-based learning programs can receive pre-employment services such as skills training, work attire, tools, child care, and transportation (Section 6(d)(1)).
- Early Employment Assistance: The act provides for ongoing case management, mentorship, and wages and benefits for up to 6 months to help new workers succeed in their programs (Section 6(d)(2)).
- Improved Training and Credentials: The bill promotes the development of nationally portable recognized postsecondary credentials and registered apprenticeship programs (Section 5(b)(6)).
- Expanded Job Opportunities: By aligning curricula and training with industry needs, the bill aims to improve worker advancement and retention in high-priority infrastructure occupations (Section 5(d)(4)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Competitive Nature of Grants: Because grants are awarded on a competitive basis (Section 4(a)), many eligible partnerships or regions may not receive the funding needed to start these programs.
- Limited Grant Duration: Grants are limited to a period not to exceed 3 years (Section 4(b)(2)), which may create uncertainty regarding the long-term stability of the training programs.
- Capped Funding for Planning: For implementation grants, only $250,000 can be used for planning activities in the first year (Section 6(b)), which may limit the scope of initial outreach and workforce evaluations.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Specifically targets individuals with barriers to employment and provides support services like child care and transportation. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Creates apprenticeship and entry-level training opportunities for those entering the workforce. Would business owners be better off under this? — Provides financial assistance to develop training programs and recruit skilled labor. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Explicitly mentions the Rehabilitation Act in the context of recruiting individuals with barriers to employment. Would students be better off under this? — Provides pathways from education to employment through work-based learning and credentials. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Targets populations with barriers to employment and requires disaggregated reporting to ensure equity. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Targets populations with barriers to employment and requires disaggregated reporting to ensure equity. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Provides retraining and advancement opportunities for existing workers in infrastructure. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Targets populations with barriers to employment and requires disaggregated reporting to ensure equity. Would union members be better off under this? — Encourages registered apprenticeship programs and partnership with labor organizations. Would men be better off under this? — Focuses on sectors like construction and transportation where men are heavily represented. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill mandates geographic diversity in grant awards. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Provides training for infrastructure projects often centered in urban hubs. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Veterans are often categorized as individuals with barriers to employment in workforce programs. Would women be better off under this? — Provides child care support for work-based learning participants, which disproportionately benefits women. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Provides workforce development opportunities. Would immigrants be better off under this? — Focuses on individuals with barriers to employment. Would LGBTQ people be better off under this? — Focuses on individuals with barriers to employment. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Improves overall industry competitiveness and worker advancement. Would white Americans be better off under this? — Provides workforce development opportunities.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power? — Focuses training and workforce development on clean energy and battery storage sectors. Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport? — Specifically includes transit as a targeted infrastructure industry for workforce development. Does this repair or build roads and bridges? — Develops the workforce necessary to implement and maintain transportation infrastructure. Does this invest in rural communities? — The Secretary must ensure geographic diversity in the award of grants. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — Specifically targets infrastructure in renewable and clean energy deployment.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Provides skills training, wages, and support services to individuals with significant barriers to employment. Does this make child care cost less? — Grant funds can be used for wrap-around services such as child care to support participants in work-based learning. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill specifically targets the recruitment of individuals with barriers to employment and requires disaggregated reporting by race and ethnicity. Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The bill targets individuals with barriers to employment, including those under the Rehabilitation Act. Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — By focusing on individuals with barriers to employment and providing support services, it may indirectly assist the homeless population.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill provides grants to improve worker training and recruitment in high-priority infrastructure industries. Is this likely to grow the economy? — By improving workforce skills in infrastructure sectors, it aims to encourage industry growth and competitiveness. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Grants help businesses navigate apprenticeship registration and develop training curricula. Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — The bill encourages partnerships with labor organizations to develop training and apprenticeship programs. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill increases government spending through the authorization of new competitive grants. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — The bill authorizes $2.5 billion in spending over five years.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires annual progress reports to be submitted to the Secretary and State Governors. Does this give the federal government more power? — Establishes a new federally managed grant program administered by the Secretary of Labor.
- 8/20/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/11/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Adelita GrijalvaDemocrat · Arizona
Glenn ThompsonRepublican · Pennsylvania