I 
119TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7242 
To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to train individuals 
in construction trades and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 27, 2026 
Ms. BYNUM introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Education and Workforce 
A BILL 
To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
to train individuals in construction trades and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Homebuilders Corps 
Act of 2026’’. 
SEC. 2. HOMEBUILDERS CORPS. 
(a) RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION INITIATIVE.—Sec-
tion 148 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
(29 U.S.C. 3198) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
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‘‘(f) RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION INITIATIVE.—In 
carrying out the activities under this subtitle, the Sec-
retary shall prioritize the expansion of training programs 
in residential construction trades, including carpentry, 
plumbing, electrical trades, masonry, and heating, ventila-
tion, and air conditioning.’’. 
(b) EMPLOYER INCENTIVES FOR HIRING JOB CORPS 
GRADUATES.—Section 148 of the Workforce Innovation 
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3198) is further amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) EMPLOYER INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR HIRING 
JOB CORPS GRADUATES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of the Homebuilders Corps 
Act of 2026, the Secretary, in consultation with the 
Secretary of the Treasury, shall establish a program 
to provide grants to residential construction firms 
that— 
‘‘(A) hire a graduate of a Job Corps resi-
dential construction program within 6 months 
of the graduate completing such program; and 
‘‘(B) employ such graduate for a consecu-
tive 12-month period. 
‘‘(2) AMOUNT.—A grant awarded under this 
Act shall be in an amount equal to $5,000. 
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‘‘(3) CERTIFICATION.—To be eligible to receive 
a grant under this Act, the residential construction 
firm shall submit to the Secretary at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as 
the Secretary may require, including a W–2, payroll 
tax filings, or any other documentation to verify the 
firm employed the Job Corps graduate for a con-
secutive 12-month period.’’. 
(c) INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS; AUTHORIZATION OF 
APPROPRIATIONS.—Subtitle C of the Workforce Innova-
tion and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3191 et seq.) is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating section 162 as section 163; 
(2) by inserting after section 161 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 162. INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP AND CURRICULA 
ALIGNMENT. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall facilitate 
agreements between the Secretary and large trade associa-
tions that operate in the residential construction industry 
for such associations to accept Job Corps graduates into 
registered apprenticeship programs related to residential 
construction. 
‘‘(b) CURRICULA
UPDATE.—Not later than 24 
months after the date of enactment of the Homebuilders 
Corps Act of 2026, and for each 24-month period there-
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after, the Secretary shall ensure that each workforce coun-
cil reviews and updates residential construction curricula 
to incorporate new construction technologies.’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 164. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR RES-
IDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS. 
‘‘There 
are 
authorized 
to 
be 
appropriated 
$200,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 to carry out— 
‘‘(1) the grant program described in section 
148(g); 
‘‘(2) the prioritization requirement described in 
section 148(f); and 
‘‘(3) the activities described in section 162.’’. 
Æ 
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