I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2459 
To require the Secretary of Labor to award grants for promoting industry 
or sector partnerships to encourage industry growth and competitiveness 
and to improve worker training, retention, and advancement as part 
of an infrastructure investment. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 13, 2021 
Ms. BONAMICI (for herself, Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania, and Mr. LAN-
GEVIN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Education and Labor 
A BILL 
To require the Secretary of Labor to award grants for pro-
moting industry or sector partnerships to encourage in-
dustry growth and competitiveness and to improve work-
er training, retention, and advancement as part of an 
infrastructure investment. 
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 ‘‘Building U.S. Infra-
structure by Leveraging Demands for Skills’’ or the 
‘‘BUILDS Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to promote industry or 
sector partnerships that engage in collaborative planning, 
resource alignment, and training efforts across multiple 
businesses, for a range of workers employed or potentially 
employed by targeted infrastructure industries, including 
energy, construction, information technology, utilities, and 
transportation, in order to encourage industry growth and 
competitiveness and to improve worker training, retention, 
and advancement. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION; CA-
REER GUIDANCE AND ACADEMIC COUNSELING.—The 
terms ‘‘career and technical education’’ and ‘‘career 
guidance and academic counseling’’ have the mean-
ings given such terms in section 3 of the Carl D. 
Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 
2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302). 
(2) CAREER
PATHWAY.—The term ‘‘career 
pathway’’ has the meaning given such term in sec-
tion 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
Act (29 U.S.C. 3102). 
(3) ELIGIBLE PARTNERSHIP.—The term ‘‘eligi-
ble partnership’’ means a partnership that is an in-
dustry or sector partnership, or (with respect to an 
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implementation grant) a partnership that is in the 
process of establishing an industry or sector partner-
ship. 
(4) INDIVIDUAL WITH A BARRIER TO EMPLOY-
MENT.—The term ‘‘individual with a barrier to em-
ployment’’ has the meaning given such term in sec-
tion 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
Act (29 U.S.C. 3102). 
(5) INDUSTRY OR SECTOR PARTNERSHIP.—The 
term ‘‘industry or sector partnership’’ has the mean-
ing given such term in section 3 of the Workforce 
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102). 
(6) LOCAL
BOARD.—The term ‘‘local board’’ 
has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the 
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3102). 
(7) RECOGNIZED
POSTSECONDARY
CREDEN-
TIAL.—The term ‘‘recognized postsecondary creden-
tial’’ has the meaning given such term in section 3 
of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
(29 U.S.C. 3102). 
(8) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Labor. 
(9) STATE; STATE BOARD.—The terms ‘‘State’’ 
and ‘‘State board’’ have the meanings given such 
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terms in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102). 
(10) 
TARGETED
INFRASTRUCTURE
INDUS-
TRY.—The term ‘‘targeted infrastructure industry’’ 
means an industry, including transportation (includ-
ing surface, transit, aviation, or railway transpor-
tation), construction, energy (including the deploy-
ment of renewable and clean energy, energy effi-
ciency, transmission, and battery storage), informa-
tion technology, or utilities industries, that the eligi-
ble partnership identifies in accordance with section 
5(c) to be served by a grant under this Act. 
(11) WORK-BASED LEARNING PROGRAM.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘work-based 
learning program’’ means a program (which 
may be a registered apprenticeship program) 
that provides workers with paid work experience 
and corresponding approved classroom instruc-
tion, delivered in an employment relationship 
that both the employer and worker intend to 
lead to continuing employment after the pro-
gram ends. 
(B) WORK
EXPERIENCE.—In subpara-
graph (A), the term ‘‘paid work experience’’ in-
cludes training by an employer that is provided 
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to a paid worker while engaged in productive 
work in a job that provides knowledge or skills 
essential to the full and adequate performance 
of the job. 
(12) REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP.—The term 
‘‘registered apprenticeship’’ means an apprenticeship 
registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (com-
monly known as the ‘‘National Apprenticeship Act’’; 
50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.). 
SEC. 4. GRANTS AUTHORIZED. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation 
with the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of En-
ergy, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Edu-
cation, and the Chief of Engineers and Commanding Gen-
eral of the Army Corps of Engineers, shall award, on a 
competitive basis, grants to eligible entities to plan and 
implement activities to achieve the strategic objectives de-
scribed in section 5(d) with respect to a targeted infra-
structure industry. 
(b) GRANTS.— 
(1) TYPES
OF
GRANTS.—A grant awarded 
under this Act may be in the form of— 
(A) an implementation grant, for entities 
seeking an initial grant under this Act; or 
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(B) a renewal grant for entities that have 
already received an implementation grant under 
this Act. 
(2) DURATION.—Each grant awarded under 
this Act shall be for a period not to exceed 3 years. 
(3) AMOUNT.—The amount of a grant awarded 
under this Act may not exceed— 
(A) 
for 
an 
implementation 
grant, 
$2,500,000; and 
(B) for a renewal grant, $1,500,000. 
(c) AWARD BASIS.— 
(1) GEOGRAPHIC
DIVERSITY.—The Secretary 
shall award grants under this Act in a manner that 
ensures geographic diversity in the areas in which 
activities will be carried out under the grants. 
(2) PRIORITY
FOR
RENEWAL
GRANTS.—In 
awarding renewal grants under this Act, the Sec-
retary shall give priority to eligible entities that— 
(A) demonstrate long-term sustainability of 
an industry or sector partnership; and 
(B) provide a non-Federal share of the 
cost of the activities. 
SEC. 5. APPLICATION PROCESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—An eligible partnership desiring a 
grant under this Act shall submit an application to the 
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Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing 
such information as the Secretary may require, including 
the contents described in subsection (b). 
(b) CONTENTS.—An application submitted under this 
Act shall contain, at a minimum— 
(1) a description of the eligible partnership, evi-
dence of the eligible partnership’s capacity to carry 
out activities to achieve the strategic objectives de-
scribed in subsection (d), and the expected participa-
tion and responsibilities of each of the partners in-
cluded in the industry or sector partnership involved; 
(2) a description of the targeted infrastructure 
industry served by the grant, and a description of 
how such industry was identified in accordance with 
subsection (c); 
(3) a description of the workers that will be tar-
geted or recruited by the partnership, including an 
analysis of the existing labor market, a description 
of potential barriers to employment for targeted 
workers, and a description of strategies that will be 
used to help workers overcome such barriers; 
(4) a description of the local, State, or federally 
funded infrastructure projects on which the eligible 
partnership anticipates engaging partners; 
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(5) a description of the strategic objectives de-
scribed in subsection (d) that the eligible partnership 
intends to achieve concerning the targeted infra-
structure industry; 
(6) a description of the credentials that the eli-
gible partnership proposes to use or develop as a 
performance measure, to assess the degree to which 
the eligible partnership has achieved such strategic 
objectives, which credentials— 
(A) shall be nationally portable; 
(B) shall be recognized postsecondary cre-
dentials or, if not available for the industry, 
other credentials determined by the Secretary 
to be appropriate; 
(C) shall be related to the targeted infra-
structure industry that the eligible partnership 
proposes to support; and 
(D) may be a registered apprenticeship 
program; 
(7) a description of the manner in which the eli-
gible partnership intends to make sustainable 
progress towards achieving such strategic objectives; 
(8) 
performance 
measures 
for 
measuring 
progress towards achieving such strategic objectives; 
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(9) a description of the Federal and non-Fed-
eral resources, available under provisions of law 
other than this Act, that will be leveraged in support 
of the partnerships and activities under this Act; 
and 
(10) a timeline for progress towards achieving 
such strategic objectives. 
(c) TARGETED INFRASTRUCTURE INDUSTRY.—Each 
grant under this Act shall serve a targeted infrastructure 
industry that is identified by the eligible partnership 
through working with businesses, industry associations 
and organizations, labor organizations, State boards, local 
boards, economic development agencies, and other organi-
zations that the eligible partnership determines necessary. 
(d) STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES.—The activities to be 
carried out under each grant awarded under this Act shall 
be designed to achieve strategic objectives that include the 
following: 
(1) Recruiting key stakeholders in the targeted 
infrastructure industry, such as multiple businesses, 
labor organizations, local boards, and education and 
training providers, including providers of career and 
technical education, and regularly convening the 
stakeholders in a collaborative structure that sup-
ports the sharing of information, ideas, and chal-
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lenges common to the targeted infrastructure indus-
try. 
(2) Identifying the training needs of multiple 
businesses in the targeted infrastructure industry, 
including— 
(A) needs for skills critical to competitive-
ness and innovation in the industry; 
(B) needs of the registered apprenticeship 
programs or other work-based learning pro-
grams supported by the grant; and 
(C) needs for the usage of career path-
ways. 
(3) Facilitating actions that lead to economies 
of scale by aggregating training and education needs 
of multiple businesses. 
(4) Helping postsecondary educational institu-
tions, training institutions, sponsors of registered 
apprenticeship programs, and all other providers of 
career and technical education and training pro-
grams receiving assistance under this Act, align cur-
ricula, entrance requirements, and programs to the 
targeted infrastructure industry needs and the cre-
dentials described in subsection (b)(6), particularly 
for higher skill, high-priority occupations related to 
the targeted infrastructure industry. 
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(5) Providing information on the grant activi-
ties to the State agency carrying out the State pro-
gram under the Wagner-Peyser Act (29 U.S.C. 49 
et seq.), including staff of the agency that provide 
services under such Act, to enable the agency to in-
form recipients of unemployment compensation of 
the employment and training opportunities that may 
be offered through the grant activities. 
(6) Helping partner businesses in industry or 
sector partnerships to attract potential workers from 
a diverse jobseeker base, including individuals with 
barriers to employment, by identifying any such bar-
riers through analysis of the labor market and im-
plementing strategies to help such workers overcome 
such barriers. 
SEC. 6. ACTIVITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—An eligible partnership receiving 
a grant under this Act shall— 
(1) designate an entity in the industry or sector 
partnership as the fiscal agent for the grant funds; 
and 
(2) carry out activities described in subsections 
(b) (as applicable), (c), and (d) to achieve the stra-
tegic objectives identified in the entity’s application 
under section 5(b)(5), in a manner that integrates 
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services and funding sources to ensure effectiveness 
of the activities and that uses the grant funds effi-
ciently. 
(b) PLANNING ACTIVITIES.—An eligible partnership 
receiving an implementation grant under this Act shall use 
not more than $250,000 of the grant funds to carry out 
planning activities during the first year of the grant pe-
riod. Such activities may include— 
(1) establishing the industry or sector partner-
ship; 
(2) convening key stakeholders as identified in 
the application process; 
(3) conducting outreach to local businesses and 
business associations; 
(4) conducting an evaluation of workforce needs 
in the local area; or 
(5) recruiting individuals with barriers to em-
ployment. 
(c) BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT.—An eligible partner-
ship receiving a grant under this Act shall use the grant 
funds to provide services to engage businesses in efforts 
to achieve the strategic objectives identified in the partner-
ship’s application under section 5(b)(5). The services may 
include assisting businesses— 
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(1) in navigating the registration process for a 
sponsor of a registered apprenticeship program; 
(2) by connecting the business with an edu-
cation provider, including a provider of career and 
technical education, to develop classroom instruction 
to complement on-the-job learning; 
(3) in developing the curriculum design of a 
work-based learning program; 
(4) in employing workers participating in a 
work-based learning program for a transitional pe-
riod before a business hires the worker for full-time 
employment not less than 30 hours a week; 
(5) in providing training to managers and 
front-line workers to serve as trainers or mentors to 
workers participating in a work-based learning pro-
gram; 
(6) in providing career awareness activities, 
such as career guidance and academic counseling; 
and 
(7) in recruiting, for participation in a work- 
based learning program, individuals eligible to re-
ceive additional workforce or human services, includ-
ing— 
(A) individuals participating in programs 
under the Workforce Innovation and Oppor-
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tunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.), and the 
amendments made by such Act, including to the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701 et 
seq.); 
(B) recipients of assistance through the 
supplemental nutrition assistance program es-
tablished under the Food and Nutrition Act of 
2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.); 
(C) recipients of assistance through the 
program of block grants to States for tem-
porary assistance for needy families established 
under part A of title IV of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.); or 
(D) any other individuals with a barrier to 
employment. 
(d) SUPPORT SERVICES.—The eligible partnership 
receiving a grant under this Act shall use the grant funds 
to provide services to support the success of individuals 
described in subsection (c)(7) who are participating in a 
work-based learning program for a period of not less than 
12 months. Such services may include the following: 
(1) 
PRE-EMPLOYMENT
SERVICES.—Services, 
provided in a pre-employment stage of the program, 
to expand access to a work-based learning program 
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for individuals described in subsection (c)(7). Such 
services may include— 
(A) skills training; 
(B) career and technical education or adult 
basic education; 
(C) initial skills assessments; 
(D) providing work attire, necessary tools 
for a work site, and other required items nec-
essary to start employment; 
(E) wrap-around services, such as child 
care and transportation; and 
(F) job placement assistance. 
(2) EARLY EMPLOYMENT SERVICES.—Services 
provided to individuals described in subsection (c)(7) 
who are participating in a work-based learning pro-
gram during their first 6 months of employment 
through such program, to assure the individuals suc-
ceed in the program. Such services may include— 
(A) ongoing case management and support 
services, including the services provided in the 
pre-employment stage described in paragraph 
(1); 
(B) continued skills training, including ca-
reer and technical education, conducted in col-
laboration with employers of such individuals; 
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(C) additional mentorship and retention 
supports for such individuals; 
(D) targeted training for frontline man-
agers, journey level workers working with such 
individuals (such as mentors), and human re-
source representatives within the business 
where such individuals are placed; and 
(E) wages and benefits for a period of not 
more than 6 months, during which the eligible 
entities shall serve as the employers of record of 
such individuals. 
(3) EMPLOYMENT SERVICES.—Services to en-
sure the individuals described in paragraph (2) 
maintain employment in the work-based learning 
program for at least 12 months. The services shall 
include support necessary to complete the work- 
based learning program, such as continuation of 
mentoring and support services provided under para-
graph (2). 
(e) EVALUATION
AND PROGRESS REPORTS.—Not 
later than 1 year after receiving a grant under this Act, 
and annually thereafter, the eligible partnership receiving 
the grant shall submit a report to the Secretary and the 
Governor of the State that the eligible partnership serves, 
that— 
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(1) describes the activities funded by the grant; 
(2) evaluates the progress the eligible partner-
ship has made towards achieving the strategic objec-
tives identified under section 5(b)(5); and 
(3) evaluates the levels of performance achieved 
by the eligible partnership for training participants 
with respect to the performance indicators under 
section 116(b)(2)(A) of the Workforce Innovation 
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3141(b)(2)(A)) for 
all such workers, disaggregated by each population 
specified in section 3(24) of the Workforce Innova-
tion and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102(24)) and 
by race, ethnicity, sex, and age. 
(f) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—An eligible partnership 
may use not more than 5 percent of the funds awarded 
through a grant under this Act for administrative ex-
penses in carrying out this section. 
SEC. 7. ADMINISTRATION BY THE SECRETARY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may use not more 
than 10 percent of the amount appropriated under section 
8 for each fiscal year for administrative expenses to carry 
out this Act, including the expenses of providing the tech-
nical assistance and oversight activities under subsection 
(b). 
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