# CONSTRUCTS Act of 2025 - Plain Language Summary

## What This Bill Does

The CONSTRUCTS Act creates a new federal grant program to help community colleges and trade schools expand their training programs for careers in residential construction. The Department of Labor would award competitive grants (lasting up to 4 years) to eligible schools to develop new or improved courses and training in construction skills like carpentry, framing, and other building trades. The bill aims to increase the number of trained workers available for the residential construction industry while addressing housing supply challenges.

## Who Benefits

The primary beneficiaries would be:
- **Community colleges and trade schools** that receive grants to expand their construction training capacity
- **Students and workers** seeking training in construction careers, particularly those from underserved groups (women, minorities, low-income individuals, veterans, and people in rural areas)
- **The construction industry** which would gain access to more trained workers
- **Local communities** that could benefit from increased affordable housing supply as more construction workers become available

## Key Provisions

- **Grant Priority**: The bill prioritizes funding for schools serving rural areas or underserved populations
- **Partnership Requirements**: Schools must partner with construction employers and ensure those employers offer fair wages and benefits comparable to local standards
- **Sustainability Focus**: Grant applications must include plans for continuing programs after federal funding ends
- **Measurable Outcomes**: Schools must track whether participants earn recognized credentials, degrees, or postsecondary credits and meet employment performance standards
- **Eligible Applicants**: Community colleges, technical schools, and other workforce training providers can apply