Gluesenkamp Perez, Bipartisan Colleagues Introduce Bill to Address Shortage of Skilled Construction Workers

Yesterday, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), along with Reps. Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Don Davis (NC-01), and Ryan Zinke (MT-01), introduced the bipartisan Creating Opportunities for New Skills Training at Rural and Underserved Colleges and Trade Schools (CONSTRUCTS) Act. The legislation will expand training in the construction trades in order to increase the supply of housing units and lower costs.

The CONSTRUCTS Act would create a grant program to fund and develop residential construction education and certification programs at community colleges, junior colleges, and trade schools. This would expand access to good-paying, high-demand jobs for students, address the shortage of skilled construction workers, and allow developers to build more homes, ultimately lowering housing costs.

“Many communities are facing acute labor shortages in construction trades, but in order to bring down the cost of housing we need to build more housing. By investing in fulfilling career pathways for our young people in the trades, we will be able to pick up the pace of residential construction and help hardworking families breathe easier,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “It’s how we invest in our next generation, bring back prestige for the skilled trades, and support our rural timber economies.” 

“In southern Arizona, and across the United States, there is a critical need for additional housing,” said Rep. Ciscomani. “However, the current shortage of skilled workers is driving construction costs higher and causing project delays, limiting supply and leading to even higher home prices. This bill will expand access to construction training programs at community colleges, junior colleges, and trade schools to bolster the workforce of skilled construction workers, support high-demand, well-paying jobs for students, and increase the supply of housing units in order to make housing more affordable for everyone.” 

“By investing in construction education and related skills training programs, Congress can create a robust talent pipeline,” said Rep. Davis. “We must leave no stone unturned as we develop the workforce of tomorrow.” 

“Owning a home is a part of the American dream that has become out of reach for too many in our country and especially in Montana,” said Rep. Zinke. “Skilled labor shortages are affecting every industry. In the housing market, it is leading to fewer homes being built, which drives up the cost of the homes already on the market. This legislation will support programs that train much-needed laborers which will benefit both the students who will learn skills that can earn them a stable income and the economy. I want to thank Congressman Ciscomani, Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez, and Congressman Davis for their work on this important legislation.” 

“The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) commends Reps. Juan Ciscomani, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Ryan Zinke, and Don Davis for introducing the CONSTRUCTS Act, companion legislation to the Senate bill introduced earlier this year,” said National Association of Home Builders Chairman Carl Harris. “With the housing industry facing a severe labor shortage that is exacerbating the housing affordability crisis through higher home building costs and construction delays, the bipartisan and bicameral CONSTRUCTS Act will strengthen America’s workforce pipeline by creating a new grant program to fund residential housing construction education and skills training programs at our nation’s community college and trade schools.” 

Full text of the bill is available here.

The CONSTRUCTS Act was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).