TECH Act
Sponsored By: Representative Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3]
Introduced
Summary
Equal access to certain federal higher-education and workforce grants for qualified technical schools would let short-term career and job training programs compete with 2- and 4-year colleges for specific Education and Labor grants. The bill aims to strengthen pipelines into critical sectors such as healthcare, transportation, critical manufacturing, public safety, and national security.
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- Students and families: More students at qualified technical schools could benefit from programs tied to Strengthening Institutions, TRIO, CCAMPIS, and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act grants, expanding options for shorter, career-focused credentials.
- Qualified technical schools: Schools that offer eligible career pathway or job training programs could apply for the listed grants if they meet program criteria and state board certification. Eligible job training programs must run at least 150 clock hours and under 600 clock hours, and last between 8 and 15 weeks, and issue a recognized credential.
- Employers and workers: Grants would be steered to build hiring pipelines in in-demand, high-skill sectors to help replace aging and retiring workers.
- Federal agencies and grant distribution: The Education and Labor Secretaries would be required to update eligibility and application rules within 180 days and to issue guidance on grant dispersal. The Secretary of Education would decide program eligibility within 60 days after submission.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More federal training grants for technical schools
This bill would let eligible U.S. postsecondary vocational schools compete for certain federal grants on the same basis as 2‑year and 4‑year colleges. Covered grants would include Education programs: Strengthening Institutions (Part A, Title III HEA), Federal TRIO (Title IV), and CCAMPIS (section 419N HEA), and Labor grants under the WIOA Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants. A "qualified technical school" would be a HEA section 102(c) vocational school that offers an eligible career pathway or an eligible job training program and is located in the United States. The bill would define eligible career pathway and short-term job training programs, including training that is at least 150 but less than 600 clock hours, runs at least 8 weeks but less than 15 weeks, is on the WIOA provider list, awards a recognized postsecondary credential, and is validated by industry partnerships and certified by the State board. The Secretary of Education would have 60 days to decide on a program's eligibility after submission, and each Secretary concerned would have 180 days after enactment to change grant rules and issue guidance to ensure workforce pipelines for sectors like national security, public safety, supply chain, transportation, critical manufacturing or infrastructure, healthcare, and public health.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3]
UT • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]
UT • R
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov