Ciscomani Leads Effort to Address Shortage of Skilled Residential Construction Workers
December 17, 2024
WASHINGTON - U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) introduced a new bipartisan, bicameral effort to bolster the workforce of skilled construction workers to increase the supply of housing units and lower costs. Ciscomani was joined by Reps. Ryan Zinke (MT-01), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), and Don Davis (NC-01). A companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).
Specifically, the Creating Opportunities for New Skills Training at Rural and Underserved Colleges and Trade Schools (CONSTRUCTS) Act (H.R. 10420) 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.
"In southern Arizona, and across the United States, there is a critical need for additional housing,” said Congressman 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.”
“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 Congressman 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.”
“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 Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez. “It’s how we invest in our next generation, bring back prestige for the skilled trades, and support our rural timber economies.”
“By investing in construction education and related skills training programs, Congress can create a robust talent pipeline,” said Congressman Davis. “We must leave no stone unturned as we develop the workforce of tomorrow.”
This legislation is supported by the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association and the National Association of Home Builders.
“The Southern Arizona Home Builders Association applauds Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.) for championing legislation that will ease the severe residential construction labor shortage that is putting too many home building projects on hold and raising housing costs in Arizona and across the nation, said David Godlewski, President and CEO, Southern Arizona Home Builders Association. “The bipartisan CONSTRUCTS Act directly addresses the lack of workers in the housing sector that is exacerbating the housing affordability crisis by expanding opportunities for residential construction training programs at community colleges and technical education schools. We commend Rep. Ciscomani for his commitment to develop a more skilled workforce that will help improve the housing supply and bend the rising housing cost curve in Arizona and around the country.”
“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 Carl Harris, Chairman, National Association of Home Builders. “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.”
Background:
- In August 2024, Ciscomani introduced the Speeding Up Production of Essential Residences (SUPER) Demonstration Act (H.R. 9195) which would utilize unused COVID-19 funds to create a new pilot program through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) focused on reducing construction time and costs of affordable housing by cutting red-tape for developers and encouraging more public-private partnerships in the industry.
- In June 2024, Ciscomani partnered with the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBanks) of San Francisco to host a roundtable with local industry stakeholders to discuss Arizona’s housing crisis and the role private-public partnerships have to play in addressing this issue.
- Ciscomani is the only Arizonan to serve on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, which is responsible for appropriating funds to the HUD.
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