H.R. 7203

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7203 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7203

To establish a grant program for States to support individuals 
participating in semiconductor-related workforce programs, and for 
other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 22, 2026

Ms. Bynum introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee 
on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To establish a grant program for States to support individuals 
participating in semiconductor-related workforce programs, and for 
other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``CHIPS Child Care Act''.

SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) Grants Authorized.--
(1) In general.--From the amount appropriated under 
subsection (i)(1) that is not reserved under subsection (i)(2), 
the Secretary of Labor shall award grants, on a competitive 
basis, to States to--
(A) provide monthly stipends to eligible child care 
providers on behalf of individuals to assist the 
individuals in covering the costs of child care--
(i) while participating in semiconductor-
related workforce programs;
(ii) in the case of an individual who is 
participating in, or has completed within the 
preceding 5-year period, an apprenticeship 
program, while engaging in a construction 
project related to semiconductor manufacturing; 
or
(iii) while participating in pre-
apprenticeship programs with a demonstrated 
history of successfully placing individuals in 
jobs or apprenticeships connected to 
construction projects related to semiconductor 
manufacturing; or
(B) assist eligible child care providers in regions 
receiving significant private and public investment 
related to semiconductor manufacturing to acquire, 
construct, renovate, or improve child care facilities, 
including to adapt, reconfigure, or expand such 
facilities.
(2) Grant periods.--A grant awarded under this section 
shall be awarded--
(A) for a period of two years; and
(B) in equal amounts for each year of such period.
(3) Grant priority.--In awarding grants under this section, 
the Secretary shall ensure that States that are awarded the 
grants--
(A) are geographically diverse; and
(B) are receiving significant private and public 
investment related to semiconductor manufacturing.
(b) Application.--To be eligible for a grant under this Act, a 
State shall submit to the Secretary an application, in such form, at 
such time, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require, which shall include the following:
(1) If the State intends to provide monthly stipends as 
described in subsection (a)(1)(A)--
(A) information regarding how the State intends to 
distribute monthly stipends in accordance with 
subsection (c); and
(B) in the case of any individual who is selected 
to benefit from a stipend under subsection (c) and 
participating in a semiconductor-related workforce 
program that will end after the end of the grant 
period, any plan the State may have to provide child 
care support for such an individual for the period of 
such program during which the individual will not be 
benefitting from such stipends.
(2) A plan to use a portion of the grant funds to report 
back to the Secretary on the impact of using the grant funds to 
assist eligible child care providers as described in subsection 
(a)(1)(B).
(c) Uses of Funds.--
(1) In general.--A State that receives a grant under this 
Act shall--
(A) give priority in accordance with the 
requirements of paragraph (3); and
(B) if the State uses such grants to provide 
monthly stipends as described in paragraph (A) of 
subsection (a)(1)--
(i) select individuals to benefit from a 
monthly stipend who--
(I) have one or more dependent 
children; and
(II) meet the requirements of 
clause (i) or (ii) of such paragraph; 
and
(ii) distribute such stipends to eligible 
child care providers directly on behalf of the 
individuals described under clause (i).
(2) Monthly stipend amounts.--A monthly stipend described 
in paragraph (1)(A) shall not be less than $500 per dependent 
child.
(3) Priority.--A State shall prioritize--
(A) in selecting individuals to benefit from a 
monthly stipend as described in subsection (a)(1)(A)--
(i) first generation college students;
(ii) graduates of historically Black 
colleges and universities;
(iii) residents of rural communities; and
(iv) veterans; and
(B) in selecting eligible child care providers to 
assist as described in subsection (a)(1)(B)--
(i) eligible child care providers primarily 
serving low-income populations;
(ii) eligible child care providers 
primarily serving children who have not 
attained the age of 5 years with a significant 
percentage of infants and toddlers enrolled;
(iii) eligible child care providers that--
(I) are currently unable to serve 
young children, had to significantly 
reduce capacity, or are unable to serve 
more children, due to factors such as 
the inadequate condition, quality, or 
availability of facilities; or
(II) are seeking to build capacity 
and expand the number of children 
served;
(iv) eligible child care providers that 
operate under nontraditional hours; and
(v) eligible child care providers located 
in rural or underserved communities.
(4) Labor standards for certain grants.--
(A) All laborers and mechanics employed by 
contractors or subcontractors in the performance of 
construction, renovation, improvement, repair, 
alteration, adaptation, reconfiguration, or expansion 
of child care facilities funded in whole or in part 
under this section shall be paid wages at rates not 
less than those prevailing on projects of a character 
similar in the locality as determined by the Secretary 
of Labor in accordance with subchapter IV of chapter 31 
of part A of subtitle II of title 40, United States 
Code (commonly referred to as the ``Davis-Bacon Act'').
(B) The Secretary shall require that each entity, 
including grantees and subgrantees, that applies for a 
grant for constructing, renovating, or improving child 
care facilities, including adapting, reconfiguring, or 
expanding such facilities, which is funded in whole or 
in part under this section, shall include in its 
application written assurance that all laborers and 
mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors in 
the performance of construction, alternation or repair, 
as part of such project, shall be paid wages in 
accordance with paragraph (1). The Secretary shall not 
approve any such funding without first obtaining 
adequate assurance that required labor standards will 
be maintained with respect to any such construction 
work.
(C) The Secretary of Labor shall have, with respect 
to the labor standards specified in paragraph (1), the 
authority and functions set forth in Reorganization 
Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (15 Fed. Reg. 3176; 5 U.S.C. 
App.) and section 276c of title 40, United States Code.
(d) Reports by States.--
(1) Initial report.--Not later than 180 days after the end 
of the grant period of the grant awarded to a State under this 
Act, the State shall submit to the Secretary a report that 
includes information on, as applicable--
(A) if the State uses such grants to provide 
monthly stipends as described in subsection (a)(1)(A)--
(i) the individuals that benefitted from 
monthly stipends, including with respect to 
each such individual--
(I) the total number of months such 
stipends were provided to an eligible 
child care provider on behalf of the 
individual;
(II) the total amount provided by 
such stipends; and
(III) in the case of an individual 
enrolled in a semiconductor-related 
workforce program, the wage rate, 
benefits, stipends, or other 
compensation provided to such 
individual--
(aa) while enrolled in such 
program; and
(bb) after exiting the 
program and beginning work in 
the industry of such program;
(ii) for each semiconductor-related 
workforce program for which the State provided 
stipends to eligible child care providers on 
behalf of such individuals--
(I) the retention and completion 
rates for the individuals described in 
clause (i); and
(II) the retention and completion 
rates for the individuals not described 
in clause (i); and
(iii) the method the State used to 
distribute the stipends to eligible child care 
providers;
(B) if the State used such grants to assist 
eligible child care providers as described in 
subsection (a)(1)(B), the effects of the grant in 
assisting eligible child care providers to construct, 
renovate, or improve child care facilities, and any 
effects on access to and quality of child care; and
(C) such other information as the Secretary may 
require.
(2) Follow-up reports.--For each of the 3 years after the 
date that a State submits the report under paragraph (1), the 
State shall submit to the Secretary a report on the retention 
and completion rates described in subparagraph (A)(ii) of such 
paragraph for the preceding year.
(3) Disaggregation.--The information submitted under 
paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be disaggregated by race, 
ethnicity, and gender, except that such disaggregation shall 
not be required in the case in which the number of apprentices 
in a subgroup is insufficient to yield statistically reliable 
information or the results would reveal personally identifiable 
information about an apprentice.
(e) Report by the Secretary.--
(1) Initial report.--Not later than 180 days after the 
Secretary receives the last report under subsection (d), the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that summarizes--
(A) the effect monthly stipends described in 
subsection (a)(1)(A) had--
(i) on the semiconductor-related workforce 
program retention and completion rates of 
individuals who received monthly stipends; and
(ii) the wage rates and benefits received 
by such individuals after exiting a 
semiconductor-related workforce program;
(B) the methods the States used to distribute such 
monthly stipends to eligible child care providers;
(C) any unanticipated effect or consequence on--
(i) individuals receiving the monthly 
stipend;
(ii) the sponsors of the semiconductor-
related workforce programs; and
(iii) the local areas in which the 
individuals who received a monthly stipend 
participated in such programs; and
(D) the effect of assistance provided to eligible 
child care providers as described in subsection 
(a)(1)(B).
(2) Follow-up reports.--For each of the 3 years after the 
date that the Secretary submits the report under paragraph (1), 
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that summarizes 
the information in the reports received from the States under 
subsection (d)(2) for the preceding year.
(3) Disaggregation.--The information submitted under 
paragraph (1)(A) shall be disaggregated in accordance with the 
disaggregation requirements of subsection (d)(2).
(f) Stipend Amounts Excluded From Federal Taxation.--Stipend 
amounts awarded under this Act may not be included in the gross income 
of the individual who benefitted from such stipend for purposes of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
(g) Disregard Stipend Amounts in Other Federal Programs.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a stipend distributed to an 
eligible child care provider under this Act shall not be taken into 
account in determining the need or eligibility of the individual who 
benefitted from such stipend for benefits or assistance, or the amount 
of such benefits or assistance, under any Federal, State, or local 
program financed in whole or in part with Federal funds.
(h) Supplement and Not Supplant.--Any monthly stipend distributed 
to an eligible child care provider on behalf of an individual under 
this Act shall supplement and not supplant the wages such individual 
earns while participating in a semiconductor-related workforce program.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
carry out this Act $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 
and 2026.
(2) Reservation.--The Secretary shall reserve 1.5 percent 
of the funds appropriated under paragraph (1) for each fiscal 
year to carry out the study and report required by subsection 
(e).
(j) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Apprenticeship program.--The term ``apprenticeship 
program'' means an apprenticeship program registered under the 
Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the ``National 
Apprenticeship Act''; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 
et seq.), including any requirement, standard, or rule 
promulgated under such Act.
(2) Eligible child care provider.--The term ``eligible 
child care provider'' has the meaning given the term in section 
658P of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 
(42 U.S.C. 9858n).
(3) Historically black college and university.--The term 
``historically Black college and university'' has the meaning 
given such term in section 631(a)(5) of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1132(a)(5)).
(4) Semiconductor.--The term ``semiconductor'' has the 
meaning given such term in section 9901 of the William M. (Mac) 
Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2021 (15 U.S.C. 4651).
(5) Semiconductor manufacturing.--The term ``semiconductor 
manufacturing'' has the meaning given such term in section 9902 
of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (15 U.S.C. 4652).
(6) Semiconductor-related workforce program.--The term 
``semiconductor-related workforce program'' means an 
apprenticeship, career upskilling, remote education, training, 
or workforce development program offered by an institute of 
higher education (as defined in section 102 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)), non-profit entity (as 
defined in section 9901 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (15 
U.S.C. 4651)), or local government in partnership with an 
entity that has received financial assistance through title 
XCIX of division H of such Act (15 U.S.C. 4651 et seq.) or a 
similar State program.
(7) State board.--The term ``State board'' means a State 
workforce development board established under section 101 of 
the Worker Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101).
(8) WIOA terms.--The terms ``local area'' and ``State'' 
have the meaning given such terms in section 3 of the Worker 
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3103).
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