June 3, 2026
Ms. DelBene (for herself and Ms. Bonamici) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
To provide for the establishment of a pilot program to encourage the employment of veterans in manufacturing positions, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be referred to as the Manufacturing Jobs for Veterans Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Veterans Manufacturing Employment Program
(a) Establishment of pilot program
To encourage the employment of eligible veterans in manufacturing, the Secretary of Labor, as part of the Veteran’s Workforce Investment Program, shall carry out a pilot program to be known as the Veterans Manufacturing Employment Program
. Under the pilot program, the Secretary shall award competitive grants to three States for the establishment and administration of a State program to make grants to manufacturing employers and joint labor-management organizations that provide to eligible veterans covered training, on-the-job training, apprenticeships, and training that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential. Such a program shall be known as a State Manufacturing Employment Program
.
(b) Eligibility for grants
To be eligible to receive a grant under the pilot program, a State shall submit to the Secretary an application that includes each of the following:
(1)
A proposal for the expenditure of grant funds to establish and administer a public-private partnership program designed to—
(A)
provide to eligible veterans covered training, on-the-job training, apprenticeships, and training that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential; and
(B)
ensure sustainable employment in high-wage, high-skill jobs in manufacturing.
(2)
Evidence that the State has—
(A)
a population of eligible veterans of an appropriate size to carry out the State program;
(B)
a robust and diverse manufacturing industry, as determined by the Secretary; and
(C)
the ability to carry out the State program described in the proposal under paragraph (1).
(3)
Such other information and assurances as the Secretary may require.
(c) Use of funds
A State that is the recipient of a grant under this section shall use the grant for the following purposes:
(1)
Making grants to manufacturing employers and joint labor-management organizations to reimburse such employers and organizations for the cost of providing to eligible veterans covered training, on-the-job training, apprenticeships, and training that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential.
(2)
Conducting outreach to inform manufacturing employers, joint labor-management organizations, and veterans, including veterans in rural areas, of their eligibility or potential eligibility for participation in the State program.
(d) Conditions
Under the pilot program, each grant to a State shall be subject to the following conditions:
(1)
The State shall repay to the Secretary, on such date as shall be determined by the Secretary, any amount received under the pilot program that is not used for the purposes described in subsection (c).
(2)
The State shall submit to the Secretary, at such times and containing such information as the Secretary shall require, reports on the use of grant funds.
(e) Employer requirements
In order to receive a grant made by a State under the pilot program, a manufacturing employer shall—
(1)
submit to the administrator of the State Manufacturing Employment Program an application that includes—
(A)
the rate of pay for each eligible veteran proposed to be trained using grant funds;
(B)
the average rate of pay for an individual employed by the manufacturing employer in a similar position who is not an eligible veteran; and
(C)
such other information and assurances as the administrator may require; and
(2)
agree to submit to the administrator, for each quarter, a report containing such information as the Secretary may specify.
(f) Limitation
None of the funds made available to a manufacturing employer through a grant under the pilot program may be used to provide training of any kind to a person who is not an eligible veteran.
(g) Report to Congress
Together with the report required to be submitted annually under section 4107(c) of title 38, United States Code, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the pilot program for the year covered by such report. The report on the pilot program shall include—
(1)
a detailed description of activities carried out under this section;
(2)
the cost per participant;
(3)
an evaluation of the program; and
(4)
recommendations for serving more eligible veterans.
(h) Administrative and reporting costs
Of the amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (j), 2 percent shall be made available to the Secretary for administrative costs associated with implementing and evaluating the pilot program under this section and for preparing and submitting the report required under subsection (f). The Secretary shall determine the appropriate maximum amount of each grant awarded under this section that may be used by the recipient for administrative and reporting costs.
(i) Definitions
In this section:
(1)
The term covered training, on-the-job training, apprenticeships, and training that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential means training, on-the-job training, apprenticeships, and training that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential that are—
(A)
designed to provide the veteran with in-demand skills that are particular to manufacturing and not directly transferable to employment in another industry; and
(B)
approved as provided in paragraph (1) or (2), as appropriate, of subsection (a) of section 3687 of title 38, United States Code.
(2)
The term eligible veteran means a veteran, as that term is defined in section 101(3) of title 38, United States Code, who is employed by a manufacturing employer and enrolled or participating in a covered training, on-the-job training, apprenticeship, or certification class.
(3)
Except as otherwise provided, any term that is defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102) shall have the meaning given that term in such section.
(4)
The term manufacturing employer means a business concern—
(A)
that employs individuals in a trade or business in manufacturing;
(B)
the production facilities of which are located in the United States; and
(C)
the primary business of which is classified in sector 31, 32, or 33 of the North American Industrial Classification System.
(j) Appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031, for the purpose of carrying out the pilot program.