STEM Restoring Employment Skills through Targeted Assistance, Re-entry, and Training Act; STEM RESTART Act
Summary
The STEM RESTART Act aims to address the shortage of skilled workers in STEM fields by providing grants to small and medium-sized businesses to create returnship programs. These programs are designed to help mid-career workers re-enter or transition into STEM careers. The Act amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to establish this new national program.
Expected Effects
The Act will likely increase the number of skilled workers in STEM fields by incentivizing businesses to offer paid internships and returnships. This could lead to increased innovation and economic growth. It also prioritizes opportunities for workers in rural areas.
Potential Benefits
- Increased opportunities for mid-career workers to re-enter the STEM workforce.
- Provides funding to small and medium-sized businesses to support returnship programs.
- Prioritizes workers from rural areas, addressing geographic disparities in employment opportunities.
- Aims to fill in-demand positions above entry-level, increasing earning potential for participants.
- Encourages partnerships between businesses and educational institutions to provide high-quality training.
Potential Disadvantages
- The program's success depends on the effective implementation and management by the Secretary of Labor.
- There may be challenges in ensuring that the returnship programs lead to full-time employment.
- The limited funding may not be sufficient to address the needs of all eligible workers and businesses.
- The focus on small and medium-sized businesses may exclude larger companies that could also benefit from such a program.
- Potential for administrative overhead in managing the grant application and reporting processes.
Constitutional Alignment
The STEM RESTART Act appears to align with the Constitution's broad mandate to "promote the general Welfare" (Preamble). Congress has the power to legislate in areas related to economic regulation and workforce development under the Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8). The Act does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).