119th (2025–2027)
H.R. 4048
The STEM Pathways for the Future Act directs the National Science Foundation to establish a competitive grant program that awards funding to organizations—such as community colleges, states, tribal governments, and public-private partnerships—to create and expand STEM apprenticeship programs outside of four-year universities. Grant recipients can use funds for recruiting apprentices, improving program quality, incorporating new technology, and partnering with private sector companies, but cannot use the money to incentivize businesses to relocate. The bill also creates an interagency task force composed of leaders from eight federal agencies (including the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Education, and Department of Labor) that must report to Congress within one year identifying all existing federal STEM training and apprenticeship programs and how they operate across community colleges, minority-serving institutions, and registered apprenticeships.