Transportation and Infrastructure Profession Opportunity Grants Act
This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to provide education and training for transportation and infrastructure professions that are experiencing labor shortages or are in high demand. Entities eligible for these grants include local workforce development boards, states, territories, tribes, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and labor organizations.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7545 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7545
To amend subtitle A of title XX of the Social Security Act to provide
for grants to conduct demonstration projects designed to provide
eligible individuals with the opportunity to obtain education and
training for occupations in the fields of transportation and
infrastructure that pay well and are expected to experience labor
shortages or be in high demand.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 9, 2020
Mr. Lewis introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend subtitle A of title XX of the Social Security Act to provide
for grants to conduct demonstration projects designed to provide
eligible individuals with the opportunity to obtain education and
training for occupations in the fields of transportation and
infrastructure that pay well and are expected to experience labor
shortages or be in high demand.
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 ``Transportation and Infrastructure
Profession Opportunity Grants Act''.
SEC. 2. TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROFESSION OPPORTUNITY
GRANTS.
Subtitle A of title XX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397
et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 2008 the following:
``SEC. 2008A. TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROFESSION OPPORTUNITY
GRANTS.
``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to increase and
improve opportunities and Federal supports for low-income people,
especially women, racial or ethnic minorities, and veterans, to enter,
follow, and succeed in a career pathway in transportation and
infrastructure professions. By the enactment of this section, the
Congress intends to enhance these opportunities through partnerships
with organizations that specialize in serving these populations.
``(b) Authority To Award Grants.--The Secretary, in consultation
with the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Transportation, shall
award grants to eligible entities to conduct demonstration projects
that are designed to provide eligible individuals with the opportunity
to obtain education and training for transportation and infrastructure
professions that pay at least 300 percent of the Federal poverty level
and are expected to experience labor shortages or be in high demand.
``(c) Assessment of Labor Shortage and Demand.--In assessing
whether a transportation and infrastructure profession experiences
labor shortages or is in high demand, the Secretary, in consultation
with the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Transportation, using
available Federal, State, and local data and other information as the
Secretary may deem appropriate, shall consider, with respect to the
geographic area proposed to be served by an applicant--
``(1) relevant and updated employment and labor market
trends to assess historic, current, and projected future trends
for specific occupations;
``(2) available occupational wage data to understand
earnings potential;
``(3) local training capacity to fill current and future
workforce needs;
``(4) the workforce needs of transportation and
infrastructure employers and agencies; and
``(5) racial, gender, and economic disparities in pay or
promotion rates that may exist in the transportation and
infrastructure profession for which the applicant proposes to
train, as well as disparities in pay or promotion rates that
may exist between veterans and non-veterans in the profession.
``(d) Application.--
``(1) Requirements.--An eligible entity applying for a
grant to carry out a demonstration project under this section
shall submit to the Secretary an application for the grant that
includes the following:
``(A) A description of how the applicant will use a
career pathways approach to train eligible individuals
for transportation and infrastructure professions that
pay, or will put eligible individuals on a career path
to a related occupation that pays, at least 300 percent
of the Federal poverty level.
``(B) A description of the adult basic education
and literacy activities, work readiness activities,
training activities, and case management and career
coaching services that the applicant will use to assist
eligible individuals to gain work experience,
connection to employers, and job placement, and a
description of the plan for recruiting, hiring, and
training staff to provide the case management,
mentoring, and career coaching services, under the
project directly or through local governmental,
apprenticeship, educational, or charitable
institutions.
``(C) A demonstration that the applicant has
experience working with low-income populations, or a
description of the plan of the applicant to work with a
partner organization that has the experience.
``(D) A plan for providing post-employment support
and ongoing training as part of a career pathway under
the project.
``(E) A description of the support services that
the applicant will provide under the project, including
a plan for how child care and transportation support
services will be guaranteed and, if the applicant will
provide a cash stipend or wage supplement, how the
stipend or supplement would be calculated and
distributed.
``(F) A certification by the applicant that the
project development included--
``(i) consultation with a local workforce
development board established under section 107
of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity
Act;
``(ii) consideration of apprenticeship and
pre-apprenticeship models registered under the
Act of August 16, 1937 (also known as the
`National Apprenticeship Act');
``(iii) consideration of career pathway
programs in the State in which the project is
to be conducted; and
``(iv) a review of the State plan under
section 102 or 103 of the Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act.
``(G) A description of the availability and
relevance of recent labor market information and other
pertinent evidence of in-demand jobs or worker
shortages.
``(H) A certification that the applicant will
directly provide or contract for the training services
described in the application.
``(I) A commitment by the applicant that, if the
grant is made to the applicant, the applicant will--
``(i) during the planning period for the
project, provide the Secretary with any
information needed by the Secretary to
establish adequate data reporting and
administrative structure for the project;
``(ii) hire a person to direct the project
not later than the end of the planning period
applicable to the project;
``(iii) accept all technical assistance
offered by the Secretary with respect to the
grant;
``(iv) participate in such in-person
grantee conferences as are regularly scheduled
by the Secretary;
``(v) provide all data required by the
Secretary under subsection (h); and
``(vi) notify the local disabled veterans'
outreach program specialists under section
4103A of title 38, United States Code, and the
local veterans' employment representatives
under section 4104 of such title, of the
grantee's outreach plan for advertising
training opportunities to potential
participants in the project.
``(2) Preferences.--In considering applications for a grant
for a demonstration project under this section, the Secretary--
``(A) shall give preference to--
``(i) applications submitted by applicants
who have business and community partners in
each of the following categories:
``(I) State and local government
agencies and social service providers,
including a State or local entity that
administers a State program funded
under part A of title IV;
``(II) institutions of higher
education, apprenticeship programs, and
local workforce development boards
established under section 107 of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity
Act; and
``(III) transportation and
infrastructure employers,
transportation and infrastructure
industry or sector partnerships, labor
unions, and labor-management
partnerships;
``(ii) applications that include
opportunities for mentoring or peer support,
and make career coaching available, as part of
the case management plan;
``(iii) applications that include a
commitment to providing project participants
with a cash stipend or wage supplement;
``(iv) applications which have an emergency
cash fund to assist project participants
financially in emergency situations;
``(v) applications submitted by, or in
partnership with, an eligible entity with a
history of providing specialized programming or
training to low-income women, racial or ethnic
minorities, or veterans; and
``(vi) applications submitted by eligible
entities that include plans to provide one or
more of the supports described in subsection
(e)(2)(B); and
``(B) may give preference to--
``(i) applicants that will administer the
training program through, or in partnership
with, an institution of higher education that
is a Historically Black College or University
or a minority-serving institution;
``(ii) applicants that will administer the
training program through, or in partnership
with, institutions of higher education at which
at least 50 percent of students receive Pell
Grants under subpart 1 of title IV of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a);
``(iii) applicants that will administer the
training program through, or in partnership
with, an Indian tribe or a tribal organization;
and
``(iv) applicants that will administer the
training program through, or in partnership
with, a territory or an eligible entity in a
territory.
``(e) Use of Grants.--
``(1) In general.--An entity to which a grant for a
demonstration project is made under this section shall use the
grant in accordance with the approved application for the
grant.
``(2) Support to be provided.--
``(A) Required support.--A project for which a
grant for a demonstration project is made under this
section shall include the following:
``(i) An assessment for adult basic skill
competency, and provision of adult basic skills
education if necessary for lower-skilled
eligible individuals to enroll in the project
and go on to enter and complete post-secondary
training, through means including the
following:
``(I) Establishing a network of
partners that offer pre-training
activities for project participants who
need to improve basic academic skills
or English language proficiency before
entering a transportation and
infrastructure occupational training
career pathway program.
``(II) Offering resources to enable
project participants to continue
advancing adult basic skill proficiency
while enrolled in a career pathway
program.
``(III) Embedding adult basic skill
maintenance as part of ongoing post-
graduation career coaching and
mentoring.
``(ii) A guarantee that child care is an
available and affordable support service for
project participants through means such as the
following:
``(I) Referral to, and assistance
with, enrollment in a subsidized child
care program.
``(II) Direct payment to a child
care provider if a slot in a subsidized
child care program is not available or
reasonably accessible.
``(III) Payment of co-payments or
associated fees for child care.
``(iii) Case management plans that include
career coaching (with the option to offer
appropriate peer support and mentoring
opportunities to help develop soft skills and
social capital), which may be offered on an
ongoing basis before, during, and after initial
training as part of a career pathway model.
``(iv) A plan to provide project
participants with commuting costs through means
such as the following:
``(I) Referral to, and assistance
with enrollment in, a subsidized
transportation program.
``(II) If a subsidized
transportation program is not
reasonably available, direct payments
to subsidize commuting costs.
``(v) Assistance with programs and
activities, including legal assistance, deemed
necessary to address arrest or conviction
records as an employment barrier.
``(B) Allowed support.--The goods and services
provided under a project for which a grant for a
demonstration project is made under this section may
include the following:
``(i) A cash stipend that is at least
monthly.
``(ii) A reserve fund for financial
assistance to project participants in emergency
situations.
``(iii) Tuition, and training materials
such as books, software, uniforms, shoes,
helmets, eye goggles, and other personal
protective equipment.
``(iv) In-kind resource donations such as
interview clothing and conference attendance
fees.
``(v) Assistance with accessing and
completing high school equivalency or adult
basic education courses as necessary to achieve
success in the project and make progress toward
career goals.
``(vi) Licensing and examination fees
needed for professional certification.
``(vii) Other support services as deemed
necessary for family well-being, success in the
project, and progress toward career goals.
``(C) Treatment of support for purposes of means-
tested programs.--Any goods or services provided to an
eligible individual participating in a project for
which a grant for a demonstration project is made under
this section shall not be considered income, and shall
not be taken into account for purposes of determining
the eligibility of the individual for, or amount of
benefits to be provided to the individual, under any
means-tested program.
``(3) Training.--The number of hours of training provided
to an eligible individual under a project for which a grant for
a demonstration project is made under this section, for a
recognized postsecondary credential, including an industry-
recognized credential, which is awarded in recognition of
attainment of measurable technical or occupational skills
necessary to gain employment or advance within an occupation
(including a certificate awarded by a local workforce
development board established under section 107 of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), shall be--
``(A) not less than the number of hours of training
required for certification in that level of skill by
the State in which the project is conducted; or
``(B) if there is no such requirement, such number
of hours of training as the Secretary finds is
necessary to achieve that skill level.
``(4) Income limitation.--An entity to which a grant for a
demonstration project is made under this section shall not use
the grant to provide support to a person who is not an eligible
individual.
``(5) Inclusion of tanf recipients.--In the case of a
project for which a grant for a demonstration project is made
under this section that is conducted in a State that has a
program funded under part A of title IV, at least 10 percent of
the eligible individuals to whom support is provided under the
project shall meet the income eligibility requirements under
the program, without regard to whether the individuals receive
benefits or services directly under the program.
``(6) Prohibition.--An entity to which a grant for a
demonstration project is made under this section shall not use
the grant for purposes of entertainment, except that case
management and career coaching services may include
celebrations of specific career-based milestones such as
completing a semester, graduation, or job placement.
``(f) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide technical
assistance--
``(1) to assist eligible entities in applying for grants
for demonstration projects under this section;
``(2) that is tailored to meet the specific needs of
grantees at each stage of the administration of projects for
which grants for demonstration projects are made under this
section;
``(3) that is tailored to meet the specific needs of
eligible entities in carrying out demonstration projects for
which a grant is made under this section; and
``(4) to facilitate the exchange of information among
eligible entities regarding best practices and promising
practices used in the projects.
``(g) Evaluation.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall, by grant, contract,
or interagency agreement, conduct evaluations of the
demonstration projects for which a grant is made under this
section.
``(2) Rule of interpretation.--Evaluations conducted
pursuant to this subsection may include a randomized controlled
trial, but this subsection shall not be interpreted to require
an evaluation to include such a trial.
``(h) Reports.--
``(1) To the secretary.--An eligible entity awarded a grant
to conduct a project under this section shall submit interim
reports to the Secretary on the activities carried out under
the project, and, on the conclusion of the project, a final
report on the activities. Each such report shall include data
on participant outcomes related to earnings, employment in
transportation and infrastructure professions, graduation rate,
graduation timeliness, credential attainment, participant
demographics, and other data specified by the Secretary.
``(2) To the congress.--During each Congress, the Secretary
shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a
report--
``(A) on the demographics of the participants in
the projects for which a grant is made under this
section;
``(B) on the rate of which project participants
completed all activities under the projects;
``(C) on the employment credentials acquired by
project participants;
``(D) on the employment of project participants on
completion of activities under the projects, and the
earnings of project participants at entry into
employment;
``(E) on best practices and promising practices
used in the projects;
``(F) on the nature of any technical assistance
provided to grantees under this section;
``(G) on, with respect to the period since the
period covered in the most recent prior report
submitted under this paragraph--
``(i) the number of applications submitted
under this section, with a separate statement
of the number of applications referred to in
subsection (d)(2)(A)(iii);
``(ii) the number of applications that were
approved, with a separate statement of the
number of such applications referred to in
subsection (d)(2)(A)(iii); and
``(iii) the 10 individual applications not
approved for a grant for a demonstration
project under this section that showed the
greatest potential to meet the purpose of this
section, including the estimated number of
beneficiaries of each such application;
``(H) that includes an assessment of the
effectiveness of the projects with respect to
addressing transportation and infrastructure
professions workforce shortages or in-demand jobs; and
``(I) on the design, nature, and results of the
evaluations required by subsection (g), including
whether a randomized controlled trial was used in the
evaluation and, if so, the reasons for doing so.
``(i) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Career pathway.--The term `career pathway' has the
meaning given that term in section 3(7) of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act.
``(2) Commuting costs.--The term `commuting costs' means
the cost of public transit, ride-sharing, or gasoline for a
personal vehicle, for commuting between a project participant's
residence and any site at which the participant receives
services under the project.
``(3) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means
any of the following entities that demonstrates in an
application submitted under this section that the entity has
the capacity to fully develop and administer the project
described in the application:
``(A) A local workforce development board
established under section 107 of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act.
``(B) A State or territory, a political subdivision
of a State or territory, or an agency of a State,
territory, or such a political subdivision, including a
State, territory, or local entity that administers a
State or territory program funded under part A of title
IV.
``(C) An Indian Tribe or a Tribal organization.
``(D) An institution of higher education (as
defined in section 101 or 102(a)(1)(B) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965).
``(E) A nonprofit organization described in section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, a labor
organization, or an entity with shared labor-management
oversight, that has a demonstrated history of providing
transportation and infrastructure profession training
to eligible individuals.
``(4) Eligible individual.--The term `eligible individual'
means--
``(A) an individual whose family income does not
exceed 200 percent of the Federal poverty level; or
``(B) an individual who is receiving services under
section 477.
``(5) Federal poverty level.--The term `Federal poverty
level' means the poverty line (as defined in section 673(2) of
the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, including any
revision required by such section applicable to a family of the
size involved).
``(6) Historically black college or university.--The term
`Historically Black College or University' has the meaning
given the term `part B institution' in section 322 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).
``(7) Indian tribe; tribal organization.--The terms `Indian
Tribe' and `Tribal organization' have the meaning given the
terms in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
``(8) Institution of higher education.--The term
`institution of higher education' has the meaning given the
term in section 101 or 102(a)(1)(B) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965.
``(9) Minority-serving institution.--The term `minority-
serving institution' has the meaning given the term--
``(A) `Hispanic-serving institution' in section 502
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a);
``(B) `Tribal college or university' in section 316
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c);
``(C) `Alaska Native-serving Institution' in
section 317(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1059d(b));
``(D) `Native Hawaiian-serving institution' in
section 317(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1059d(b));
``(E) `Predominantly Black Institution' in section
371(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1067q(c));
``(F) `Asian American and Native American Pacific
Islander-serving institution' in section 371(c) of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(c)); and
``(G) `Native American-serving nontribal
institution' in section 371(c) of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(c)).
``(10) Racial or ethnic minorities.--The term `racial or
ethnic minorities' means persons of Black or African-American,
American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian, or
Pacific Islander descent, and Hispanic persons (including those
of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central American, or South
American descent).
``(11) Randomized controlled trial.--The term `randomized
controlled trial' means an evaluation that employs random
assignment of eligible individuals to a treatment group that
receives the project component under evaluation and a control
group that does not, in order to establish causal links between
assistance and outcomes.
``(12) State.--The term `State' means the 50 States of the
United States and the District of Columbia.
``(13) Territory.--The term `territory' means the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands,
Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and
American Samoa.
``(14) Transportation and infrastructure profession.--The
term `transportation and infrastructure profession' means any
profession requiring certification or training to construct,
maintain, manage, operate, or repair roads, bridges, tunnels,
rails, airports, seaports, water and sewage systems, utility
systems, or public buildings, or to operate public transit.
``(j) Funding.--
``(1) In general.--Out of any funds in the Treasury of the
United States not otherwise appropriated, there are
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section
$100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.
``(2) Allocation of funds.--Of the amount appropriated for
a fiscal year under paragraph (1) of this subsection--
``(A) 90 percent shall be available for
demonstration project grants under subsection (e)(1);
``(B) 6 percent, plus all amounts referred to in
subparagraph (A) that remain unused after all grant
awards are made for the fiscal year, shall be available
for the provision of technical assistance and
associated staffing; and
``(C) 4 percent shall be available for studying the
effects of the demonstration projects for which a grant
is made under this section, and for associated
staffing, for the purpose of supporting the rigorous
evaluation of the demonstration projects, and
supporting the continued study of the short-, medium-,
and long-term effects of all such projects.
``(k) Nonapplicability of Preceding Sections of This Subtitle.--
``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
preceding sections of this subtitle shall not apply to a grant
awarded under this section.
``(2) Exception for certain limitations on the use of
grants.--Section 2005(a) (other than paragraphs (2), (3), (5),
(6), and (8)) shall apply to a grant awarded under this section
to the same extent and in the same manner as such section
applies to payments to States under this subtitle.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line