Wind Workforce Modernization and Training Act of 2020
This bill establishes programs within the Department of Energy to provide support and incentives for training wind technician students.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8957 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8957
To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to establish a grant program for
training wind technicians, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 14, 2020
Ms. Finkenauer (for herself, Mrs. Axne, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Cartwright, and
Mr. Cole) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs, 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 amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to establish a grant program for
training wind technicians, 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 ``Wind Workforce Modernization and
Training Act of 2020''.
SEC. 2. WIND TECHNICIAN TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Title XI of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42
U.S.C. 16411 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 1107. WIND TECHNICIAN TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Covered participant.--The term `covered participant'
means a participant enrolled, on the date on which an eligible
entity receives a grant under this section, in the training
program with respect to which the grant is received.
``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a
provider of training services that--
``(A) is on the list of eligible providers of
training services described in section 122(d) of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C.
3152(d)), including joint labor-management
organizations and postsecondary vocational
institutions; and
``(B) offers a training program for technicians in
the wind energy industry.
``(3) Final participation date.--The term `final
participation date' means, for an eligible entity receiving a
grant under this section, the date on which the last covered
participant exits the training program with respect to which
the grant is received.
``(b) Grant Program.--The Secretary shall establish a program under
which the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to
eligible entities to purchase large pieces of wind turbine component
equipment (such as nacelles, towers, and blades) for use in training
wind technician students.
``(c) Reporting.--Not later than 1 year after the final
participation date, an eligible entity receiving a grant under this
section shall submit to the Secretary, with respect to the covered
participants, a report containing a description of the levels of
performance achieved with respect to each of the primary indicators of
performance described in subclauses (I) through (VI) of section
116(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
U.S.C. 3141(b)(2)(A)(i)).
``(d) Funding.--Of the amounts made available to the Secretary for
administrative expenses to carry out other programs under the authority
of the Secretary, the Secretary shall use to carry out this section
$2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2025.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58; 119 Stat. 601) is amended by
inserting after the item relating to section 1106 the following:
``Sec. 1107. Wind technician training grant program.''.
SEC. 3. VETERANS IN WIND ENERGY.
(a) In General.--Title XI of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42
U.S.C. 16411 et seq.) (as amended by section 2(a)) is further amended
by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 1108. VETERANS IN WIND ENERGY.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the eligible
entities defined in section 1107(a)(2), including joint labor-
management organizations and postsecondary vocational institutions,
shall design, establish, and administer a program to prepare veterans
for careers in the wind energy industry by providing classroom
instruction and work-based learning.
``(b) Funding.--Of the amounts made available to the Secretary for
administrative expenses to carry out other programs under the authority
of the Secretary, the Secretary shall use to carry out this section
$2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2025.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58; 119 Stat. 601) (as amended by
section 2(b)) is further amended by inserting after the item relating
to section 1107 the following:
``Sec. 1108. Veterans in wind energy.''.
SEC. 4. STUDY AND REPORT ON WIND TECHNICIAN WORKFORCE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Energy (referred to in this
section as the ``Secretary'') shall convene a task force comprised of 1
or more representatives of each of the stakeholders described in
subsection (b) that shall--
(1) conduct a study to assess the training needs of
technicians working in the wind energy industry;
(2) create a comprehensive list that--
(A) lists each type of wind energy industry
technician position available in the United States; and
(B) describes the skill sets required for each type
of position listed under subparagraph (A); and
(3) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, make publicly available and submit to Congress a
report that--
(A) describes the results of that study;
(B) includes the comprehensive list described in
paragraph (2); and
(C) provides recommendations--
(i) for creating a credentialing program
for wind energy industry technicians that may
be administered by eligible entities (as
defined in section 1107(a)(2) of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005, as added by section 2(a) of
this Act); and
(ii) that reflect best practices for
training programs for technicians in the wind
energy industry, as identified by
representatives of the wind energy industry.
(b) Stakeholders Described.--The stakeholders referred to in
subsection (a) are--
(1) the Department of Defense;
(2) the Department of Education;
(3) the Department of Energy;
(4) the Department of Labor;
(5) the Department of Veterans Affairs;
(6) eligible entities (as defined in section 1107(a)(2) of
the Energy Policy Act of 2005, as added by section 2(a) of this
Act), including joint-labor management organizations and
postsecondary vocational institutions; and
(7) the wind energy industry.
(c) Funding.--Of the amounts made available to the Secretary for
administrative expenses to carry out other programs under the authority
of the Secretary, the Secretary shall use to carry out this section
$500,000.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 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.
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