Transportation Workforce Centers of Excellence Act
This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to designate certain two-year institutions of higher education as Community and Technical College Centers of Excellence in Transportation Workforce Training.
Additionally, DOT must establish a program to award competitive grants to the centers to address education and training related to careers in transportation sectors.
Grants under the program may not exceed $2 million, and the federal share of project costs may not exceed 50%.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2696 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2696
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to designate certain
consortia as Community and Technical College Centers of Excellence in
Transportation Workforce Training, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 20, 2021
Mr. Langevin (for himself and Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to designate certain
consortia as Community and Technical College Centers of Excellence in
Transportation Workforce Training, 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 ``Transportation Workforce Centers of
Excellence Act''.
SEC. 2. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN TRANSPORTATION WORKFORCE TRAINING.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation
with the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Labor, shall
designate in accordance with subsection (b) certain consortia of 2-year
institutions of higher education as Community and Technical College
Centers of Excellence in Transportation Workforce Training (in this
section referred to as ``Centers of Excellence'').
(b) Criteria for Designation.--The Secretary of Transportation
shall designate as a Center of Excellence under subsection (a) a
consortium the Secretary determines has a demonstrated ability to--
(1) address education and training related to careers in
transportation sectors; and
(2) carry out the following activities:
(A) Developing and implementing career pathways and
programs of study that lead to recognized postsecondary
credentials in transportation sectors.
(B) Providing on-the-job training or work-based
learning opportunities in transportation sectors.
(C) Developing dual or concurrent enrollment
programs to provide education and training
opportunities to secondary school students.
(D) Providing education and training related to
emerging technologies in transportation sectors.
(E) Partnering with employers, labor organizations,
local workforce development boards, State workforce
development boards, State educational agencies, and
eligible agencies to address education and training
related to careers in transportation sectors.
(F) Providing outreach and career counseling to
increase participation in transportation sectors.
(c) Collaboration.--To address education and training related to
careers in transportation sectors, Centers of Excellence may seek to
collaborate with institutions receiving grants under section 5505 of
title 49, United States Code.
(d) Grants to Centers of Excellence.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program
(in this subsection referred to as the ``Program'') to award
grants on a competitive basis, as determined by the Secretary,
to Centers of Excellence to address education and training
related to careers in transportation sectors.
(2) Eligible projects.--Grant funds awarded under the
Program may only be used for a project that facilitates an
activity specified in subsection (b).
(3) Applications.--To be eligible for a grant under the
Program, a Center of Excellence designated under subsection (a)
shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at
such time, and containing such information as the Secretary
determines appropriate.
(4) Limitations on grants.--
(A) Limitation on amount.--The amount of a grant
under the Program may not exceed $2,000,000.
(B) Limitation on federal share.--The Federal share
of the cost of a project carried out by a grant under
the Program may not exceed 50 percent.
(5) Report.--Each recipient of a grant under the Program
shall submit to the Secretary a report in such form, at such
time, and containing such information as the Secretary
determines appropriate to evaluate the grant, including the
following:
(A) Information relating to the use of grant funds
awarded to the recipient under the Program.
(B) An evaluation of each project carried out with
such grant funds, including the following:
(i) The percentage, and median earnings, of
individuals participating in or benefitting
from the project (in this section referred to
as ``participants'') who are in unsubsidized
employment 90 days after exit from the project.
(ii) The percentage of participants who are
in unsubsidized employment 180 days after exit
from the project.
(iii) The percentage of participants who
obtain a recognized postsecondary credential,
or a secondary school diploma or recognized
equivalent, during the project or within 1 year
after exit from the project.
(iv) The percentage of participants who,
during the project--
(I) enrolled in an education or
training program that leads to a
recognized postsecondary credential or
employment; or
(II) developed skills necessary to
receive such credential or employment.
(6) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $10,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Career pathway.--The term ``career pathway'' has the
meaning given the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
(2) Dual or concurrent enrollment program.--The term ``dual
or concurrent enrollment program'' has the meaning given the
term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(3) Eligible agency.--The term ``eligible agency'' has the
meaning given the term in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins
Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
(4) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
(5) Local workforce development board.--The term ``local
workforce development board'' means a local workforce
development board established under section 107 of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3122).
(6) On-the-job training.--The term ``on-the-job training''
has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
(7) Program of study.--The term ``program of study'' has
the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins
Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
(8) Recognized postsecondary credential.--The term
``recognized postsecondary credential'' has the meaning given
the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
(9) State educational agency.--The term ``State educational
agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
7801).
(10) State workforce development board.--The term ``State
workforce development board'' means a State workforce
development board established under section 101 of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3111).
(11) Transportation sector.--The term ``transportation
sector'' means an industry sector that is involved in the
manufacturing, operation, inspection, logistics, design, or
engineering of equipment, materials, technologies, or
infrastructure related to transportation (including surface,
transit, railway, aviation, and maritime transportation).
(12) Work-based learning.--The term ``work-based learning''
has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Carl D.
Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C.
2302).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
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