21st Century Energy Workforce Act
This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a National Center for Excellence for the 21st Century Workforce Advisory Board to foster strategic vision, guidance, and networks for the energy industry.
The purpose of the board is to (1) support and develop training and science education programs, (2) align apprenticeship programs and industry certifications to further develop succession planning in the energy sector, (3) integrate educational standards to develop foundational skills for elementary and secondary education and postsecondary education to create a pipeline between education and career, and (4) support the replication of existing model energy curricula.
DOE shall also establish a pilot program to award grants to eligible entities for job training programs that lead to an industry-recognized credential.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 579 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 579
To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a pilot competitive
grant program for the development of a skilled energy workforce, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 28, 2021
Mr. Norcross (for himself and Mr. McKinley) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a pilot competitive
grant program for the development of a skilled energy workforce, 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 ``21st Century Energy Workforce Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) the energy sector is the third-largest industry in the
United States;
(2) 1,500,000 new skilled workers will be needed in the
energy sector over the next 15 years; and
(3) a skilled workforce is a critical component of ensuring
the growth of the energy sector in the United States.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Apprenticeship program.--The term ``apprenticeship
program'' means--
(A) an apprenticeship program registered with the
Department of Labor as of the date of enactment of this
Act that has a completion rate for participants of not
less than 60 percent; or
(B) an apprenticeship program not registered with
the Department of Labor as of the date of enactment of
this Act, but that the Secretary determines should be
eligible for a grant under section 5.
(2) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the National Center of
Excellence for the 21st Century Workforce Advisory Board
established under section 4(a).
(3) Community college.--The term ``community college''
means a junior or community college (as defined in section
312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1058(f))).
(4) Program.--The term ``program'' means the pilot program
established under section 5(a).
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy.
(6) Veterans service organization.--The term ``veterans
service organization'' means an organization recognized by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the representation of
veterans under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 4. NATIONAL CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY WORKFORCE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a nationwide
advisory board, to be known as the ``National Center of Excellence for
the 21st Century Workforce Advisory Board'', to foster strategic
vision, guidance, and networks for the energy industry.
(b) Representatives.--The members of the Board shall consist of
energy sector stakeholders, including--
(1) representatives of relevant industries;
(2) experts in labor, economics, and workforce development;
(3) representatives of States and units of local
government;
(4) representatives of elementary and secondary education
and postsecondary education; and
(5) representatives of labor organizations.
(c) Purposes.--The purposes of the Board are--
(1) to support and develop training and science education
programs that--
(A) meet the industry and labor needs of the energy
sector; and
(B) provide opportunities for students to become
qualified for placement in traditional and clean energy
sector jobs;
(2) to align apprenticeship programs and industry
certifications to further develop succession planning in the
energy sector;
(3) to integrate educational standards to develop
foundational skills for elementary and secondary education and
postsecondary education to create a pipeline between education
and career; and
(4) to support the replication of existing model energy
curricula.
SEC. 5. ENERGY WORKFORCE PILOT GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor
and the Secretary of Education, shall establish a pilot program to
award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities for job
training to obtain an industry-recognized credential.
(b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
section, an entity shall be a public or nonprofit organization that--
(1) includes an advisory board of proportional
participation, as determined by the Secretary, of relevant
organizations, including--
(A) relevant energy industry organizations,
including public and private employers;
(B) labor organizations; and
(C) elementary and secondary education and
postsecondary education organizations;
(2) demonstrates experience in implementing and operating
job training and education programs;
(3) demonstrates the ability to recruit and support
individuals who plan to work in the energy industry in the
successful completion of relevant job training and education
programs; and
(4) provides students who complete the job training and
education program with an industry-recognized credential.
(c) Applications.--Eligible entities desiring a grant under this
section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
require.
(d) Priority.--In selecting eligible entities to receive grants
under this section, the Secretary shall prioritize applicants that--
(1) house the job training and education programs in--
(A) a community college or institution of higher
education that includes basic science and math
education in the curriculum of the community college,
institution of higher education; or
(B) an apprenticeship program, and with respect to
such apprenticeship programs described in section
3(1)(B), the Secretary shall further prioritize such
programs that can demonstrate to the Secretary a
completion rate for participants of not less than 60
percent;
(2) work with the Secretary of Defense or veterans
organizations to transition members of the Armed Forces and
veterans to careers in the energy sector;
(3) apply as a State or regional consortia to leverage best
practices already available in the State or region in which the
community college or institution of higher education is
located;
(4) have a State-supported entity included in the
application;
(5) include an apprenticeship program as part of the job
training and education program;
(6) develop a mentorship program for energy professionals
and elementary and secondary education students;
(7) provide support services and career coaching;
(8) provide introductory energy workforce development
training; or
(9) provide industry-affiliated pre-apprenticeship
programs, including intensive skill-building programs and
intensive short-term programs.
(e) Additional Consideration.--In making grants under this section,
the Secretary shall consider regional diversity.
(f) Limitation on Applications.--An eligible entity may not submit,
either individually or as part of a joint application, more than 1
application for a grant under this section during any 1 fiscal year.
(g) Limitations on Amount of Grant.--The amount of a grant for any
1 year shall not exceed $1,000,000.
(h) Costs.--
(1) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of a job
training and education program carried out using a grant under
this section shall be not greater than 65 percent.
(2) Non-federal share.--
(A) In general.--The non-Federal share of the cost
of a job training and education program carried out
using a grant under this section shall consist of not
less than 50 percent cash.
(B) Limitation.--Not greater than 50 percent of the
non-Federal contribution of the total cost of a job
training and education program carried out using a
grant under this section shall be in the form of in-
kind contributions of goods or services fairly valued.
(i) Reduction of Duplication.--Prior to submitting an application
for a grant under this section, each applicant shall consult with the
applicable agencies of the Federal Government and coordinate the
proposed activities of the applicant with existing State and local
programs.
(j) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide technical
assistance and capacity building to national and State energy
partnerships, including the entities described in subsection (b)(1), to
leverage the existing job training and education programs of the
Department of Energy.
(k) Report.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress and make
publicly available on the website of the Department of Energy an annual
report on the program established under this section, including a
description of--
(1) the entities receiving grants;
(2) the activities carried out using the grants;
(3) best practices used to leverage the investment of the
Federal Government;
(4) the rate of employment for participants after
completing a job training and education program carried out
using a grant; and
(5) an assessment of the results achieved by the program.
(l) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2021 through 2025.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
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