Broadband Industry Development Act

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7291 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7291

  To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to direct the 
   Secretary of Labor to award grants to train workers for broadband 
                                careers.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 7, 2024

Mr. Molinaro (for himself, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, and Mr. Nickel) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                      Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to direct the 
   Secretary of Labor to award grants to train workers for broadband 
                                careers.

    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 ``Broadband Industry Development 
Act''.

SEC. 2. BROADBAND INDUSTRY TRAINING GRANTS.

    Subtitle D of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
Act (29 U.S.C. 3221 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 172 as section 173; and
            (2) by inserting after section 171 the following:

``SEC. 172. BROADBAND INDUSTRY TRAINING GRANTS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants, on a 
competitive basis, to eligible entities to provide training programs 
(including pre-apprenticeship programs) to prepare workers for careers 
in the broadband industry.
    ``(b) Application Requirements.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an 
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary may require.
    ``(c) Matching Funds.--Each eligible entity that receives a grant 
under this section shall provide, from non-Federal sources, an amount 
equal to 25 percent of the amount of the grant (which may be provided 
in cash or in kind) to carry out the activities supported by the grant.
    ``(d) No New Funds Authorized.--Amounts authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section shall be derived solely from 
amounts otherwise appropriated for the Department of Labor.
    ``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Apprenticeship program.--The term `apprenticeship 
        program' means an apprenticeship registered under the Act of 
        August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the `National Apprenticeship 
        Act'; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.).
            ``(2) Broadband.--The term `broadband' has the meaning 
        given the term `broadband internet access service' in section 
        8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or any 
        successor regulation).
            ``(3) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) an eligible provider of training services 
                identified under section 122 (or a consortium of such 
                providers);
                    ``(B) a labor organization or joint labor-
                management organization;
                    ``(C) a nonprofit entity (such as a community-based 
                organization that assists program participants in 
                accessing supportive services);
                    ``(D) a private business;
                    ``(E) an industry association; or
                    ``(F) an institution of higher education (such as a 
                community college).
            ``(4) Pre-apprenticeship program.--The term `pre-
        apprenticeship program' means a program--
                    ``(A) designed to assist individuals who do not 
                meet minimum qualifications for an apprenticeship 
                program and prepare them to enter and succeed in such 
                an apprenticeship, including by providing the skills 
                and competency attainment needed to enter the 
                apprenticeship; and
                    ``(B) that is carried out by a sponsor that has a 
                written agreement with at least one sponsor of an 
                apprenticeship.''.

SEC. 3. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO THE TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
Act in section 1(b) is amended--
            (1) by striking the item relating to section 172; and
            (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 171, 
        the following:

``Sec. 172. Broadband industry training grants.
``Sec. 173. Authorization of appropriations.''.
                                 <all>