[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 497 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 497
To allow that certain Federal job training and career education
programs give priority to programs that lead to recognized
postsecondary credentials.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 5, 2013
Mr. Barletta (for himself and Mr. Schneider) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the
Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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 allow that certain Federal job training and career education
programs give priority to programs that lead to recognized
postsecondary credentials.
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 ``America Works Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Recent data show that United States manufacturing
companies cannot fill as many as 600,000 skilled positions,
even as unemployment numbers hover at historically high levels.
(2) The unfilled positions are mainly in the skilled
production category, and in occupations such as machinist,
operator, craft worker, distributor, or technician.
(3) In less than 20 years, an overall loss of expertise and
management skill is expected to result from the gradual
departure from the workplace of 77,200,000 workers.
(4) Postsecondary success and workforce readiness can be
achieved through attainment of a recognized postsecondary
credential.
(5) The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook
estimates that 746,500 new jobs in computer-related occupations
will be generated from 2010 to 2020. This would equate to a 23
percent net growth in computer-related occupations.
(6) Computer-related occupations with the highest projected
growth rates include database administrators, software
developers, and network and computer systems administrators.
(7) As of June 2012, there were approximately 301,214 job
openings in the information technology sector.
(8) According to a recent report, 64 percent of managers
hiring for information technology jobs rate certifications as
having extremely high or high value in validating information
technology skills and expertise, and that value is rated
highest by senior managers, such as chief information officers,
and by medium-size firms.
SEC. 3. INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED AND NATIONALLY PORTABLE CREDENTIALS FOR JOB
TRAINING PROGRAMS.
(a) Workforce Investment Act of 1998.--
(1) Youth activities.--Section 129(c)(1)(C) of the
Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2854(c)(1)(C)) is
amended--
(A) by redesignating clauses (ii) through (iv) as
clauses (iii) through (v), respectively; and
(B) inserting after clause (i) the following:
``(ii) training (which may include priority
consideration for training programs that lead
to recognized postsecondary credentials (as
defined in section 4 of the America Works Act)
that are aligned with in-demand occupations or
industries in the local area involved, if the
local board determines that the programs meet
the quality criteria described in section
123);''.
(2) General employment and training activities.--Section
134(d)(4)(F) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C.
2864(d)(4)(F)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(iv) Programs that lead to an industry-
recognized and nationally portable
credential.--In assisting individuals in
selecting programs of training services under
this section, a one-stop operator and employees
of a one-stop center referred to in subsection
(c) may give priority consideration to programs
(approved in conjunction with eligibility
decisions made under section 122) that lead to
recognized postsecondary credentials (as
defined in section 4 of the America Works Act)
that are aligned with in-demand occupations or
industries in the local area involved.''.
(3) Criteria.--
(A) General employment and training activities.--
Section 122(b)(2)(D) of the Workforce Investment Act of
1998 (29 U.S.C. 2842(b)(2)(D)) is amended--
(i) in clause (ii), by striking ``and'' at
the end;
(ii) in clause (iii), by striking the
period and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(iv) in the case of a provider of a
program of training services that leads to a
recognized postsecondary credential (as defined
in section 4 of the America Works Act), that
the program leading to the credential meets
such quality criteria as the Governor shall
establish.''.
(B) Youth activities.--Section 123 of the Workforce
Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2843) by inserting
``(including such quality criteria as the Governor
shall establish for a training program that leads to a
recognized postsecondary credential (as defined in
section 4 of the America Works Act))'' after ``plan''.
(b) Career and Technical Education.--
(1) State plan.--Section 122(c)(1)(B) of the Carl D.
Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C.
2342(c)(1)(B)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``(B) how'' and inserting ``(B)(i)
how'';
(B) by inserting ``and'' after the semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following
``(ii) in the case of an eligible entity that, in
developing and implementing programs of study leading
to recognized postsecondary credentials, desires to
give a priority to such programs that are aligned with
in-demand occupations or industries in the area served
(as determined by the eligible agency) and that may
provide a basis for additional credentials,
certificates, or degree, how the entity will do so;''.
(2) Use of local funds.--Section 134(b) of the Carl D.
Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C.
2354(b)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (11), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(B) in paragraph (12)(B), by striking the period
and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(13) describe the career and technical education
activities supporting the attainment of recognized
postsecondary credentials (as defined in section 4 of the
America Works Act), and, in the case of an eligible recipient
that desires to provide priority consideration to certain
programs of study in accordance with the State plan under
section 122(c)(1)(B), how the eligible recipient will give
priority consideration to such activities.''.
(3) Tech-prep programs.--Section 203(c)(2)(E) of the Carl
D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20
U.S.C. 2373(c)(2)(E)) is amended by striking ``industry-
recognized credential, a certificate,'' and inserting
``recognized postsecondary credential (as defined in section 4
of the America Works Act and approved by the eligible
agency),''.
(c) Training Programs Under TAA.--Section 236(a) of the Trade Act
of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2296(a)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(12) In approving training programs for adversely affected
workers and adversely affected incumbent workers under paragraph (1),
the Secretary may give priority consideration to workers seeking
training through programs that are approved in conjunction with
eligibility decisions made under section 122 of the Workforce
Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2842), and that lead to recognized
postsecondary credentials (as defined in section 4 of the America Works
Act) that are aligned with in-demand occupations or industries in the
local area (defined for purposes of title I of the Workforce Investment
Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.)) involved.''.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Industry-recognized.--The term ``industry-recognized'',
used with respect to a credential, means a credential that--
(A) is sought or accepted by employers within the
industry sector involved as recognized, preferred, or
required for recruitment, screening, hiring, or
advancement;
(B) is endorsed by a recognized trade or
professional association or organization, representing
a significant part of the industry sector; and
(C) is a nationally portable credential, meaning a
credential that is sought or accepted, across multiple
States, as described in subparagraph (A).
(2) Recognized postsecondary credential.--The term
``recognized postsecondary credential'' means a credential
consisting of an industry-recognized credential for
postsecondary training, a certificate that meets the
requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (C) of paragraph (1) for
postsecondary training, a certificate of completion of a
postsecondary apprenticeship through a program described in
section 122(a)(2)(B) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998
(29 U.S.C. 2842(a)(2)(B)), or an associate degree or
baccalaureate degree awarded by an institution of higher
education (as defined in section 102(a) of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(a))).
SEC. 5. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require an entity with
responsibility for selecting or approving an education, training, or
workforce investment activities program with regard to a covered
provision, to select a program with a recognized postsecondary
credential or certificate as defined by this Act.
SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, take effect 120 days
after the date of enactment of this Act.
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