[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 156 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 156
To amend title II of the Department of Energy Organization Act to
reauthorize an office within the Department of Energy, to direct the
Secretary of Energy to establish and carry out a comprehensive,
nationwide energy-related industries jobs program, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 4, 2021
Mr. Rush introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on
Energy and Commerce, 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 title II of the Department of Energy Organization Act to
reauthorize an office within the Department of Energy, to direct the
Secretary of Energy to establish and carry out a comprehensive,
nationwide energy-related industries jobs program, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Blue Collar to
Green Collar Jobs Development Act of 2021''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--OFFICE OF ECONOMIC IMPACT, DIVERSITY, AND EMPLOYMENT
Sec. 101. Name of office.
Sec. 102. Energy workforce development programs.
Sec. 103. Authorization.
TITLE II--ENERGY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Sec. 201. Energy workforce development.
Sec. 202. Energy workforce grant program.
Sec. 203. Definitions.
TITLE I--OFFICE OF ECONOMIC IMPACT, DIVERSITY, AND EMPLOYMENT
SEC. 101. NAME OF OFFICE.
(a) In General.--Section 211 of the Department of Energy
Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7141) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``minority economic
impact'' and inserting ``economic impact, diversity, and
employment''; and
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ``Office of Minority
Economic Impact'' and inserting ``Office of Economic Impact,
Diversity, and Employment''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for the Department
of Energy Organization Act is amended by amending the item relating to
section 211 to read as follows:
``Sec. 211. Office of Economic Impact, Diversity, and Employment.''.
SEC. 102. ENERGY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.
Section 211 of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C.
7141) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections
(g) and (h), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
``(f) The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall establish
and carry out the programs described in sections 201 and 202 of the
Blue Collar to Green Collar Jobs Development Act of 2021.''.
SEC. 103. AUTHORIZATION.
Subsection (h) of section 211 of the Department of Energy
Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7141), as redesignated by section 102 of
this Act, is amended by striking ``not to exceed $3,000,000 for fiscal
year 1979, not to exceed $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1980, and not to
exceed $6,000,000 for fiscal year 1981. Of the amounts so appropriated
each fiscal year, not less than 50 percent shall be available for
purposes of financial assistance under subsection (e).'' and inserting
``$100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.''.
TITLE II--ENERGY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
SEC. 201. ENERGY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
(a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations for
such purpose, the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Office
of Economic Impact, Diversity, and Employment, shall establish and
carry out a comprehensive, nationwide program to improve education and
training for jobs in energy-related industries in order to increase the
number of skilled workers trained for such jobs.
(b) Direct Assistance.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the program established
under subsection (a), the Secretary may provide--
(A) financial assistance awards, technical
assistance, and other assistance the Secretary
determines appropriate, to educational institutions and
covered organizations and programs, including those
serving unemployed energy workers; and
(B) internships, fellowships, traineeships, and
apprenticeships at the Department of Energy, including
at the Department of Energy national laboratories.
(2) Distribution.--Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary
shall distribute assistance described in paragraph (1) in a
manner proportional to the needs of energy-related industries
and demand for jobs in energy-related industries, consistent
with information developed under subsection (e).
(c) Priority.--In carrying out the program established under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
(1) prioritize the education and training of individuals
from underrepresented communities for jobs in energy-related
industries, including in providing internships, fellowships,
traineeships, apprenticeships, and employment at the Department
of Energy, including at the Department of Energy national
laboratories; and
(2) in providing research grants and technical assistance
to educational institutions, give priority to minority-serving
institutions.
(d) Collaboration and Outreach.--In carrying out the program
established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
(1) collaborate with--
(A) to the maximum extent possible, State workforce
development boards, to maximize program efficiency;
(B) educational institutions and covered
organizations and programs;
(C) energy-related industries and covered
organizations and programs to increase the
opportunities for, and enrollment of, students and
other candidates, including students of minority-
serving institutions and unemployed energy workers, to
participate in industry internships, fellowships,
traineeships, and apprenticeships; and
(D) Federal-State Regional Commissions, including
the Appalachia Regional Commission, the Delta Regional
Authority, the Denali Commission, the Northern Border
Regional Commission, the Northern Great Plains Regional
Commission, and the Southeast Crescent Regional
Commission; and
(2) conduct outreach activities to--
(A) encourage individuals from underrepresented
communities and unemployed energy workers to enter into
the STEM fields; and
(B) encourage and foster collaboration,
mentorships, and partnerships among energy-related
industries, and covered organizations and programs,
that provide effective training programs for jobs in
energy-related industries and educational institutions
that seek to establish these types of programs in order
to share best practices and approaches that best suit
local, State, and national needs.
(e) Clearinghouse.--
(1) Establishment.--In carrying out the program established
under subsection (a), the Secretary, in collaboration with the
Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Secretary
of Commerce, the Director of the Bureau of the Census, and
energy-related industries, shall establish a clearinghouse to--
(A) develop, maintain, and update information and
other resources, by State and by region, on--
(i) training programs for jobs in energy-
related industries; and
(ii) the current and future workforce needs
of energy-related industries, and job
opportunities in such energy-related
industries, including identification of jobs in
energy-related industries for which there is
the greatest demand; and
(B) act as a resource for educational institutions
and covered organizations and programs that would like
to develop and implement training programs for such
jobs.
(2) Report.--The Secretary shall annually publish a report
on the information and other resources developed, maintained,
and updated on the clearinghouse established under paragraph
(1).
(f) Guidelines To Develop Skills for an Energy Industry
Workforce.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the program established
under subsection (a), the Secretary, in collaboration with the
Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Commerce, the
Secretary of Labor, and the National Science Foundation, shall
develop voluntary guidelines or best practices for educational
institutions to help provide students with the skills necessary
for jobs in energy-related industries, including jobs in--
(A) the energy efficiency industry, including jobs
in energy efficiency (including architecture, design,
and construction of new energy efficient buildings),
conservation, weatherization, retrofitting, inspecting,
auditing, and software development;
(B) the renewable energy industry, including jobs
in the development, engineering, manufacturing, and
production of energy from renewable energy sources
(such as solar, hydropower, wind, and geothermal
energy);
(C) the community energy resiliency industry,
including jobs in the installation of rooftop solar, in
battery storage, and in microgrid technologies;
(D) the fuel cell and hydrogen energy industry;
(E) the advanced automotive technology industry,
including jobs relating to electric vehicle batteries,
connectivity and automation, and advanced combustion
engines;
(F) the manufacturing industry, including jobs as
operations technicians, in operations and design in
additive manufacturing, 3-D printing, and advanced
composites and advanced aluminum and other metal
alloys, and in industrial energy efficiency management
systems, including power electronics, and other
innovative technologies;
(G) the chemical manufacturing industry, including
jobs in construction (such as welders, pipefitters, and
tool and die makers), as instrument and electrical
technicians, machinists, chemical process operators,
engineers, quality and safety professionals, and
reliability engineers;
(H) the utility industry, including jobs in smart
grid technology, cybersecurity management, and the
generation, transmission, and distribution of
electricity and natural gas, such as electricians and
utility dispatchers, technicians, operators,
lineworkers, engineers, scientists, and information
technology specialists;
(I) the alternative fuels industry, including jobs
in biofuel and bioproducts development and production;
(J) the pipeline industry, including jobs in
pipeline construction and maintenance and jobs as
engineers and technical advisors;
(K) the nuclear energy industry, including jobs as
scientists, engineers, technicians, mathematicians, and
security personnel;
(L) the oil and gas industry, including jobs as
scientists, engineers, technicians, mathematicians,
petrochemical engineers, and geologists; and
(M) the coal industry, including jobs as coal
miners, engineers, developers and manufacturers of
state-of-the-art coal facilities, technology vendors,
coal transportation workers and operators, and mining
equipment vendors.
(2) Input.--The Secretary shall solicit input from energy-
related industries in developing guidelines or best practices
under paragraph (1).
(3) Energy efficiency and conservation initiatives.--The
guidelines or best practices developed under paragraph (1)
shall include grade-specific guidelines for elementary schools
and secondary schools for teaching energy efficiency
technology, architecture, design, and construction of new
energy-efficient buildings and building energy retrofits,
manufacturing efficiency technology, community energy
resiliency, and conservation initiatives.
(4) STEM education.--The guidelines or best practices
developed under paragraph (1) shall promote STEM education in
educational institutions as it relates to job opportunities in
energy-related industries listed under such paragraph.
(5) Prohibition.--Nothing in this subsection shall be
construed to authorize the Secretary or any other officer or
employee of the Federal Government to require or coerce a
State, local educational agency, or educational institution to
adopt or carry out the guidelines or best practices developed
under paragraph (1).
(g) Consolidation.--To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall,
to avoid duplication of efforts, carry out the Equity in Energy
Initiative of the Department of Energy, the Minority Educational
Institution Student Partnership Program of the Department of Energy,
and any other program of the Department of Energy that the Secretary
determines appropriate, through the program established under
subsection (a).
(h) 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.
SEC. 202. ENERGY WORKFORCE GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Program.--
(1) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations for such purpose, the Secretary, acting through
the Director of the Office of Economic Impact, Diversity, and
Employment, shall establish and carry out a program to provide
grants to eligible entities to pay the eligible wages of, or
eligible stipends for, individuals during the time period that
such individuals are receiving training to work for an eligible
business.
(2) Guidelines.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with
eligible businesses, shall establish guidelines that identify--
(A) criteria for wages and stipends to meet to be
eligible for purposes of the program established
pursuant to paragraph (1); and
(B) training that is eligible for purposes of the
program established pursuant to paragraph (1).
(b) Eligibility.--For purposes of this section:
(1) Eligible business.--The term ``eligible business''
means a business that provides services related to--
(A) renewable electric energy generation, including
solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, and other
renewable electric energy generation technologies;
(B) energy efficiency, including energy-efficient
lighting, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning,
air source heat pumps, advanced building materials,
insulation and air sealing, and other high-efficiency
products and services, including auditing and
inspection, architecture, design, and construction of
new energy efficient buildings and building energy
retrofits;
(C) grid modernization or energy storage, including
smart grid, microgrid and other distributed energy
solutions, demand response management, and home energy
management technology;
(D) advanced fossil energy technology, including--
(i) advanced resource development;
(ii) carbon capture, storage, and use;
(iii) low-carbon power systems;
(iv) efficiency improvements that
substantially reduce emissions; and
(v) direct air capture;
(E) nuclear energy, including research,
development, demonstration, and commercial application
relating to nuclear energy;
(F) cybersecurity for the energy sector, including
infrastructure, emergency planning, coordination,
response, and restoration;
(G) alternative fuels, including biofuel and
bioproduct development and production;
(H) advanced automotive technology, including
electric vehicle batteries, connectivity and
automation, and advanced combustion engines; or
(I) fuel cell and hybrid fuel cell generation.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) an eligible business; or
(B) a labor organization, nonprofit organization,
or qualified youth or conservation corps, that provides
training to individuals to work for an eligible
business, or works on behalf of any such eligible
business.
(3) Eligible stipend.--The term ``eligible stipend'' means
a stipend that meets the criteria identified pursuant to the
guidelines established under subsection (a)(2).
(4) Eligible wages.--The term ``eligible wages'' means
wages that meet the criteria identified pursuant to the
guidelines established under subsection (a)(2).
(c) Use of Grants.--
(1) Eligible wages.--An eligible business with--
(A) 20 or fewer employees may use a grant provided
under the program established under subsection (a) to
pay up to--
(i) 45 percent of an employee's eligible
wages for the duration of the applicable
training for such employee, if the training is
provided by the eligible business; and
(ii) 90 percent of an employee's eligible
wages for the duration of the applicable
training for such employee, if the training is
provided by an entity other than the eligible
business;
(B) 21 to 99 employees may use a grant provided
under the program established under subsection (a) to
pay up to--
(i) 37.5 percent of an employee's eligible
wages for the duration of the applicable
training for such employee, if the training is
provided by the eligible business; and
(ii) 75 percent of an employee's eligible
wages for the duration of the applicable
training for such employee, if the training is
provided by an entity other than the eligible
business; and
(C) 100 employees or more may use a grant provided
under the program established under subsection (a) to
pay up to--
(i) 25 percent of an employee's eligible
wages for the duration of the applicable
training for such employee, if the training is
provided by the eligible business; and
(ii) 50 percent of an employee's eligible
wages for the duration of the applicable
training for such employee, if the training is
provided by an entity other than the eligible
business.
(2) Stipend.--An eligible entity may use a grant provided
under the program established under subsection (a) to pay up to
100 percent of an eligible stipend for an individual for the
duration of the applicable training for such individual.
(d) Priority for Targeted Communities.--In providing grants under
the program established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give
priority to an eligible entity that--
(1) recruits or trains individuals who are--
(A) from the community that the eligible entity
serves; and
(B)(i) from underrepresented communities; or
(ii) unemployed energy workers; and
(2) will provide individuals receiving training with the
opportunity to obtain or retain employment at an eligible
business.
(e) Limit.--An eligible entity may not receive more than $100,000
under the program established under subsection (a) per fiscal year.
(f) Report.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress, annually for
each year the program established under subsection (a) is carried out,
a report on such program, including--
(1) an assessment of such program for the previous year,
including the number of jobs filled by individuals trained
pursuant to such program; and
(2) recommendations on how to improve such program.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $70,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2021 through 2025.
SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Apprenticeship.--The term ``apprenticeship'' 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) Covered organizations and programs.--The term ``covered
organizations and programs'' means local workforce development
boards, State workforce development boards, nonprofit
organizations, qualified youth or conservation corps, labor
organizations, pre-apprenticeship programs, and apprenticeship
programs.
(3) Educational institution.--The term ``educational
institution'' means an elementary school, secondary school, or
institution of higher education.
(4) Elementary school and secondary school.--The terms
``elementary school'' and ``secondary school'' have the
meanings given such terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(5) Energy-related industry.--The term ``energy-related
industry'' includes the energy efficiency industry, renewable
energy industry, community energy resiliency industry, fuel
cell and hydrogen energy industry, advanced automotive
technology industry, chemical manufacturing industry, electric
utility industry, gas utility industry, alternative fuels
industry, pipeline industry, nuclear energy industry, oil and
gas industry, and coal industry.
(6) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such
term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1002), except that such term does not include
institutions described in subparagraph (A) or (C) of subsection
(a)(1) of such section 102.
(7) Jobs in energy-related industries.--The term ``jobs in
energy-related industries'' includes manufacturing,
engineering, construction, and retrofitting jobs in energy-
related industries.
(8) Labor organization.--The term ``labor organization''
has the meaning given such term in section 2 of the National
Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 152).
(9) Local workforce development board.--The term ``local
workforce development board'' means a local board, as defined
in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
(29 U.S.C. 3102).
(10) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
serving institution'' means an institution of higher education
that is of one of the following:
(A) A Hispanic-serving institution (as defined in
section 502(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1101a(a))).
(B) A Tribal College or University (as defined in
section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1059c(b))).
(C) An Alaska Native-serving institution (as
defined in section 317(b) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b))).
(D) A Native Hawaiian-serving institution (as
defined in section 317(b) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b))).
(E) A Predominantly Black Institution (as defined
in section 318(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1059e(b))).
(F) A Native American-serving nontribal institution
(as defined in section 319(b) of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059f(b))).
(G) An Asian American and Native American Pacific
Islander-serving institution (as defined in section
320(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1059g(b))).
(H) A part B institution (as defined in section 322
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061)).
(11) Pre-apprenticeship program.--The term ``pre-
apprenticeship program''--
(A) means a program or set of strategies that is
designed to prepare individuals to enter and succeed in
an apprenticeship program; and
(B) includes training and training curriculum
aligned with apprenticeship and industry standards to
teach participants necessary industry-related skills
and competencies.
(12) Qualified youth or conservation corps.--The term
``qualified youth or conservation corps'' has the meaning given
such term in section 203(11) of the Public Lands Corps Act of
1993 (16 U.S.C. 1722(11)).
(13) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy.
(14) State workforce development board.--The term ``State
workforce development board'' means a State board, as defined
in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
(29 U.S.C. 3102).
(15) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' means science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics.
(16) Underrepresented communities.--The term
``underrepresented communities'' includes religious and ethnic
minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities,
individuals who are socioeconomically disadvantaged,
individuals who are or were foster children, and formerly
incarcerated individuals.
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