[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6108 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6108
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to support community college
and industry partnerships, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 1, 2021
Ms. Kelly of Illinois introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to support community college
and industry partnerships, 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 ``Community College to Career Fund in
Higher Education Act''.
SEC. 2. COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO CAREER FUND.
Title VIII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1161a et
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``PART BB--COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO CAREER FUND
``SEC. 899. COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS GRANT PROGRAM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) WIOA definitions.--The terms `career pathway',
`integrated education and training', `individual with a barrier
to employment', `industry or sector partnership', and `in-
demand industry sector or occupation' have the meanings given
to such terms in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
``(2) Community college.--The term `community college'
means a public institution of higher education at which the
highest degree that is predominantly awarded to students is an
associate's degree, including 2-year Tribal Colleges or
Universities, as defined in section 316, and public 2-year
institutions of higher education.
``(3) Education and workforce training program.--The term
`education and workforce training program'--
``(A) means a career pathway program, or a program
that utilizes integrated education and training
strategies, that leads to a recognized postsecondary
credential; and
``(B) includes a registered apprenticeship program,
on-the-job training program, or paid internship, if the
program or internship meets the requirements of
subparagraph (A).
``(4) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means an
institution of higher education, or a consortium of
institutions of higher education, that--
``(A) is part of an industry or sector partnership,
or is working directly with an industry or sector
partnership for purposes of a grant under this section;
and
``(B) may, for purposes of a grant under this
section and in addition to the industry or sector
partnership, partner with one or more of the following:
``(i) An eligible provider, as defined in
section 203 of the Adult Education and Family
Literacy Act (29 U.S.C. 3272).
``(ii) An institution of higher education,
as defined in section 101.
``(iii) An elementary school or secondary
school, as such terms are defined in section
8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965.
``(iv) Any other entity that the
Secretaries consider appropriate.
``(5) Institution of higher education.--The term
`institution of higher education'--
``(A) means--
``(i) a community college; or
``(ii) a 4-year public institution of
higher education (as defined in section 101(a))
or a Tribal College or University (as defined
in section 316(b)) that--
``(I) offers an associate degree;
and
``(II) will use funds provided
under this section for education and
workforce training programs or
activities for courses of study that
culminate with a recognized
postsecondary credential, and not for
courses of study culminating in a
baccalaureate or advanced degree; and
``(B) includes institutions described in
subparagraph (A) that are located in the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands,
American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands,
the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of
Palau.
``(6) Recognized postsecondary credential.--The term
`recognized postsecondary credential' means a credential
consisting of an industry-recognized certificate or
certification, a certificate of completion of an
apprenticeship, a license recognized by the State involved or
Federal Government, or an associate degree.
``(7) Secretaries.--The term `Secretaries' means the
Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Labor, acting
jointly in accordance with the interagency agreement described
in subsection (h).
``(b) Grants Authorized.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than the last day of the first
full fiscal year following the date of enactment of the
Community College to Career Fund in Higher Education Act and
from funds appropriated under subsection (g), the Secretaries
shall award competitive grants to eligible entities to enable
the eligible entities to carry out education and workforce
training programs or activities described in subsection (e).
``(2) Duration of grants.--Grants awarded under this
section shall be for a period of not more than 5 years, subject
to subsection (f)(3).
``(c) Application.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this
section shall submit to the Secretaries an application at such time, in
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretaries
determine is required. The application shall contain--
``(1) a grant proposal for each education and workforce
training program or activity to be supported under the grant
that includes a detailed description of--
``(A) the specific education and workforce training
program or activity that will be supported, and the
quality of the program or activity;
``(B) the extent to which the program or activity
aligns with--
``(i) an overall strategic plan developed
by the eligible entity in collaboration with an
industry sector partnership and, if applicable,
other partner organizations;
``(ii) a statewide or regional workforce
development strategy, including strategies
established under the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.) and
the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical
Education Act of 2006; and
``(iii) in-demand industry sectors or
occupations;
``(C) quantitative data and evidence that
demonstrates the extent to which the program or
activity to be supported will meet the needs of
employers in the area for skilled workers in in-demand
industry sectors or occupations;
``(D) the extent to which the program or activity
to be supported will meet the needs of students in the
area;
``(E) how the program or activity to be supported
meets the criteria established under subsection (d),
including the manner in which the grant will be used to
develop, offer, improve, or provide the program or
activity; and
``(F) any previous experience of the eligible
entity in providing education and workforce training
programs or activities, the absence of which shall not
automatically disqualify an eligible entity from
receiving a grant under this section; and
``(2)(A) a detailed description of how the eligible entity
will ensure that any education and workforce training programs
or activities supported under the grant will meet the
performance measures described in subsection (f); and
``(B) an assurance that the entity will annually submit to
the Secretaries information on the performance of each
education and workforce training program or activity supported
under the grant, in the context of the performance measures
described in subsection (f).
``(d) Criteria for Award.--
``(1) In general.--Grants under this section shall be
awarded based on criteria established by the Secretaries that
shall include, at a minimum, the following:
``(A) A determination of the merits of the grant
proposal submitted by the eligible entity to develop,
offer, improve, or provide an education and workforce
training program or activity to be made available to
students.
``(B) An assessment of the likely employment
opportunities available in the area to individuals who
complete an education and workforce training program or
activity that the eligible entity proposes to develop,
offer, improve or provide under the grant, based on
State or local labor market data.
``(2) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretaries shall give priority to eligible entities that--
``(A) are working with an industry or sector
partnership that prioritizes facilitating the hiring of
individuals who have obtained a recognized
postsecondary credential from the education and
workforce training programs or activities offered by
the eligible entity;
``(B) are focused on serving individuals with
barriers to employment, veterans, spouses of members of
the Armed Forces, or incumbent workers who are low-
skilled and who need to increase their employability
skills;
``(C) serve areas with high unemployment rates; or
``(D) commit to increasing access to education and
workforce training programs or activities that meet the
needs of employers in in-demand industry sectors or
occupations.
``(e) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under
this section shall use grant funds for 1 or more of the following:
``(1) The development, offering, improvement, or provision
of 1 or more education and workforce training programs or
activities leading to recognized postsecondary credentials that
will meet the needs of employers in in-demand industry sectors
or occupations.
``(2) The development and implementation of policies,
programs, or activities that expand opportunities for students
to earn a recognized postsecondary credential in in-demand
industry sectors or occupations, including by--
``(A) facilitating the transfer of academic credits
between institutions of higher education (as defined in
section 101), including the transfer of academic
credits for courses in the same field or program of
study;
``(B) expanding articulation agreements and
policies that guarantee transfers between such
institutions, including through common course numbering
and use of general core curriculum;
``(C) developing or enhancing student support
service programs or activities; and
``(D) establishing policies and processes for
assessing and awarding postsecondary credit for work-
related learning or work-based learning (as defined in
section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical
Education Act of 2006).
``(3) The creation or alignment of career pathways that
provide a sequence of education and occupational training that
leads to a recognized postsecondary credential, including
programs or activities that--
``(A) blend basic skills and occupational training;
``(B) facilitate means of transitioning
participants from noncredit occupational, basic skills,
or developmental coursework to for-credit coursework
within and across institutions;
``(C) build or enhance linkages between secondary
education or adult education and literacy programs
(including those programs established under the Carl D.
Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 or
the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C.
3201 et seq.)) and postsecondary institutions,
including the development of dual or concurrent
enrollment programs; or
``(D) are designed to increase the provision of
workforce training for students, including students who
are members of the Armed Forces (including members of
the National Guard or Reserves) and veterans, in order
to facilitate their entry into high-skill, high-wage
jobs or in-demand industry sectors or occupations.
``(f) Performance Measures.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretaries shall establish
performance measures for the education and workforce training
programs and activities supported under this section, which
shall consist of--
``(A) the primary indicators of performance, as
described in section 116(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C.
3141(b)(2)(A)(i)); and
``(B) a level of performance for each indicator
described in subparagraph (A).
``(2) Monitoring progress.--The Secretaries shall--
``(A) monitor the progress of eligible entities
that receive grants under this section to ensure their
education and workforce training programs or activities
supported under this section meet the performance
measures established under paragraph (1); and
``(B) annually publish a report regarding the
progress of such programs or activities in meeting the
performance measures, including the results for each
performance measure disaggregated by--
``(i) race and ethnicity;
``(ii) age intervals;
``(iii) gender; and
``(iv) Federal Pell Grant recipient status.
``(3) Satisfactory progress.--The Secretaries shall not
continue to provide funds under a grant under this section
after the third year of the grant period unless the eligible
entity has achieved satisfactory progress toward meeting the
levels of performance on the performance measures, as
determined by the Secretaries.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary.
``(2) Administrative cost.--Not more than 5 percent of the
amounts made available under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year
may be used by the Secretaries for the Federal administration
of the program under this section, including providing
technical assistance and carrying out evaluations.
``(3) Period of availability.--Funds appropriated under
paragraph (1) for a fiscal year shall remain available for
obligation for that fiscal year and the succeeding 4 fiscal
years.
``(h) Interagency Agreement.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of enactment of the Community College to Career Fund in Higher
Education Act, the Secretaries shall enter into a formal interagency
agreement establishing the terms by which the Secretaries shall jointly
administer the program under this section.''.
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