[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 996 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 996
To award grants to certain institutions of higher education to educate
and train students to participate in the telecommunications workforce.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 25, 2021
Mr. Wicker (for himself, Ms. Sinema, and Mr. Scott of South Carolina)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To award grants to certain institutions of higher education to educate
and train students to participate in the telecommunications workforce.
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 ``Improving Minority Participation And
Careers in Telecommunications Act'' or the ``IMPACT Act''.
SEC. 2. TELECOMMUNICATIONS WORKFORCE TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Assistant secretary.--The term ``Assistant Secretary''
means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications
and Information.
(2) Covered grant.--The term ``covered grant'' means a
grant awarded under subsection (b).
(3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a
historically Black college or university, Tribal College or
University, or minority-serving institution, or a consortium of
such entities, that forms a partnership with 1 or more of the
following entities to carry out a training program:
(A) A member of the telecommunications industry,
such as a company or industry association.
(B) A labor-management organization.
(C) The Telecommunications Industry Registered
Apprenticeship Program.
(D) A nonprofit organization dedicated to helping
individuals gain employment in the telecommunications
industry.
(E) A community or technical college with
experience in providing workforce development for
individuals seeking employment in the
telecommunications industry or a similar industry.
(4) Fund.--The term ``Fund'' means the Telecommunications
Workforce Training Grant Program Fund established under
subsection (c)(1).
(5) Grant program.--The term ``Grant Program'' means the
Telecommunications Workforce Training Grant Program established
under subsection (b).
(6) Historically black college or university.--The term
``historically Black college or university'' has the meaning
given the term `part B institution' in section 322 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).
(7) Industry field activities.--The term ``industry field
activities'' means activities at active telecommunications
worksites, such as towers, construction sites, and network
management hubs.
(8) Industry partner.--The term ``industry partner'' means
an entity described in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of
paragraph (3) with which an eligible entity forms a partnership
to carry out a training program.
(9) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
serving institution'' means an institution described in section
371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1067q(a)).
(10) Training program.--The term ``training program'' means
a credit or non-credit program developed by an eligible entity,
in partnership with an industry partner, that--
(A) is designed to educate and train students to
participate in the telecommunications workforce; and
(B) includes a curriculum and apprenticeship or
internship opportunities.
(11) Tribal college or university.--The term ``Tribal
College or University'' has the meaning given the term in
section 316(b)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1059c(b)(3)).
(b) Program.--The Assistant Secretary, acting through the Office of
Minority Broadband Initiatives established under section 902(b)(1) of
division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law
116-260), shall establish a program, to be known as the
``Telecommunications Workforce Training Grant Program'', under which
the Assistant Secretary awards grants to eligible entities to develop
training programs.
(c) Fund.--
(1) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of
the United States a fund to be known as the
``Telecommunications Workforce Training Grant Program Fund''.
(2) Availability.--Amounts in the Fund shall be available
to the Assistant Secretary to carry out the Grant Program.
(d) Application.--
(1) In general.--An eligible entity desiring a covered
grant shall submit an application to the Assistant Secretary at
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as
the Assistant Secretary may require.
(2) Contents.--An eligible entity shall include in an
application under paragraph (1)--
(A) a commitment from the industry partner of the
eligible entity to collaborate with the eligible entity
to develop a training program, including curricula and
internships or apprenticeships;
(B) a description of how the eligible entity plans
to use the covered grant, including the type of
training program the eligible entity plans to develop;
and
(C) a plan to increase female student participation
in the training program of the eligible entity.
(e) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity may use a covered grant, with
respect to the training program of the eligible entity, to--
(1) hire faculty members to teach courses in the training
program;
(2) train faculty members to prepare students for
employment in jobs related to the deployment of next-generation
communications networks, including 5G networks, and fiber
infrastructure, particularly in--
(A) broadband and wireless network engineering;
(B) network deployment;
(C) industry field activities; and
(D) cybersecurity;
(3) design and develop curricula and other components
necessary for degrees, courses, or programs of study, including
certificate programs and credentialing programs, that comprise
the training program;
(4) pay for costs associated with instruction under the
training program, including the costs of equipment,
telecommunications training towers, laboratory space, classroom
space, and instructional field activities;
(5) fund scholarships, student internships,
apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeship opportunities;
(6) recruit students for the training program; and
(7) support the enrollment in the training program of
individuals working in the telecommunications industry in order
to advance professionally in the industry.
(f) Grant Awards.--
(1) Deadline.--Not later than December 31, 2022, the
Assistant Secretary shall award all covered grants.
(2) Minimum allocation to certain entities.--The Assistant
Secretary shall award not less than--
(A) 30 percent of covered grant amounts to
historically Black colleges or universities; and
(B) 30 percent of covered grant amounts to Tribal
Colleges or Universities.
(3) Evaluation criteria.--As part of the final rules issued
under subsection (g), the Assistant Secretary shall develop
criteria for evaluating applications for covered grants.
(g) Rules.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, after providing public notice and an opportunity to comment,
the Assistant Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor
and the Secretary of Education, shall issue final rules governing the
Grant Program.
(h) Term.--The Assistant Secretary shall establish the term of a
covered grant, which may not be less than 5 years.
(i) Grantee Reports.--During the term of a covered grant received
by an eligible entity, the eligible entity shall submit to the
Assistant Secretary an annual report that, with respect to the
preceding year--
(1) describes how the eligible entity used the covered
grant amounts;
(2) describes the progress the eligible entity made in
developing and executing the training program of the eligible
entity;
(3) describes the number of faculty and students
participating in the training program of the eligible entity;
(4) describes the partnership with the industry partner of
the eligible entity, including the commitments and in-kind
contributions made by the industry partner; and
(5) includes data on internship, apprenticeship, and
employment opportunities and placements.
(j) Oversight.--
(1) Audits.--The Inspector General of the Department of
Commerce shall audit the Grant Program in order to--
(A) ensure that eligible entities use covered grant
amounts in accordance with--
(i) the requirements of this section; and
(ii) the overall purpose of the Grant
Program, as described in subsection (b); and
(B) prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in the
operation of the Grant Program.
(2) Revocation of funds.--The Assistant Secretary shall
revoke a grant awarded to an eligible entity that is not in
compliance with the requirements of this section or the overall
purpose of the Grant Program, as described in subsection (b).
(k) Annual Report to Congress.--Each year, until all covered grants
have expired, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to Congress a report
that--
(1) identifies each eligible entity that received a covered
grant and the amount of the covered grant;
(2) describes the progress each eligible entity described
in paragraph (1) has made toward accomplishing the overall
purpose of the Grant Program, as described in subsection (b);
(3) summarizes the job placement status or apprenticeship
opportunities of students who have participated in the training
program of the eligible entity; and
(4) includes the findings of any audits conducted by the
Inspector General of the Department of Commerce under
subsection (j)(1) that were not included in the previous report
submitted under this subsection.
(l) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Fund $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2021, to remain
available until expended.
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