I 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3471 

To authorize the Secretary of Labor to award grants for the employment 

of individuals in targeted communities to perform work for the benefit 

of such communities. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 17, 2011 

Ms. TSONGAS 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 authorize the Secretary of Labor to award grants for 

the employment of individuals in targeted communities 

to perform work for the benefit of such communities. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Helping Individuals 

5 Return to Employment Act’’ or the ‘‘HIRE Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT GRANTS. 

7 (a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of Labor 

8 is authorized to award competitive grants for the hiring 


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1 of unemployed individuals to perform work to benefit com2 munities, under terms and conditions set forth in this sec3 tion. 

4 (b) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—Grants under this section 

5 may be awarded to any of the following entities in the 

6 areas described in subsection (c): 

7 (1) Units of local government. 

8 (2) Workforce investment boards, established 

9 pursuant to section 117 of the Workforce Invest10 ment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2832). 

11 (3) Non-profit organizations described in sec12 tion 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 

13 (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3)). 

14 (c) TARGETED COMMUNITIES.—Grants under this 

15 section may be awarded to eligible entities located in or 

16 primarily serving in one of the following areas, if the un17 employment rate in such area is higher than 7 percent 

18 during the 3-month period preceding the award of the 

19 grant: 

20 (1) A renewal community with respect to which 

21 a designation was in effect under section 1400E(a) 

22 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 

23 1400E(a)) on December 31, 2009. 

24 (2) An empowerment zone designated under 

25 section 1391 of such Code. 


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1 (3) A historically underutilized business zone 

2 designated under section 3(p)(1) of the Small Busi3 ness Act (15 U.S.C. 632(p)(1)). 

4 (d) INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE FOR EMPLOYMENT.— 

5 Grants awarded under this section shall be used to hire 

6 unemployed individuals residing in the areas described in 

7 subsection (c), including individuals age 16 and older, with 

8 priority going to individuals who have been unemployed 

9 for more than a year. 

10 (e) LIMITATIONS.— 

11 (1) UNION CONSULTATION.—No individual 

12 whose employment is funded under a grant author13 ized under this Act may work for an employer at 

14 which a collective bargaining agreement is in effect 

15 covering the same or similar work, unless— 

16 (A) the consent of the labor organization 

17 at such employer is obtained; and 

18 (B) negotiations have taken place between 

19 such labor organization and the employer as to 

20 the terms and conditions of such employment. 

21 (2) NONDISPLACEMENT.—An individual whose 

22 employment is funded under this Act may not dis23 place other employees whose employment is not 

24 funded under this Act. A grant recipient under this 

25 Act may not hire an employee or employees with 


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1 funds under this Act for any employment which the 

2 grant recipient would otherwise hire an employee 

3 who has been furloughed. 

4 (f) EFFECT ON UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.— 

5 The amount of any unemployment compensation payable 

6 to an individual employed under a grant established by 

7 this Act is a pro rata portion of the unemployment com8 pensation which would otherwise be payable to the em9 ployee if such employee were totally unemployed. 

10 (g) CONSULTATION REQUIREMENT.—An eligible en11 tity that receives a grant under this Act shall consult with 

12 community leaders, including small business owners, labor 

13 organizations, and local residents to assess the needs of 

14 the community to determine the qualifying activities for 

15 which individuals will be hired. 

16 (h) QUALIFYING ACTIVITIES.—Individuals hired 

17 using grant funds awarded under this section shall be em18 ployed for a minimum of 20 hours per week only in activi19 ties that benefit the community in the areas described in 

20 subsection (c), including activities such as public works, 

21 beautification, historic restoration, tutoring, and adult 

22 education. In addition, where an eligible entity determines 

23 appropriate, a portion of the grant funds may be used to 

24 ensure the safety of employees hired under the grant and 

25 provide necessary job training. 


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1 (i) FEDERAL SHARE.—Funds awarded under this 

2 section shall supplement, not supplant, funds of the eligi3 ble entity that are used for such purposes. 

4 (j) APPLICATION.—Eligible entities seeking a grant 

5 under this section shall submit an application to the Sec6 retary at such time, in such form, and containing such 

7 information and assurances as the Secretary may require. 

8 (k) REQUIRED DEADLINE FOR HIRING.—An eligible 

9 entity receiving a grant under this section shall— 

10 (1) determine the number of individuals that 

11 may be hired for a 3-year period using both grant 

12 funds and local funds available for such purpose; 

13 and 

14 (2) hire such individuals within 60 days after 

15 receiving a grant. 

16 (l) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of Labor may pro17 mulgate regulations necessary to implement the grant pro18 gram authorized by this Act, including any necessary reg19 ulations necessary to apply wage and labor protections to 

20 individuals employed under a grant. 

21 (m) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

22 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Labor 

23 such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. 

Æ 


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