59–006 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 110–262 

GREEN JOBS ACT OF 2007 

JULY 27, 2007.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, from the Committee on 

Education and Labor, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

together with 

MINORITY VIEWS 

[To accompany H.R. 2847] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Education and Labor, to whom was referred 

the bill (H.R. 2847) to amend the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 

to establish an energy efficiency and renewable energy worker 

training program, having considered the same, report favorably 

thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as 

amended do pass. 

The amendment is as follows: 

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Green Jobs Act of 2007’’. 

SEC. 2. ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM. 

Section 171 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2916) is amended 

by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(e) ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM.— 

‘‘(1) GRANT PROGRAM.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment 

of the Green Jobs Act of 2007, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall establish an energy efficiency and renewable energy 

worker training program under which the Secretary shall carry out the activities described in paragraph (2) to achieve the purposes of this subsection. 

‘‘(B) ELIGIBILITY.—For purposes of providing assistance and services 

under the program established under this subsection— 


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‘‘(i) target populations of eligible individuals to be given priority for 

training and other services shall include— ‘‘(I) workers affected by national energy and environmental policy; ‘‘(II) individuals in need of updated training related to the energy 

efficiency and renewable energy industries; and ‘‘(III) veterans, or past and present members of reserve components of the Armed Forces; ‘‘(IV) unemployed workers; 

‘‘(V) individuals, including at-risk youth, seeking employment 

pathways out of poverty and into economic self-sufficiency; and ‘‘(VI) formerly incarcerated, adjudicated, non-violent offenders; ‘‘(ii) energy efficiency and renewable energy industries eligible to participate in a program under this subsection include— ‘‘(I) the energy-efficient building, construction, and retrofits industries; ‘‘(II) the renewable electric power industry; 

‘‘(III) the energy efficient and advanced drive train vehicle industry; ‘‘(IV) the biofuels industry; 

‘‘(V) the deconstruction and materials use industries; 

‘‘(VI) the energy efficiency assessment industry serving the residential, commercial, or industrial sectors; and 

‘‘(VII) manufacturers that produce sustainable products using environmentally sustainable processes and materials. 

‘‘(2) ACTIVITIES.—

‘‘(A) NATIONAL RESEARCH PROGRAM.—Under the program established 

under paragraph (1), the Secretary, acting through the Bureau of Labor 

Statistics, where appropriate, shall collect and analyze labor market data 

to track workforce trends resulting from energy-related initiatives carried 

out under this subsection. Activities carried out under this paragraph shall 

include—

‘‘(i) tracking and documentation of academic and occupational competencies as well as future skill needs with respect to renewable energy 

and energy efficiency technology; 

‘‘(ii) tracking and documentation of occupational information and 

workforce training data with respect to renewable energy and energy 

efficiency technology; 

‘‘(iii) collaborating with State agencies, workforce investments boards, 

industry, organized labor, and community and nonprofit organizations 

to disseminate information on successful innovations for labor market 

services and worker training with respect to renewable energy and energy efficiency technology; 

‘‘(iv) serving as a clearinghouse for best practices in workforce development, job placement, and collaborative training partnerships; 

‘‘(v) promoting the establishment of workforce training initiatives 

with respect to renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies; 

and 

‘‘(vi) linking research and development in renewable energy and energy efficiency technology with the development of standards and curricula for current and future jobs; 

‘‘(vii) assessing new employment and work practices including career 

ladder and upgrade training as well as high performance work systems; 

‘‘(viii) providing technical assistance and capacity building to national 

and state energy partnerships, including industry and labor representatives. 

‘‘(B) NATIONAL ENERGY TRAINING PARTNERSHIP GRANTS.—

‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Under the program established under paragraph 

(1), the Secretary shall award National Energy Training Partnerships 

Grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to enable such entities 

to carry out training that leads to economic self-sufficiency and to develop an energy efficiency and renewable energy industries workforce. 

Grants shall be awarded under this subparagraph so as to ensure geographic diversity with at least 2 grants awarded to entities located in 

each of the 4 Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts with no 

subdistricts, and at least 1 grant awarded to an entity located in each 

of the subdistricts of the Petroleum Administration for Defense District 

with subdistricts, as such districts are established by the Secretary of 

Energy. 


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‘‘(ii) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant under clause (i), 

an entity shall be a non-profit partnership that—

‘‘(I) includes the equal participation of industry, including public 

or private employers, and labor organizations, including joint labormanagement training programs, and may include workforce investment boards, community-based organizations, educational institutions, small businesses, cooperatives, State and local veterans 

agencies, and veterans service organizations; and 

‘‘(II) demonstrates—

‘‘(aa) experience in implementing and operating worker skills 

training and education programs; 

‘‘(bb) the ability to identify and involve in training programs 

carried out under this grant, target populations of workers who 

would benefit from activities related to energy efficiency and 

renewable energy industries; and 

‘‘(cc) the ability to help workers achieve economic self-sufficiency. 

‘‘(iii) PRIORITY.—Priority shall be given to partnerships which leverage additional public and private resources to fund training programs, 

including cash or in-kind matches from participating employers. 

‘‘(C) STATE LABOR MARKET RESEARCH, INFORMATION, AND LABOR EXCHANGE

RESEARCH PROGRAM.—

‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Under the program established under paragraph 

(1), the Secretary shall award competitive grants to States to enable 

such States to administer labor market and labor exchange information 

programs that include the implementation of the activities described in 

clause (ii), in coordination with the one-stop delivery system. 

‘‘(ii) ACTIVITIES.—A State shall use amounts awarded under a grant 

under this subparagraph to provide funding to the State agency that 

administers the Wagner-Peyser Act and State unemployment compensation programs to carry out the following activities using State 

agency merit staff: 

‘‘(I) The identification of job openings in the renewable energy 

and energy efficiency sector. 

‘‘(II) The administration of skill and aptitude testing and assessment for workers. 

‘‘(III) The counseling, case management, and referral of qualified 

job seekers to openings and training programs, including energy efficiency and renewable energy training programs. 

‘‘(D) STATE ENERGY TRAINING PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.—

‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Under the program established under paragraph 

(1), the Secretary shall award competitive grants to States to enable 

such States to administer renewable energy and energy efficiency workforce development programs that include the implementation of the activities described in clause (ii). 

‘‘(ii) PARTNERSHIPS.—A State shall use amounts awarded under a 

grant under this subparagraph to award competitive grants to eligible 

State Energy Sector Partnerships to enable such Partnerships to coordinate with existing apprenticeship and labor management training 

programs and implement training programs that lead to the economic 

self-sufficiency of trainees. 

‘‘(iii) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant under this subparagraph, a State Energy Sector Partnership shall—

‘‘(I) consist of non-profit organizations that include equal participation from industry, including public or private nonprofit employers, and labor organizations, including joint labor-management 

training programs, and may include representatives from local governments, the workforce investment system, including worker investment agency one-stop career centers, community based organizations, community colleges, and other post-secondary institutions, 

small businesses, cooperatives, State and local veterans agencies, 

and veterans service organizations; 

‘‘(II) demonstrate experience in implementing and operating 

worker skills training and education programs; and 

‘‘(III) demonstrate the ability to identify and involve in training 

programs, target populations of workers who would benefit from 

activities related to energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. 


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‘‘(iv) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this subparagraph, the 

Secretary shall give priority to States that demonstrate that activities 

under the grant— ‘‘(I) meet national energy policies associated with energy efficiency, renewable energy, and the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases; ‘‘(II) meet State energy policies associated with energy efficiency, 

renewable energy, and the reduction of emissions of greenhouse 

gases; and ‘‘(III) leverage additional public and private resources to fund 

training programs, including cash or in-kind matches from participating employers. ‘‘(v) COORDINATION.—A grantee under this subparagraph shall coordinate activities carried out under the grant with existing other appropriate training programs, including apprenticeship and labor management training programs, and implement training programs that lead to 

the economic self-sufficiency of trainees. ‘‘(E) PATHWAYS OUT OF POVERTY DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.— ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Under the program established under paragraph 

(1), the Secretary shall award at least 10 competitive grants to eligible 

entities to enable such entities to carry out training that leads to economic self-sufficiency. The Secretary shall give priority to entities that 

serve individuals in families with income of less than 200 percent of the 

poverty threshold (as determined by the Bureau of the Census) or a 

self-sufficiency standard for the local areas where the training is conducted that specifies the income needs of families, by family size, the 

number and ages of children in the family, and sub-State geographical 

considerations. Grants shall be awards to ensure geographic diversity. 

‘‘(ii) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—To be eligible to receive a grant an entity 

shall be a partnership that—

‘‘(I) includes community-based non-profit organizations, educational institutions with expertise in serving low-income adults or 

youth, public or private employers from the industry sectors described in paragraph (1)(B)(ii), and labor organizations representing workers in such industry sectors; 

‘‘(II) demonstrates experience in implementing and operating 

worker skills training and education programs; 

‘‘(III) coordinates activities, where appropriate, with the workforce investment system; and 

‘‘(IV) demonstrates the ability to recruit individuals for training 

and to support such individuals to successful completion in training 

programs carried out under this grant, targeting populations of 

workers who are or will be engaged in activities related to energy 

efficiency and renewable energy industries. 

‘‘(iii) PRIORITIES.—In awarding grants under this paragraph, the Secretary shall give priority to applicants that—

‘‘(I) target programs to benefit low-income workers, unemployed 

youth and adults, high school dropouts, or other underserved sectors of the workforce within areas of high poverty; 

‘‘(II) ensure that supportive services are integrated with education and training, and delivered by organizations with direct access to and experience with targeted populations; 

‘‘(III) leverage additional public and private resources to fund 

training programs, including cash or in-kind matches from participating employers; 

‘‘(IV) involve employers and labor organizations in the determination of relevant skills and competencies and ensure that the 

certificates or credentials that result from the training are employer-recognized; 

‘‘(V) deliver courses at alternative times (such as evening and 

weekend programs) and locations most convenient and accessible to 

participants; and 

‘‘(VI) link adult remedial education with occupational skills training. 

‘‘(iv) DATA COLLECTION.—Grantees shall collect and report the following information: 

‘‘(I) The number of participants. 

‘‘(II) The demographic characteristics of participants, including 

race, gender, age, parenting status, participation in other Federal 


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programs, education and literacy level at entry, significant barriers 

to employment (such as limited English proficiency, criminal 

record, addiction or mental health problem requiring treatment, or 

mental disability). ‘‘(III) The services received by participants, including training, 

education, and supportive services. ‘‘(IV) The amount of program spending per participant. 

‘‘(V) Program completion rates. 

‘‘(VI) Factors determined as significantly interfering with program participation or completion. ‘‘(VII) The rate of Job placement and the rate of employment retention after 1 year. ‘‘(VIII) The average wage at placement, including any benefits, 

and the rate of average wage increase after 1 year. ‘‘(IX) Any post-employment supportive services provided. 

The Secretary shall assist grantees in the collection of data under this 

clause by making available, where practicable, low-cost means of tracking the labor market outcomes of participants, and by providing standardized reporting forms, where appropriate. ‘‘(3) ACTIVITIES.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Activities to be carried out under a program authorized by subparagraphs (B), (D), or (E) of paragraph (2) shall be coordinated 

with existing systems or providers, as appropriate. Such activities may include—

‘‘(i) occupational skills training, including curriculum development, 

on-the-job training, and classroom training; 

‘‘(ii) safety and health training; 

‘‘(iii) the provision of basic skills, literacy, GED, English as a second 

language, and job readiness training; 

‘‘(iv) individual referral and tuition assistance for a community college training program, or any training program leading to an industryrecognized certificate; 

‘‘(v) internship programs in fields related to energy efficiency and renewable energy; 

‘‘(vi) customized training in conjunction with an existing registered 

apprenticeship program or labor-management partnership; 

‘‘(vii) career ladder and upgrade training; 

‘‘(viii) the implementation of transitional jobs strategies; and 

‘‘(ix) the provision of supportive services. 

‘‘(B) OUTREACH ACTIVITIES.—In addition to the activities authorized under 

subparagraph (A), activities authorized for programs under subparagraphs 

(D) or (E) of paragraph (2) may include the provision of outreach, recruitment, career guidance, and case management services. 

‘‘(4) WORKER PROTECTIONS AND NONDISCRIMINATION REQUIREMENTS.—

‘‘(A) APPLICATION OF WIA.—The provisions of sections 181 and 188 of the 

Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2931 and 2938) shall apply 

to all programs carried out with assistance under this subsection. 

‘‘(B) CONSULTATION WITH LABOR ORGANIZATIONS.—If a labor organization 

represents a substantial number of workers who are engaged in similar 

work or training in an area that is the same as the area that is proposed 

to be funded under this Act, the labor organization shall be provided an opportunity to be consulted and to submit comments in regard to such a proposal. 

‘‘(5) PERFORMANCE MEASURES.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall negotiate and reach agreement 

with the eligible entities that receive grants and assistance under this section on performance measures for the indicators of performance referred to 

in subparagraph (A) and (B) of section 136(b)(2) that will be used to evaluate the performance of the eligible entity in carrying out the activities described in subsection (e)(2). Each State and local performance measure shall 

consist of such an indicator of performance, and a performance level referred to in subparagraph (B). 

‘‘(B) PERFORMANCE LEVELS.—The Secretary shall negotiate and reach 

agreement with the eligible entity regarding the levels of performance expected to be achieved by the eligible entity on the indicators of performance. 

‘‘(6) REPORT.—

‘‘(A) STATUS REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the Green Jobs Act of 2007, the Secretary shall transmit a report 

to Congress on the training program established by this subsection. The reVerDate Aug 31 2005 01:57 Jul 29, 2007 Jkt 059006 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6621 E:\HR\OC\HR262.XXX HR262

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port shall include a description of the entities receiving funding and the activities carried out by such entities. 

‘‘(B) EVALUATION.—Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of 

such Act, the Secretary shall transmit to Congress an assessment of such 

program and an evaluation of the activities carried out by entities receiving 

funding from such program. 

‘‘(7) DEFINITION.—As used in this subsection, the term ‘renewable energy’ has 

the meaning given such term in section 203(b)(2) of the Energy Policy Act of 

2005 (Public Law 109–58). 

‘‘(8) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection, $125,000,000 for each fiscal year, of 

which—

‘‘(A) not to exceed 20 percent of the amount appropriated in each such 

fiscal year shall be made available for, and shall be equally divided between, national labor market research and information under paragraph 

(2)(A) and State labor market information and labor exchange research 

under paragraph (2)(C), and not more than 2 percent of such amount shall 

be for the evaluation and report required under paragraph (4); 

‘‘(B) 20 percent shall be dedicated to Pathways Out of Poverty Demonstration Programs under paragraph (2)(E); and 

‘‘(C) the remainder shall be divided equally between National Energy 

Partnership Training Grants under paragraph (2)(B) and State energy 

training partnership grants under paragraph (2)(D).’’. 

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this legislation is to establish a sustainable, public program providing quality workforce training linked to good jobs 

that are created by federal renewable energy and energy efficiency 

initiatives. 

II. COMMITTEE ACTION INCLUDING LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND

VOTES IN COMMITTEE

110TH CONGRESS

Introduction of the Green Jobs Act of 2007 

H.R. 2847, the Green Jobs Act of 2007, was introduced on June 

25, 2007, by Ms. Solis, for herself, Mr. Tierney and Mr. McNerney. 

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Education and 

Labor. 

Full Committee markup of the Green Jobs Act of 2007 

On June 27, 2007, the Committee on Education and Labor met 

to markup H.R. 2847. The bill was ordered to be reported by the 

Committee, by a vote of 26 ayes, 18 nays and 1 present. During the 

markup, several amendments were considered. The amendments 

are described in the Explanation of Amendments section of this report. 

III. SUMMARY OF THE BILL

The legislation would establish a grant program for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Workforce Training to be administered by the Department of Labor (DOL) in coordination with the 

Department of Energy to help America develop the specialized 

workforce skills needed to ensure robust growth and development 

of good jobs in the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries. The initiative would: (1) expand our nation’s capacity to identify and track the new jobs and skills associated with the growing 

clean energy technology sector; (2) develop national and state skill 


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training programs that will demonstrate best practices in quality 

training that address skill shortages that have already begun to 

impair the expansion of clean energy and efficiency technologies; 

and (3) provide a pathway out of poverty by training targeted 

workers for sustainable employment. 

IV. STATEMENT AND COMMITTEE VIEWS

The United States must reduce its dependency on oil 

It has become increasingly clear that the United States must reduce its dependency on oil. The United States is home to less than 

three percent of the world’s reserves and more than sixty percent 

of oil consumed in the United States is imported, costing our nation 

more than $290 billion annually. U.S. gasoline consumption as a 

share of GDP is nearly five times that in the other major industrialized countries. 

The dependency on oil makes us subject to the international 

risks associated with unpredictable and unstable nations. Seventyseven percent of the world’s 1.148 trillion barrels of proven reserves are in the hands of the national companies; 14 of the top 20 

oil-producing companies are state-controlled. Our nation’s dependence on foreign energy sources and energy costs has grown, making 

all Americans less secure and hitting the bottom lines of families 

and businesses across the country. 

A recent report titled ‘‘National Security and the Threat of Climate Change,’’ underscored the connection between security, energy use and climate change and clearly outlined the risks of inaction. It concluded that climate change is a threat multiplier for instability in some of the most volatile regions of our world, resulting 

in already weak and failing governments being pushed toward 

authoritarianism and radical ideologies. 

Renewable energy sources provide hope for the future 

Renewable energy sources hold the promise of providing a long 

term solution to our nation’s energy needs. Renewable energy 

sources include solar power, wind power, hydropower, biomass and 

geothermal energy. By definition, renewable energy sources do not 

diminish over time, and they have much less of an environmental 

impact. Developing these resources in a responsible way can go a 

long way towards addressing our energy security needs and global 

warming. 

Job growth in the energy sector 

The energy sector of our economy is growing. President Bush’s 

high growth job initiative identified the energy sector as one of 14 

sectors that fit within the following criteria: (1) projected to add 

substantial numbers of new jobs to the economy or affect the 

growth of other industries; or (2) existing or emerging businesses 

being transformed by technology and innovation requiring new 

skills sets for workers. 

Our workers currently lack the skills needed for renewable energy 

jobs 

We increasingly face a skills gap in our economy. The jobs being 

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fore. Currently, our workforce does not have the necessary skills required to meet the needs of employers in the new economy. We 

must invest in education and training to help our workers meet 

this challenge. 

This skills gap issue is prevalent in the energy sector of our economy. A 2006 study from the National Renewable Energy Lab 

(NREL) identified the shortage of skills and training as a leading 

non-technical barrier to renewable energy and energy efficiency 

growth. The NREL study identified a number of critical unmet 

training needs, including lack of reliable installation, maintenance, 

and inspection services, the shortage of key technical and manufacturing skills, and failure of the educational system to provide adequate training in new technologies. 

Employers and investors in the renewable energy sector have 

identified this gap as a barrier to growth and expansion. According 

to Energy Solutions (St. Louis, MO), ‘‘The limiting factor to our 

growth as an industry is lack of qualified professionals to perform 

the analyses. We need a more robust effort to train even college 

graduates to understand the use of energy in the built environment 

. . .’’ Mainstay Energy (Chicago, IL) expressed similar concerns, 

stating, ‘‘We see incredible promise for energy to drive the re-industrialization of this region, but we need more skilled workers. In everything from construction to engineering to trades to project management, our economy can benefit from more well-trained ‘‘green 

collar’’ workers.’’

As Congress advances programs to enhance the development of 

energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, the shortage of 

trained workers is emerging as a significant barrier to growth in 

this sector. 

The Green Jobs Act of 2007 will help train the workers we need 

The programs established by the Green Jobs Act of 2007 would 

help ensure that our nation has the most up-to-date research and 

labor market information as well as the best models for training 

workers in the new skills required to properly manufacture, install, 

maintain, and operate clean energy technologies. For instance, 

grant funding provided under the legislation could train workers in 

such substantial new skills as wind turbine siting, airfoils and composite repair, and weather patterns that affect turbine performance. 

While the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries use 

many skills that can be transferred from other industries, specific, 

additional skills are often needed to take maximum advantage of 

the newer energy technologies. For instance, investments in training of building maintenance workers and building superintendents 

and engineers can improve the operations of today’s sophisticated 

heating and cooling systems by as much as ten percent in large 

public and commercial buildings, according to the National Association of Energy Services Companies. Such training could save millions of dollars per year in energy costs in larger public or commercial buildings. 

The Green Jobs Act of 2007 will help address this need by providing training opportunities for 20,000 to 30,000 workers a year. 


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V. SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title 

Section 1 provides that the Short Title of H.R. 2847 is the ‘‘Green 

Jobs Act of 2007.’’

Section 2. 

Section 2 creates a Subsection (e) in Section 171, of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA). 

Section 171(e) ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM. Section 171(e)(1)(A) directs the Secretary of Labor to establish an 

energy efficient and renewable energy worker training program in 

consultation with the Secretary of Energy. 

Section 171(e)(1)(B)(i) identifies target populations who have priority for training under the act. 

Section 171(e)(1)(B)(ii) provides a nonexclusive list of eligible energy efficiency and renewable industries. 

Section 171(e)(2)(A) establishes a national research program to 

develop labor market data and track future green collar workforce 

trends through the Bureau of Labor Statistics, where appropriate. 

Section 171(e)(2)(B)(i) establishes National Energy Training Partnership Grants. These competitive grants would be available to all 

eligible entities to carry out training that leads to economic self 

sufficiency and develops an energy efficiency and renewable energy 

industries workforce. The grant process is intended to ensure geographic diversity, by requiring that at least two grants are awarded to entities located in each of the four Petroleum Administration 

for Defense Districts and at least one is awarded to an entity located in each of the sub districts of the Petroleum Administration 

or Defense District. 

Section 171(e)(2)(B)(ii) includes a list of requirements for the 

partnerships eligible to receive a grant. The partnerships must include business and labor, and may include other entities involved 

in education and training. The partnership must demonstrate experience in implementing training and education programs and in 

identifying populations who would benefit from the training. Priority is provided to partnerships that leverage other resources. 

Section 171(e)(2)(B)(iii) provides that eligible activities for the 

National Energy training partnership grants program include occupational skills training, safety and health training, wrap around 

support services (including transportation, child care and income 

support), basic skills such as job readiness, GED and English as a 

second language, and tuition assistance for community college 

training programs. 

Section 171(e)(2)(C)(i) provides for a State Labor Marker Research, Information and Labor Exchange Research program to be 

implemented in coordination with the one-stop delivery system. 

Section 171(e)(2)(C)(ii) provides for funding to state agencies that 

administer the Wagner-Peyser Act and state unemployment compensation programs. The funding is provided for the agencies to 

identify job openings, administer skill and aptitude testing and provide counseling and case management services. 

Section 171(e)(2)(D)(i) establishes a State Energy Training Partnership Program. Under this program, the Secretary shall provide 


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grants to States to administer renewable energy and energy efficiency workforce development programs. 

Section 171(e)(2)(D)(ii) directs the State to use the amounts 

awarded to eligible State Energy Sector Partnerships, in coordination with existing apprenticeships, labor management training programs and programs that lead to training individuals for economic 

self-sufficiency. 

Section 171(e)(2)(D)(iii) provides the requirements for eligibility 

to receive a State Energy Sector Partnership grant. A partnership 

must include equal participation of industry and labor, and may include other entities involved in education and training. The partnership must demonstrate experience in implementing training 

and education programs and in identifying populations who would 

benefit from the training. Priority is provided to partnerships 

which leverage other resources. 

Section 171(e)(2)(D)(iv) provides priority to States that demonstrate that activities under the grant meet National and State 

energy policies, and leverage other resources. 

Section 171(e)(2)(D)(v) requires grantees to coordinate with existing apprenticeships, labor management training programs and programs encouraging economic self-sufficiency. 

Section 171(e)(2)(E)(i) defines the purpose of the Pathways Out 

of Poverty Demonstration Program grants that enable eligible entities to carry out training that leads to economic self-sufficiency, for 

targeted impoverished families. This section enables the program 

to award a minimum of 10 grants to eligible entities that train or 

lead to helping individuals establish economic self-sufficiency. 

Section 171(e)(2)(E)(ii) outlines the requirements for entities to 

be eligible to receive a Pathways Out of Poverty grant. Partnerships must include community based organizations, educational institutions, industry and labor organizations. Eligible entities must 

have expertise in serving the lower income public, and must demonstrate experience in training, and recruiting targeted populations. 

Section 171(e)(2)(E)(iii) provides priority to grant applicants that: 

target low income workers; ensure integrated supportive services; 

leverage other resources; involve employers and labor; deliver services at alternative times and locations; and link with adult remedial education and training. 

Section 171(e)(2)(E)(v) requires grantees to collect and report 

their programs data. The data includes the number of participants, 

demographic characteristics of participants, a detailed description 

of services rendered to the participants, the amount of spending, 

program completion rates, placement rates, average wage at placement and all performance information. 

Section 171(e)(3)(A) outlines the activities to be carried out under 

the National Energy Training Partnerships, the State Energy 

Training Partnerships, and the Pathways Out of Poverty Demonstration Grants. Such activities include: occupational training; 

on-the-job training; safety and health training; basic skills, literacy, 

GED, ESL and job readiness training; training leading to community college or industry-recognized certificate training; internships; 

customized training; career ladder training; transitional jobs strategies; and supportive services. Where internships are funded 


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through these grants, the Committee urges that they be paid internships, where possible. 

Section 171(e)(3)(B) provides for outreach and recruitment activities for the State Energy Training Partnerships and the Pathways 

Out of Poverty Grants. 

Section 171(e)(4) applies the WIA worker protection and nondiscrimination provisions to all programs carried out under the 

subsection, and provides for consultation with labor organizations 

representing affected workers. 

Section 171(e)(5) provides for the Secretary to negotiate performance measures to measure the effectiveness of programs funded by 

the grants authorized under this act. 

Section 171(e)(6) requires the Secretary to report to Congress on 

the status of the program not later than 18 months of the date of 

enactment, and requires an evaluation of the program not later 

than 3 years after the date of enactment. 

Section 171(e)(7) defines renewable energy consistent with the 

Energy Policy Act of 2005. 

Section 171(e)(8) provides an authorization of $125,000,000 to 

carry out the purposes of this act. No more than twenty percent of 

the amount appropriated is to be available for national labor market research, and state labor market information. Twenty percent 

is to be dedicated to the Pathways Out of Poverty Demonstration 

programs and the remainder shall be divided between the National 

Energy Partnership Training Grants and State Energy Training 

Partnership Grants. 

VI. EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

A summary of the amendments appears below: 

McKeon Substitute: This substitute proposed to strike the creation of the new program and replace it with specific authority for 

state and local workforce investment boards to carry out worker 

training programs focusing on renewable energy and energy efficiency. The authority to carry out such programs is already provided for in current law, however insufficient funding has militated 

against the creation of programs designed to address National priorities such as Green Jobs. The amendment was defeated by a vote 

of 20 ayes and 25 nays. 

Boustany Amendment: This amendment proposed to sunset the 

program created in the Green Jobs Act after five years. The program was created as a part of the Workforce Investment Act of 

1998 (WIA), and as such it would be subject to the authorization 

cycle of WIA. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 18 ayes 

and 26 nays. 

Price Amendment: This amendment proposed to apply Paygo to 

H.R. 2847. This Congress has imposed strict Paygo requirements 

on all mandatory spending. H.R. 2847 does not contain mandatory 

or direct spending. All funds provided for the grant program are 

subject to appropriations. The amendment was defeated by a vote 

of 20 ayes and 25 nays. 

McKeon Amendment: This amendment proposed to add ‘‘the nuclear and clean coal to liquids industries’’ to the list of eligible industries. There are serious questions regarding whether these industries can be fairly described as safe, clean, and efficient renewVerDate Aug 31 2005 01:57 Jul 29, 2007 Jkt 059006 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR262.XXX HR262

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able energy industries. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 

20 ayes and 25 nays. 

McKeon Amendment: This amendment proposed to strike priority to ‘‘formerly incarcerated, adjudicated, non-violent offenders.’’ This population is in great need of additional skills, in order to 

avoid recidivism and the cycle of poverty. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 20 ayes and 26 nays. 

The following amendments were adopted by voice vote: 

Kucinich Amendment: This amendment added ‘‘the energy efficiency assessment industry’’ as an eligible industry. 

Ehlers Amendment: This amendment added ‘‘manufacturers that 

produce sustainable products using environmentally sustainable 

processes and materials’’ as an eligible industry. 

Foxx Amendment: To require the Secretary of Labor to apply 

performance measures to the grants. 

Tierney Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute: The substitute contained technical modifications. 

VII. APPLICATION OF LAW TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

Section 102(b)(3) of Public Law 104–1, the Congressional Accountability Act, requires a description of the application of this bill 

to the legislative branch. H.R. 2847 would have no direct impact 

on the Legislative Branch. 

VIII. REGULATORY IMPACT STATEMENT

The Committee has determined that H.R. 2847 will have only a 

minimal impact on the regulatory burden. 

IX. UNFUNDED MANDATE STATEMENT

Section 423 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act (as amended by Section 101(a)(2) of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, P.L. 104–4) requires a statement of whether the 

provisions of the reported bill include unfunded mandates. 

(See attached CBO letter for further analysis.) 

X. EARMARK STATEMENT

H.R. 2847 does not contain any congressional earmarks, limited 

tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e) 

or 9(f) of rule XXI. 


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XII. STATEMENT OF OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

OF THE COMMITTEE

In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause 2(b)(1) 

of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee’s oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the 

body of this report. 

XIII. NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY AND CBO COST ESTIMATE

With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of 

the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 308(a) of the 

Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and with respect to requirements 

of 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives 

and section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received the following estimate for H.R. 2847 from the 

Director of the Congressional Budget Office: 

U.S. CONGRESS, 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, 

Washington, DC, July 13, 2007. 

Hon. GEORGE MILLER, 

Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 2847, the Green Jobs Act 

of 2007. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Christina Hawley Anthony. 

Sincerely, 

PETER R. ORSZAG, 

Director. 

Enclosure. 

H.R. 2847—Green Jobs Act of 2007 

Summary: H.R. 2847 would amend the Workforce Investment 

Act of 1998 to create a new training program for energy efficiency 

and renewable energy workers. That program would target workers 

affected by national energy and environmental policy and individuals in need of updated training in those areas. The bill would authorize appropriations of $125 million for each fiscal year for activities that would include national and state labor market research, 

job referral, and job training. Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 2847 

would increase outlays by $5 million in 2008 and $390 million over 

the 2008–2012 period. Enacting the bill would not affect direct 

spending or revenues. 

H.R. 2847 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) 

and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary impact of H.R. 2847 is shown in the following table. The costs 

of this legislation fall within budget function 500 (education, training, employment: and social services). 


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By fiscal year, in millions of dollars— 

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 

CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION 

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Worker Training Program: 

Authorization Level ..................................................................... 125 125 125 125 125 

Estimated Outlays ...................................................................... 5 45 95 120 125 

Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that the bill 

will be enacted by the end of fiscal year 2007 that the amounts authorized in the bill are appropriated for each year, and that outlays 

will follow historical patterns for similar programs. 

H.R. 2847 would amend the Workforce Investment Act to authorize appropriations of $125 million annually for a new training program for energy efficiency and renewable energy workers. Funding 

would be allocated for labor market research at the national and 

state levels, and to competitive grants to states and nonprofit organizations for workforce development and job training activities that 

target energy efficiency and renewable energy sectors. Assuming 

appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that enacting the bill would cost $5 million in 2008 and $390 million over 

the 2008–2012 period. 

Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 2847 contains 

no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in 

UMRA. It would authorize several grant programs that would benefit state governments. Any costs to those governments would be 

incurred voluntarily as a condition of receiving federal assistance. 

Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Christina Hawley Anthony; 

Impact on state, local, and tribal governments: Melissa Merrell; 

Impact on the private sector: Nabeel Alsalam. 

Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

XIV. STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND

OBJECTIVES

In accordance with clause 3(c) of House Rule XIII, the goal of 

H.R. 2847 is to establish a grant program to provide for energy efficiency and renewable energy workforce training. 

XV. CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Under clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 

Representatives, the Committee must include a statement citing 

the specific powers granted to Congress in the Constitution to 

enact the law proposed by H.R. 2847. The Committee believes that 

the amendments made by this bill, which establish a sustainable, 

public program providing quality workforce training linked to good 

jobs that are created by federal renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives are within Congress’ authority under Article I, 

section 8, clause 1 of the Constitution of the United States. 

XVI. COMMITTEE ESTIMATE

Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison of the costs 

that would be incurred in carrying out H.R. 2847. However, clause 

3(d)(3)(B) of that rule provides that this requirement does not 


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apply when the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the Congressional 

Budget Act. 

XVII. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, 

as reported, are shown as follows (new matter is printed in italic 

and existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in 

roman): 

WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT OF 1998 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE I—WORKFORCE INVESTMENT 

SYSTEMS 

* * * * * * * 

Subtitle D—National Programs 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 171. DEMONSTRATION, PILOT, MULTISERVICE, RESEARCH, AND 

MULTISTATE PROJECTS. 

(a) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(e) ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM.— (1) GRANT PROGRAM.— (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after the date 

of enactment of the Green Jobs Act of 2007, the Secretary, 

in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall establish 

an energy efficiency and renewable energy worker training 

program under which the Secretary shall carry out the activities described in paragraph (2) to achieve the purposes 

of this subsection. 

(B) ELIGIBILITY.—For purposes of providing assistance 

and services under the program established under this subsection—

(i) target populations of eligible individuals to be 

given priority for training and other services shall include—

(I) workers affected by national energy and environmental policy; 

(II) individuals in need of updated training related to the energy efficiency and renewable energy 

industries; and 

(III) veterans, or past and present members of reserve components of the Armed Forces; 

(IV) unemployed workers; 


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(V) individuals, including at-risk youth, seeking 

employment pathways out of poverty and into economic self-sufficiency; and 

(VI) formerly incarcerated, adjudicated, non-violent offenders; 

(ii) energy efficiency and renewable energy industries 

eligible to participate in a program under this subsection include—

(I) the energy-efficient building, construction, 

and retrofits industries; 

(II) the renewable electric power industry; 

(III) the energy efficient and advanced drive 

train vehicle industry; 

(IV) the biofuels industry; 

(V) the deconstruction and materials use industries; 

(VI) the energy efficiency assessment industry 

serving the residential, commercial, or industrial 

sectors; and 

(VII) manufacturers that produce sustainable 

products using environmentally sustainable processes and materials. 

(2) ACTIVITIES.—

(A) NATIONAL RESEARCH PROGRAM.—Under the program 

established under paragraph (1), the Secretary, acting 

through the Bureau of Labor Statistics, where appropriate, 

shall collect and analyze labor market data to track workforce trends resulting from energy-related initiatives carried 

out under this subsection. Activities carried out under this 

paragraph shall include—

(i) tracking and documentation of academic and occupational competencies as well as future skill needs 

with respect to renewable energy and energy efficiency 

technology; 

(ii) tracking and documentation of occupational information and workforce training data with respect to 

renewable energy and energy efficiency technology; 

(iii) collaborating with State agencies, workforce investments boards, industry, organized labor, and community and nonprofit organizations to disseminate information on successful innovations for labor market 

services and worker training with respect to renewable 

energy and energy efficiency technology; 

(iv) serving as a clearinghouse for best practices in 

workforce development, job placement, and collaborative training partnerships; 

(v) promoting the establishment of workforce training 

initiatives with respect to renewable energy and energy 

efficiency technologies; and 

(vi) linking research and development in renewable 

energy and energy efficiency technology with the development of standards and curricula for current and future jobs; 


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(vii) assessing new employment and work practices 

including career ladder and upgrade training as well 

as high performance work systems; 

(viii) providing technical assistance and capacity 

building to national and state energy partnerships, including industry and labor representatives. 

(B) NATIONAL ENERGY TRAINING PARTNERSHIP GRANTS.— (i) IN GENERAL.—Under the program established 

under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall award National Energy Training Partnerships Grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to enable such entities 

to carry out training that leads to economic self-sufficiency and to develop an energy efficiency and renewable energy industries workforce. Grants shall be 

awarded under this subparagraph so as to ensure geographic diversity with at least 2 grants awarded to entities located in each of the 4 Petroleum Administration 

for Defense Districts with no subdistricts, and at least 

1 grant awarded to an entity located in each of the 

subdistricts of the Petroleum Administration for Defense District with subdistricts, as such districts are established by the Secretary of Energy. 

(ii) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant 

under clause (i), an entity shall be a non-profit partnership that— (I) includes the equal participation of industry, 

including public or private employers, and labor 

organizations, including joint labor-management 

training programs, and may include workforce investment boards, community-based organizations, 

educational institutions, small businesses, cooperatives, State and local veterans agencies, and veterans service organizations; and 

(II) demonstrates—

(aa) experience in implementing and operating worker skills training and education 

programs; 

(bb) the ability to identify and involve in 

training programs carried out under this 

grant, target populations of workers who 

would benefit from activities related to energy 

efficiency and renewable energy industries; 

and 

(cc) the ability to help workers achieve economic self-sufficiency. 

(iii) PRIORITY.—Priority shall be given to partnerships which leverage additional public and private resources to fund training programs, including cash or 

in-kind matches from participating employers. 

(C) STATE LABOR MARKET RESEARCH, INFORMATION, AND

LABOR EXCHANGE RESEARCH PROGRAM.— (i) IN GENERAL.—Under the program established 

under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall award competitive grants to States to enable such States to administer labor market and labor exchange information 


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programs that include the implementation of the activities described in clause (ii), in coordination with the 

one-stop delivery system. 

(ii) ACTIVITIES.—A State shall use amounts awarded 

under a grant under this subparagraph to provide 

funding to the State agency that administers the Wagner-Peyser Act and State unemployment compensation 

programs to carry out the following activities using 

State agency merit staff: 

(I) The identification of job openings in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sector. 

(II) The administration of skill and aptitude 

testing and assessment for workers. 

(III) The counseling, case management, and referral of qualified job seekers to openings and 

training programs, including energy efficiency and 

renewable energy training programs. 

(D) STATE ENERGY TRAINING PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.— (i) IN GENERAL.—Under the program established 

under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall award competitive grants to States to enable such States to administer renewable energy and energy efficiency workforce development programs that include the implementation of the activities described in clause (ii). 

(ii) PARTNERSHIPS.—A State shall use amounts 

awarded under a grant under this subparagraph to 

award competitive grants to eligible State Energy Sector Partnerships to enable such Partnerships to coordinate with existing apprenticeship and labor management training programs and implement training programs that lead to the economic self-sufficiency of 

trainees. 

(iii) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant 

under this subparagraph, a State Energy Sector Partnership shall— (I) consist of non-profit organizations that include equal participation from industry, including 

public or private nonprofit employers, and labor 

organizations, including joint labor-management 

training programs, and may include representatives from local governments, the workforce investment system, including worker investment agency 

one-stop career centers, community based organizations, community colleges, and other post-secondary institutions, small businesses, cooperatives, 

State and local veterans agencies, and veterans 

service organizations; 

(II) demonstrate experience in implementing and 

operating worker skills training and education 

programs; and 

(III) demonstrate the ability to identify and involve in training programs, target populations of 

workers who would benefit from activities related 

to energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. 


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(iv) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this subparagraph, the Secretary shall give priority to States 

that demonstrate that activities under the grant— (I) meet national energy policies associated with 

energy efficiency, renewable energy, and the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases; 

(II) meet State energy policies associated with 

energy efficiency, renewable energy, and the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases; and 

(III) leverage additional public and private resources to fund training programs, including cash 

or in-kind matches from participating employers. 

(v) COORDINATION.—A grantee under this subparagraph shall coordinate activities carried out under the 

grant with existing other appropriate training programs, including apprenticeship and labor management training programs, and implement training programs that lead to the economic self-sufficiency of 

trainees. 

(E) PATHWAYS OUT OF POVERTY DEMONSTRATION PRO- GRAM.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—Under the program established 

under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall award at 

least 10 competitive grants to eligible entities to enable 

such entities to carry out training that leads to economic self-sufficiency. The Secretary shall give priority 

to entities that serve individuals in families with income of less than 200 percent of the poverty threshold 

(as determined by the Bureau of the Census) or a selfsufficiency standard for the local areas where the 

training is conducted that specifies the income needs of 

families, by family size, the number and ages of children in the family, and sub-State geographical considerations. Grants shall be awards to ensure geographic 

diversity. 

(ii) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—To be eligible to receive a 

grant an entity shall be a partnership that— (I) includes community-based non-profit organizations, educational institutions with expertise in 

serving low-income adults or youth, public or private employers from the industry sectors described 

in paragraph (1)(B)(ii), and labor organizations 

representing workers in such industry sectors; 

(II) demonstrates experience in implementing 

and operating worker skills training and education programs; 

(III) coordinates activities, where appropriate, 

with the workforce investment system; and 

(IV) demonstrates the ability to recruit individuals for training and to support such individuals 

to successful completion in training programs carried out under this grant, targeting populations of 

workers who are or will be engaged in activities related to energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. 


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(iii) PRIORITIES.—In awarding grants under this 

paragraph, the Secretary shall give priority to applicants that—

(I) target programs to benefit low-income workers, unemployed youth and adults, high school 

dropouts, or other underserved sectors of the workforce within areas of high poverty; 

(II) ensure that supportive services are integrated with education and training, and delivered 

by organizations with direct access to and experience with targeted populations; 

(III) leverage additional public and private resources to fund training programs, including cash 

or in-kind matches from participating employers; 

(IV) involve employers and labor organizations 

in the determination of relevant skills and competencies and ensure that the certificates or credentials that result from the training are employerrecognized; 

(V) deliver courses at alternative times (such as 

evening and weekend programs) and locations 

most convenient and accessible to participants; 

and 

(VI) link adult remedial education with occupational skills training. 

(iv) DATA COLLECTION.—Grantees shall collect and 

report the following information: 

(I) The number of participants. 

(II) The demographic characteristics of participants, including race, gender, age, parenting status, participation in other Federal programs, education and literacy level at entry, significant barriers to employment (such as limited English proficiency, criminal record, addiction or mental 

health problem requiring treatment, or mental disability). 

(III) The services received by participants, including training, education, and supportive services. 

(IV) The amount of program spending per participant. 

(V) Program completion rates. 

(VI) Factors determined as significantly interfering with program participation or completion. 

(VII) The rate of Job placement and the rate of 

employment retention after 1 year. 

(VIII) The average wage at placement, including 

any benefits, and the rate of average wage increase 

after 1 year. 

(IX) Any post-employment supportive services 

provided. 

The Secretary shall assist grantees in the collection of 

data under this clause by making available, where 

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ket outcomes of participants, and by providing standardized reporting forms, where appropriate. 

(3) ACTIVITIES.— (A) IN GENERAL.—Activities to be carried out under a 

program authorized by subparagraphs (B), (D), or (E) of 

paragraph (2) shall be coordinated with existing systems or 

providers, as appropriate. Such activities may include— (i) occupational skills training, including curriculum 

development, on-the-job training, and classroom training; 

(ii) safety and health training; 

(iii) the provision of basic skills, literacy, GED, 

English as a second language, and job readiness training; 

(iv) individual referral and tuition assistance for a 

community college training program, or any training 

program leading to an industry-recognized certificate; 

(v) internship programs in fields related to energy efficiency and renewable energy; 

(vi) customized training in conjunction with an existing registered apprenticeship program or labor-management partnership; 

(vii) career ladder and upgrade training; 

(viii) the implementation of transitional jobs strategies; and 

(ix) the provision of supportive services. 

(B) OUTREACH ACTIVITIES.—In addition to the activities 

authorized under subparagraph (A), activities authorized 

for programs under subparagraphs (D) or (E) of paragraph 

(2) may include the provision of outreach, recruitment, career guidance, and case management services. 

(4) WORKER PROTECTIONS AND NONDISCRIMINATION REQUIREMENTS.—

(A) APPLICATION OF WIA.—The provisions of sections 181 

and 188 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 

2931 and 2938) shall apply to all programs carried out 

with assistance under this subsection. 

(B) CONSULTATION WITH LABOR ORGANIZATIONS.—If a 

labor organization represents a substantial number of 

workers who are engaged in similar work or training in an 

area that is the same as the area that is proposed to be 

funded under this Act, the labor organization shall be provided an opportunity to be consulted and to submit comments in regard to such a proposal. 

(5) PERFORMANCE MEASURES.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall negotiate and 

reach agreement with the eligible entities that receive 

grants and assistance under this section on performance 

measures for the indicators of performance referred to in 

subparagraph (A) and (B) of section 136(b)(2) that will be 

used to evaluate the performance of the eligible entity in 

carrying out the activities described in subsection (e)(2). 

Each State and local performance measure shall consist of 

such an indicator of performance, and a performance level 

referred to in subparagraph (B). 


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(B) PERFORMANCE LEVELS.—The Secretary shall negotiate and reach agreement with the eligible entity regarding 

the levels of performance expected to be achieved by the eligible entity on the indicators of performance. 

(6) REPORT.— (A) STATUS REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 

date of enactment of the Green Jobs Act of 2007, the Secretary shall transmit a report to Congress on the training 

program established by this subsection. The report shall include a description of the entities receiving funding and the 

activities carried out by such entities. 

(B) EVALUATION.—Not later than 3 years after the date 

of enactment of such Act, the Secretary shall transmit to 

Congress an assessment of such program and an evaluation 

of the activities carried out by entities receiving funding 

from such program. 

(7) DEFINITION.—As used in this subsection, the term ‘‘renewable energy’’ has the meaning given such term in section 

203(b)(2) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–58). 

(8) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized 

to be appropriated to carry out this subsection, $125,000,000 for 

each fiscal years, of which—

(A) not to exceed 20 percent of the amount appropriated 

in each such fiscal year shall be made available for, and 

shall be equally divided between, national labor market research and information under paragraph (2)(A) and State 

labor market information and labor exchange research 

under paragraph (2)(C), and not more than 2 percent of 

such amount shall be for the evaluation and report required under paragraph (4); 

(B) 20 percent shall be dedicated to Pathways Out of Poverty Demonstration Programs under paragraph (2)(E); and 

(C) the remainder shall be divided equally between National Energy Partnership Training Grants under paragraph (2)(B) and State energy training partnership grants 

under paragraph (2)(D). 

* * * * * * * 


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MINORITY VIEWS 

Republican Members of the House Committee on Education and 

Labor are committed to strengthening the workforce and ensuring 

the responsible use of energy and encouraging the use of energy efficiency and renewable energy. However, we do not believe that it 

is necessary to create the proposed new program in order to accomplish these goals. 

H.R. 2847, the Green Jobs Act of 2007, creates a new program 

under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) pilot and demonstration authority in order to provide training for workers in the energy efficiency and renewable energy fields. The bill authorizes 

three kinds of activities: research programs at both the State and 

national levels; partnership grant programs at both the State and 

national levels; and a demonstration program to help build the economic self-sufficiency of participants. 

Success in training and retraining workers is at the heart of our 

country’s ability to remain competitive in the global economy, and 

our federal job training programs are central components of that effort. In 1998, Members of both parties enacted WIA to establish a 

system of one-stop career centers aimed at providing one convenient, central location to offer job training and related employment 

services. While those reforms were generally successful, the WIA 

system is still hampered by often unnecessary bureaucracy that 

prevents it from being as effective as it could be for workers and 

their families. 

In the last Congress, this Committee and the House voted to further streamline and consolidate workforce development programs. 

We did so because program overlap and duplication has contributed 

to a still-confusing patchwork of services at the State and local 

level, squandering resources and reducing the funding available for 

job training and related services. Committee Republicans believe 

that H.R. 2847 adds to the duplicative nature of our workforce development programs, marking a significant step backwards in our 

effort to streamline the delivery of job training services. 

HISTORY OF THE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT

In 1998, under the Committee on Education and the Workforce’s 

leadership, Congress passed the Workforce Investment Act in order 

to reform the nation’s job training system that had been fragmented, contained overlapping programs, and did not serve either 

job seekers or employers well. WIA consolidated and integrated employment and training services at the local level in a more unified 

workforce development system. 

The Act created three funding streams to provide for adult employment and training services, dislocated workers’ employment 

and training services, and youth development services. These servVerDate Aug 31 2005 01:57 Jul 29, 2007 Jkt 059006 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 6604 Sfmt 6604 E:\HR\OC\HR262.XXX HR262

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ices are directed by local, business-led workforce investment 

boards. 

One of the hallmarks of the system is that, in order to encourage 

the development of comprehensive systems that improve services to 

both employers and job seekers, local services are provided through 

a one-stop delivery system. At the one-stop centers, assistance 

ranges from core services such as job search and placement assistance, access to job listings, and an initial assessment of skills and 

needs; intensive services such as comprehensive assessments and 

case management; and, if needed, occupational skills training. In 

addition, to further promote a seamless system of services for job 

seekers and employers, numerous other federal programs also must 

make their services available through the one-stop system. 

Since passage of the bill and implementation by the U.S. Department of Labor, States and local areas have created comprehensive 

services and effective one-stop delivery systems. The system is 

serving the needs of unemployed workers seeking new jobs in this 

time of economic growth. In addition, the training services provided 

through WIA are invaluable in helping employers find the workers 

they need in areas of the country facing skill shortages. 

Strengthening and improving our nation’s workforce development 

programs that help Americans get back to work is essential in this 

time of economic growth. Even during times of growth, many individuals need training to find new or better jobs in our knowledgebased economy. We know that the majority of jobs and career fields 

require at least some postsecondary education and training to succeed. 

While Committee Republicans believe that WIA has gone a long 

way to streamlining the needs of the nation’s workforce, it is essential that Congress remove barriers in current law that hamper 

workers in their efforts to take full advantage of the assistance 

WIA offers, rather than creating new, cumbersome, and duplicative 

programs. 

H.R. 2847, THE GREEN JOBS ACT

Today, rather than moving WIA forward, H.R. 2847 would add 

to the duplicative nature of our workforce development programs, 

marking a significant step backwards in our effort to streamline 

the delivery of job training services. While Committee Republicans 

strongly support State and local efforts to train individuals for careers in energy sectors, we do not agree with the creation of a new 

stand-alone, job training program. 

We strongly object to the fact that local workforce investment 

systems, which represent large and small businesses that actually 

have the jobs to offer, have little to no role in the training programs established under this legislation while the bill allows labor 

unions to assume a major role through legislated training partnerships and in required consultation of potential grant proposals, 

Currently, one-stop centers, the hallmark of the WIA legislation, 

perform much of the work proposed in the State research grants 

provision of H.R. 2847. However, one-stop centers are denied access 

to these grants under this bill. Instead of using the very well-established workforce system, the bill allocates funding for the State 

labor market research program directly to the Employment Service, 


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which means that counseling, case management, and skills assessment activities for the energy sector can only be carried out by 

State agency employees. The proposed structure would create further division between the State bureaucracy and the local one-stop 

centers, 

In addition, the program duplicates assistance programs that are 

already available to help train workers. Specifically, the workforce 

investment system currently addresses the needs of the energy industry through: (1) the WIA formula grant programs; (2) the HighGrowth Job Training Initiative; (3) the Community-Based Job 

Training Initiative; and (4) the Workforce Innovation in Regional 

Economic Development (WIRED) initiative. Under the bill, the U.S. 

Department of Labor would also be required to establish a national 

research program that would include eight specific activities. These 

activities, such as serving as a clearinghouse for best practices, are 

already conducted by the Department under other authorities; adding further duplication and complication of those activities. 

The eligible entities, target population, and authorized activities 

defined in the training partnership program and the ‘‘Pathways 

Out of Poverty Demonstration Program’’ are also duplicative of the 

services currently authorized under the WIA formula programs. 

Committee Republicans believe that a focus on renewable energy 

and ‘‘green jobs’’ is important, but it is not necessary to create an 

entirely new workforce training system and structure to do so 

when we already have an effective workforce development system 

in place. 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

Due to an effort to meet an arbitrary deadline set by the House 

leadership, H.R. 2847 was not considered under the normal Committee processes and was not afforded the proper opportunity for 

review and comment. Hearings were not held on the legislation, 

stakeholders had little or no time to review it, and the bill was purposely crafted outside the WIA reauthorization process. The proposed program should have been considered through the appropriate venues, which would have allowed for necessary stakeholder 

input. Instead, this measure will get lost in a multi-jurisdictional 

legislative package. 

If hearings had been held on this legislation, Committee Republicans would have sought to discover the rationale for giving nonviolent criminals priority for training under the bill. We also would 

have questioned why the successful one-stop program was circumvented through an entirely new and separate line of programs. 

Committee Republicans would have asked why labor unions are 

given special treatment under this bill, when the local workforce 

investment boards and the business community, those who provide 

high paying and high skilled jobs, have significantly reduced roles. 

And finally, Members should have had the opportunity to question 

why energy-related jobs were singled out when our nation needs 

additional nurses, more skilled auto workers, and new workers in 

a variety of other fields mired in heavy global competition. 


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32 

ENHANCING THE RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY

WORKFORCE

Committee Republicans support efforts to expand the energy efficient and renewable energy workforce so that the energy industry 

remains an important and critical part of our nation’s economic 

prosperity. However, we do not believe that it is necessary to create 

a new program in order to address this need. We feel that the Committee should have worked within the current system, established 

through WIA, to address our changing workforce. The key features 

of the Workforce Investment Act are the adaptability and flexibility 

it offers to answer our changing workforce needs. Congress spent 

years creating the system so that it would not be necessary to create a new program every time it wanted to focus on increased job 

training for a specific industry. 

To this end, during consideration of H.R. 2847, Committee Republicans supported an amendment in the nature of a substitute, 

offered by Congressman Howard P. ‘‘Buck’’ McKeon (R–CA), the 

Senior Republican on the Committee, which worked through the 

existing workforce investment system to give State and local programs specific authority to carry out training in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industry. 

The amendment would have used the well-established workforce 

investment system to allow States and local workforce investment 

boards to establish worker training programs for energy efficiency 

and renewable energy workforce through eligible partnerships. 

Local workforce investment boards would have been empowered to 

award competitive grants to entities in the one-stop delivery system to identify job openings, administer aptitude testing, and provide counseling and referral services for jobseekers in the energy 

efficiency and renewable energy sector. 

The amendment also would have also strengthened current WIA 

research initiatives to include energy efficiency and renewable energy training by allowing for the collection of labor market data 

from this specific sector, allowing the U.S. Department of Labor to 

track workforce trends, including occupational competencies, and 

promoting energy sector worker training initiatives resulting from 

energy-related initiatives. 

While Committee Republicans are not in favor of creating a new 

program to address the needs of the energy efficiency and renewable energy efficiency workforce, we also feel that the program neglects certain essential industries. Nearly 37 years have passed 

since the last nuclear power plant was sited in the United States. 

The last new reactor in America took 26 years alone to site and 

build (The Watts Bar–1 reactor, ordered in 1970 and licensed to operate in 1996, was the most recent U.S. nuclear unit to be completed). Nuclear energy is one of the most efficient and renewable 

energy sources our country should be promoting. As electric power 

demand increases to keep pace with technology and productivity 

gains, America needs to build more nuclear generating capacity. 

We need to increase U.S. generation by some 40 percent in the next 

two decades just to meet growing demand. 

Building new nuclear power plants requires highly skilled labor 

and most of those highly skilled construction workers are now reVerDate Aug 31 2005 04:32 Jul 29, 2007 Jkt 059006 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 6604 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR262.XXX HR262

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33 

tired. One of the most severe limitations on our ability to increase 

nuclear generation is the lack of trained workers in the specialized 

areas such as nuclear pipe fitting, wiring, steel erection and concrete construction. America needs a new generation trained for 

these high skill, high paying jobs. 

In addition to training workers in the nuclear field, new technology advances to increase energy production without negatively 

impacting the environment—such as coal-to-liquid technology— equally require worker training. It is estimated that America controls, at today’s consumption levels, approximately 210-year supply 

of energy drawn from coal. This is extremely significant considering 

we now have the technology to burn coal with little to no NOX, 

SOX or mercury. Technologies are advancing that will turn coal 

into a clean burning fuel for our transportation sector promoting 

our energy independence. A new worker training bill to expand energy jobs in America is incomplete without these industries. 

In view of these needs, Congressman McKeon offered an amendment to expand the industries that may be eligible to participate 

in the new energy efficiency and renewable energy worker training 

program. Specifically, the amendment sought to add the nuclear 

and coal-to-liquid industries. This amendment was supported by 

Committee Republicans it was rejected on a party line vote during 

Committee consideration. 

Committee Republicans also supported an amendment, offered by 

Charles Boustany (R–LA) that would have worked to avoid program duplication by sunsetting the new program after five years. 

While the Amendment was rejected on a party line vote, Committee Republicans believe that the review required by Mr. 

Boustany’s sunset clause would have gone a long way to ensuring 

the program was efficient and maintained effectiveness. 

INVOLVEMENT OF THE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT SYSTEM AND THE

BUSINESS COMMUNITY

H.R. 2847, the Green Jobs Act, requires eligible energy partnerships to apply for grants under the new national and State training 

programs and the new demonstration program for self-sufficiency. 

While industry and labor organizations are required partners 

under the partnership, the workforce investment system, which 

comprises the very entities responsible for tailoring WIA programs 

to the specific needs of local communities, is not. 

As such, Committee Republicans supported an amendment offered by Congresswoman Judy Biggert (R–IL) requiring the involvement of the workforce investment system in all energy partnerships under the bill in order to ensure that those performing 

the needed training have complete knowledge of all local workforce 

needs. The amendment would have also allowed funding under the 

State research program to go to local one-stop centers in order to 

provide the strongest array of services to energy sector workers. 

H.R. 2847 requires funding for the program to be funneled directly 

to State bureaucracies. 

The proposed bill also provides for labor organizations to be consulted on, and submit comments regarding, proposals under the 

legislation, if the proposed grant area has a sizeable number of 

workers represented by the labor organizations and engaged in 


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34 

work or training in that area. Labor organizations are the only 

group afforded this luxury in the bill language, which specifically 

excludes business and community groups. The amendment would 

have ensured that the business community was consulted in and 

afforded the opportunity to comment on grant proposals that would 

affect local industries in order to ensure that those grant programs 

best target local workforce needs. 

The amendment was withdrawn with the understanding that the 

Majority will support language to include consultation with the 

business community. 

CONCLUSION

Committee Republicans believe that the current workforce system established under WIA needs to be updated; however, the new 

program created under this bill duplicates current workforce efforts. While the energy efficiency and renewable energy fields are 

important to our nation’s economic growth, working outside of WIA 

only makes our current system more cumbersome and bureaucratic 

and reduces the odds that workers will be able to actually find good 

paying long-term jobs in these industries. We have concerns over 

the bill’s provisions that needlessly benefit labor unions and the 

government bureaucracy over a business-led workforce investment 

system. We believe that those provisions, as well as others duplicating job training assistance currently offered, will continue to 

hamper our workforce investment system when, during the last 

Congress, we made such significant progress towards streamlining 

and consolidating the existing system. It is our hope that we can 

work toward strengthening the workforce system and ensuring the 

responsible use of taxpayer resources through modifications to the 

workforce investment system established in WIA, not through new 

programs that duplicate efforts already under way. 

HOWARD P. ‘‘BUCK’’ MCKEON. 

THOMAS E. PETRI. 

PETER HOEKSTRA. 

MARK E. SOUDER. 

JUDY BIGGERT. 

TODD RUSSELL PLATTS. 

RIC KELLER. 

JOE WILSON. 

JOHN KLINE. 

KENNY MARCHANT. 

LUIS G. FORTUN ̃ O. 

CHARLES W. BOUSTANY, Jr. 

VIRGINIA FOXX. 

JOHN R. ‘‘RANDY’’ KUHL, Jr. 

ROB BISHOP. 

DAVID DAVIS. 

TIMOTHY WALBERG. 

DEAN HELLER. 

Æ 


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