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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1781 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1781

    To direct the Secretary of Labor to carry out a sustainability 
               workforce training and education program.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 30, 2009

  Mr. Space introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
    To direct the Secretary of Labor to carry out a sustainability 
               workforce training and education program.

    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 ``Renew Through Green Jobs Act of 
2009''.

SEC. 2. WORKFORCE TRAINING AND EDUCATION IN CLEAN ENERGY, ENERGY 
              EFFICIENCY, CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION, AND SUSTAINABLE 
              ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES.

    (a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``institution of higher 
education'' has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
    (b) In General.--From funds made available under subsection (e), 
the Secretary of Labor shall carry out a sustainability workforce 
training and education program. In carrying out the program, the 
Secretary shall award grants to institutions of higher education to 
provide workforce training and education in industries and practices, 
such as--
            (1) clean energy, including wind, solar, and geothermal 
        energy;
            (2) green construction, green retrofitting, and green 
        design;
            (3) green chemistry,
            (4) water and energy conservation;
            (5) recycling and waste reduction;
            (6) sustainable agriculture and farming;
            (7) sustainable culinary practices;
            (8) smart grid technology, design, and deployment;
            (9) advanced vehicle technology, including plug-in electric 
        drive vehicles; and
            (10) electric power transmission systems, including 
        upgrading and reconductoring.
    (c) Award Considerations.--Of the funds made available under 
subsection (b) for a fiscal year, not less than half shall be awarded 
to institutions of higher education with existing (as of the date of 
the award) academic programs that lead to certificates or degrees in 1 
or more of the industries and practices described in paragraphs (1) 
through (10) of subsection (b).
    (d) Peer Review.--The Secretary shall convene a peer review process 
to review applications for grants under this section and to make 
recommendations regarding the selection of grantees. Members of the 
peer review committee shall include--
            (1) educators who have relevant experience in implementing 
        curricula with comparable aims and subject matter; and
            (2) business and industry experts who work in clean energy-
        related fields.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for 
fiscal year 2009 and each subsequent fiscal year.
                                 <all>
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