I 

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. 

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 ‘‘Renew Through Green 

5 Jobs Act of 2009’’. 

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1 SEC. 2. WORKFORCE TRAINING AND EDUCATION IN CLEAN 

2 ENERGY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, CLIMATE 

3 CHANGE MITIGATION, AND SUSTAINABLE EN4 VIRONMENTAL PRACTICES. 

5 (a) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘institu6 tion of higher education’’ has the meaning given the term 

7 in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 

8 U.S.C. 1001). 

9 (b) IN GENERAL.—From funds made available under 

10 subsection (e), the Secretary of Labor shall carry out a 

11 sustainability workforce training and education program. 

12 In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall award 

13 grants to institutions of higher education to provide work14 force training and education in industries and practices, 

15 such as— 

16 (1) clean energy, including wind, solar, and geo17 thermal energy; 

18 (2) green construction, green retrofitting, and 

19 green design; 

20 (3) green chemistry, 

21 (4) water and energy conservation; 

22 (5) recycling and waste reduction; 

23 (6) sustainable agriculture and farming; 

24 (7) sustainable culinary practices; 

25 (8) smart grid technology, design, and deploy26 ment; 

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1 (9) advanced vehicle technology, including plug2 in electric drive vehicles; and 

3 (10) electric power transmission systems, in4 cluding upgrading and reconductoring. 

5 (c) AWARD CONSIDERATIONS.—Of the funds made 

6 available under subsection (b) for a fiscal year, not less 

7 than half shall be awarded to institutions of higher edu8 cation with existing (as of the date of the award) academic 

9 programs that lead to certificates or degrees in 1 or more 

10 of the industries and practices described in paragraphs (1) 

11 through (10) of subsection (b). 

12 (d) PEER REVIEW.—The Secretary shall convene a 

13 peer review process to review applications for grants under 

14 this section and to make recommendations regarding the 

15 selection of grantees. Members of the peer review com16 mittee shall include— 

17 (1) educators who have relevant experience in 

18 implementing curricula with comparable aims and 

19 subject matter; and 

20 (2) business and industry experts who work in 

21 clean energy-related fields. 

22 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

23 are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necmstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS

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1 essary to carry out this section for fiscal year 2009 and 

2 each subsequent fiscal year. 

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