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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4470 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4470

   To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to provide 
 training services linked to employment demand through skills training 
                    grants, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 5, 2024

   Mr. Kaine introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
   To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to provide 
 training services linked to employment demand through skills training 
                    grants, and for other purposes.

    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 ``21st Century Skills are Key to 
Individuals' Life-Long Success Act'' or the ``21st Century SKILLS 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) In 1962, Congress authorized the first substantial 
        Federal job training programs in the postwar period, to retrain 
        workers displaced because of technological change.
            (2) For nearly 60 years, Federal workforce development 
        programs have emphasized targeted education and job training 
        and reemployment activities, service coordination and delivery, 
        and a demand-driven approach that is responsive to consumer 
        choice for participants and to the labor needs of local 
        employers.
            (3) Now the 21st century economy demands systems that equip 
        workers to be able to think critically and creatively, solve 
        complex problems, make evidence-based decisions, adapt to 
        evolving technologies, and work collaboratively.
            (4) Increasing 21st century skills development is linked to 
        improving employment prospects and work success. Removal of 
        structural barriers to employment prospects and work success, 
        such as implicit bias, hiring discrimination, transportation 
        gaps, and housing insecurity, requires raising employer 
        responsibility and job standards and improving connections for 
        individuals with barriers to employment.
            (5) Building on the functions of entities in the workforce 
        development system, including aggregating data and acting as 
        catalysts to promote careers with good pay, will contribute to 
        fostering inclusive economic growth.
            (6) This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, will 
        remove barriers to inclusive economic growth by allowing 
        workers to access training opportunities through eligible 
        providers of training services, including community colleges 
        and registered apprenticeship programs, and by providing 
        supportive services, including child care and transportation.

SEC. 3. SKILLS TRAINING GRANTS.

    (a) Discretionary Funding for Activities Other Than Training 
Services.--
            (1) Allotments.--Section 132 of the Workforce Innovation 
        and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3172) is amended by adding at 
        the end the following:
    ``(d) Discretionary and Mandatory Funding.--
            ``(1) Mandatory funding.--
                    ``(A) Activities.--Notwithstanding any other 
                provision of this chapter, none of the funds 
                appropriated under subsection (a), (b), or (c) of 
                section 136, and allotted or otherwise provided under 
                this section, may be used to provide training services, 
                except under the provisions described in paragraph (2).
                    ``(B) Training and supportive services.--Funds 
                appropriated under section 136(d) shall be used to 
                provide training services and supportive services under 
                section 134(c)(3), and additional sums described in 
                section 134(c)(3)(C)(ii) for career services under 
                section 134(c)(2).
            ``(2) Exceptions.--The provisions described in this 
        paragraph are section 129(b), paragraph (2) or (3) of section 
        134(a), or section 134(d), 169(c) or 170.''.
            (2) Allocations.--Section 133(b)(1) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 
        3173(b)(1)) is amended by striking ``The'' and inserting 
        ``Subject to section 132(d), the''.
    (b) Mandatory Funding for Training Services.--Section 134 of such 
Act (29 U.S.C. 3174) is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Local Employment and Training Activities.--
            ``(1) Training services.--Funds appropriated under section 
        136(d) shall be used to pay or reimburse local boards for the 
        cost of providing training services, supportive services, and 
        career services as described in section 136(d).
            ``(2) Other employment and training activities.--Funds 
        allocated to a local area for adults under paragraph (2)(A) or 
        (3), as appropriate, of section 133(b), and funds allocated to 
        a local area for dislocated workers under section 
        133(b)(2)(B)--
                    ``(A) shall be used to carry out employment and 
                training activities described in subsection (c) (other 
                than paragraph (3) of such subsection) for adults or 
                dislocated workers, respectively; and
                    ``(B) may be used to carry out employment and 
                training activities described in subsection (d) for 
                adults or dislocated workers, respectively.''.
    (c) Skills Training Grants.--Section 134(c) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 
3174(c)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A)--
                            (i) by striking clause (iii); and
                            (ii) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) 
                        as clauses (iii) and (iv), respectively;
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as 
                subparagraph (C); and
                    (C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the 
                following:
                    ``(B) Training services, supportive services, and 
                career services funds.--Funds appropriated under 
                section 136(d) shall be used to provide training 
                services, supportive services, and career services as 
                described in section 136(d) to adults and dislocated 
                workers who are eligible for the services involved.'';
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``Funds 
                described in paragraph (1)'' and inserting ``Subject to 
                subparagraph (D), funds described in paragraph (1) or 
                made available under paragraph (3)(C)(ii)''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) Priority.--With respect to funds allocated to 
                a local area for adult employment and training 
                activities under paragraph (2)(A) or (3) of section 
                133(b), priority shall be given to recipients of public 
                assistance, other low-income individuals, and 
                individuals who are basic skills deficient for receipt 
                of career services described in subparagraph (A)(xii). 
                The appropriate local board and the Governor shall 
                direct the one-stop operators in the local area with 
                regard to making determinations related to such 
                priority.''; and
            (3) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A)(i)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding subclause (I)--
                                    (I) by striking ``funds allocated 
                                to a local area for adults under 
                                paragraph (2)(A) or (3), as 
                                appropriate, of section 133(b), and 
                                funds allocated to the local area for 
                                dislocated workers under section 
                                133(b)(2)(B),'' and inserting ``funds 
                                appropriated under section 136(d) and 
                                made available under subparagraph 
                                (C)(i)''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``, 
                                respectively''; and
                            (ii) in subclause (IV), by striking ``who 
                        are'' and all that follows and inserting ``who 
                        meet the requirements of subparagraph (E).'';
                    (B) by amending subparagraph (C) to read as 
                follows:
                    ``(C) Arrangements for obtaining federal funding.--
                            ``(i) Training services and supportive 
                        services.--The Secretary shall establish 
                        arrangements by which a local board shall 
                        obtain payment in advance for the cost of 
                        providing training services and supportive 
                        services through skills training grants or 
                        contracts to individuals who have been 
                        determined to meet the requirements of 
                        subparagraph (A) and are therefore eligible for 
                        the services involved.
                            ``(ii) Career services and coordination 
                        activities.--When the Secretary provides 
                        payment under clause (i) to a local board for 
                        an amount under such clause, the Secretary 
                        shall also provide an additional sum equal to 
                        10 percent of the amount to the local board. 
                        The local board shall use the additional sum to 
                        pay for--
                                    ``(I) career services described in 
                                paragraph (2), including--
                                            ``(aa) making the services 
                                        described in clauses (v), 
                                        (vii), (ix), (x), (xi), and 
                                        (xii) of paragraph (2)(A) 
                                        available to any skills 
                                        training grant recipient 
                                        outside of traditional working 
                                        hours, as defined by the 
                                        Secretary; and
                                            ``(bb) the provision of 
                                        information, in formats that 
                                        are usable by and 
                                        understandable to individuals 
                                        eligible to receive services 
                                        through the one-stop delivery 
                                        system, about--

                                                    ``(AA) the local 
                                                availability of pre-
                                                apprenticeship and 
                                                apprenticeship 
                                                programs, and the costs 
                                                of these programs to 
                                                the skills training 
                                                grant recipient as 
                                                compared to the costs 
                                                of training programs 
                                                provided by other 
                                                eligible providers of 
                                                training services; and

                                                    ``(BB) 
                                                apprenticeship programs 
                                                in industries in which 
                                                apprenticeship programs 
                                                have not been 
                                                traditionally used, 
                                                including information 
                                                for populations 
                                                traditionally 
                                                underrepresented in 
                                                apprenticeship 
                                                programs; and

                                    ``(II) activities to build 
                                relationships between local boards and 
                                local eligible providers of training 
                                services, such as--
                                            ``(aa) working with such 
                                        local eligible providers to 
                                        improve data reporting to local 
                                        boards on the primary 
                                        indicators of performance 
                                        described in subclauses (I) 
                                        through (IV) of section 
                                        116(b)(2)(A)(i) and, if the 
                                        local boards and local eligible 
                                        providers agree, any primary 
                                        indicator of performance 
                                        described in subclause (V) or 
                                        (VI) of such section;
                                            ``(bb) negotiating with 
                                        such local eligible providers 
                                        of training services regarding 
                                        any adjusted levels of 
                                        performance required by the 
                                        local board under section 
                                        122(b)(3); and
                                            ``(cc) coordinating with 
                                        local providers of training 
                                        services and the State to 
                                        update the list of eligible 
                                        providers of training services 
                                        described in section 122(d).'';
                    (C) in subparagraph (D), by adding at the end the 
                following:
                ``Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
                subparagraph and solely for purposes of this paragraph, 
                training services shall not include instruction, at an 
                institution of higher education that provides a 4-year 
                program of instruction, towards a baccalaureate or 
                post-baccalaureate degree.'';
                    (D) by striking subparagraph (E) and inserting the 
                following:
                    ``(E) Employment and income.--To be eligible to 
                receive training services and supportive services under 
                this paragraph, an individual shall--
                            ``(i)(I) be a dislocated worker;
                            ``(II) be eligible for and receiving 
                        unemployment compensation under any Federal 
                        unemployment compensation law;
                            ``(III) be unemployed and have exhausted 
                        all unemployment compensation benefits 
                        available to the individual; or
                            ``(IV) be employed for at least 6 of the 
                        preceding 12 months and have an income that is 
                        not more than 100 percent of the State median 
                        income in the State in which the individual 
                        resides; and
                            ``(ii) be a member of a household with an 
                        adjusted gross income of not more than 
                        $150,000.'';
                    (E) in subparagraph (F)--
                            (i) in clause (ii), by inserting before 
                        ``Each'' the following: ``Training services 
                        shall be provided through providers identified 
                        in accordance with section 122.'';
                            (ii) by striking clause (iii) and inserting 
                        the following:
                            ``(iii) Skills training grants.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--An individual 
                                who seeks training services and who is 
                                eligible pursuant to this paragraph, 
                                may, in consultation with a career 
                                counselor, select an eligible provider 
                                of training services from the list of 
                                providers described in clause (ii). If 
                                the individual is seeking a high school 
                                equivalency program that is not aligned 
                                with a career pathway, the provider 
                                shall demonstrate that the program 
                                meets relevant requirements of the 
                                State educational agency involved for a 
                                high school education. Upon such 
                                selection, the local board involved 
                                shall establish a skills training grant 
                                for the individual, which shall allow 
                                the individual to pay for such services 
                                and any supportive services (including 
                                provision of payments for child care, 
                                transportation, required books, 
                                equipment, or examination fees) that 
                                are necessary to enable the individual 
                                to participate in the training services 
                                provided by the selected provider.
                                    ``(II) Administration.--The local 
                                board shall hold and administer the 
                                skills training grant funds for the 
                                participating individuals served by the 
                                local board, and shall use such funds 
                                to reimburse all providers of training 
                                services and supportive service 
                                providers for the individual. The 
                                Secretary shall determine the 
                                appropriate costs for which such skills 
                                training grant may be used, and shall 
                                develop methods of verifying whether 
                                such grant was used for those costs.
                                    ``(III) Ability to contract.--A 
                                local board may enter into a contract 
                                or other agreement with a local entity, 
                                including an institution of higher 
                                education, labor organization, or 
                                community-based organization, to enable 
                                the entity to provide skills training 
                                grant enrollment assistance or career 
                                services (as described in subparagraph 
                                (C)(ii)(I)) at a location, or in a 
                                manner, that is convenient for eligible 
                                individuals.''; and
                            (iii) in clause (iv), by striking 
                        ``individual training accounts'' and inserting 
                        ``skills training grants'';
                    (F) in subparagraph (G)--
                            (i) in the subparagraph heading, by 
                        striking ``individual training accounts'' and 
                        inserting ``skills training grants'';
                            (ii) by redesignating clauses (ii) through 
                        (iv) as clauses (vii) through (ix), 
                        respectively;
                            (iii) by striking clause (i) and inserting 
                        the following:
                            ``(i) Grants.--Except as provided in clause 
                        (iv), training services and supportive services 
                        provided under this paragraph shall be provided 
                        through the use of skills training grants in 
                        accordance with this paragraph, and shall be 
                        provided to eligible individuals through the 
                        one-stop delivery system.
                            ``(ii) Amount.--Each individual who seeks 
                        training services (except services provided 
                        under clause (vii)) and who is eligible for 
                        training services pursuant to this paragraph 
                        shall receive a skills training grant that--
                                    ``(I) if the individual is a 
                                dislocated worker or is a low-income 
                                individual, is in an amount of $10,000, 
                                increased in accordance with clause 
                                (iii);
                                    ``(II) if the individual has a 
                                household income that is more than 100 
                                percent of the poverty line but not 
                                more than 150 percent of the poverty 
                                line, is in an amount of $8,000, 
                                increased in accordance with clause 
                                (iii); and
                                    ``(III) if the individual has a 
                                household income that is more than 150 
                                percent but not more than 200 percent 
                                of the poverty line, is in an amount of 
                                $6,000, increased in accordance with 
                                clause (iii).
                            ``(iii) Adjustment for inflation.--
                        Beginning in fiscal year 2025, the Secretary 
                        shall annually adjust each amount described in 
                        subclauses (I) through (III) of clause (ii) by 
                        the estimated percentage increase, if any, in 
                        the Consumer Price Index for the most recent 
                        full calendar year.
                            ``(iv) Limit on program costs.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--Subject to 
                                subclause (II), the tuition and fees of 
                                a program of training services provided 
                                through the use of a skills training 
                                grant shall not exceed 110 percent of 
                                the amount equal to average tuition and 
                                fees (calculated for the most recent 3-
                                year period preceding the participant's 
                                enrollment in the program for which the 
                                tuition and fees are being determined 
                                under this clause) of a comparable 
                                program at a community college in the 
                                local area in which the participant 
                                resides.
                                    ``(II) Exception.--Subclause (I) 
                                shall not apply to a program of 
                                training services if a local board 
                                determines that an employer will pay 
                                any costs of such program that exceed 
                                110 percent of the average tuition and 
                                fees described in subclause (I).
                            ``(v) Timing.--An individual who receives a 
                        skills training grant under this paragraph 
                        shall enroll in a program of training services 
                        not later than 3 months after receiving the 
                        grants. Any remaining funds in the skills 
                        training grant not used upon the exit of the 
                        program by the participant will no longer be 
                        available for such participant. No individual 
                        may receive more than one skills training grant 
                        in any 5-year period.
                            ``(vi) Awareness campaign.--During the 
                        first year for which skills training grants are 
                        available to eligible individuals, the 
                        Secretary shall carry out a national 
                        information campaign to raise awareness about 
                        skills training grants and their availability 
                        and use, which may include running public 
                        awareness campaigns at the State or local level 
                        informing eligible individuals and employers 
                        about the skills training grants.'';
                            (iv) in clause (vii), as redesignated by 
                        clause (ii) of this subparagraph--
                                    (I) in the matter preceding 
                                subclause (I), by striking ``individual 
                                training account'' and inserting 
                                ``skills training grant''; and
                                    (II) in subclause (III), by 
                                striking ``individual training 
                                accounts'' and inserting ``skills 
                                training grants''; and
                            (v) in clause (ix), as redesignated by 
                        clause (ii) of this subparagraph--
                                    (I) by striking ``individual 
                                training accounts'' each place it 
                                appears and inserting ``skills training 
                                grants''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``clause (ii)'' 
                                and inserting ``clause (vii)''; and
                    (G) in subparagraph (H), by adding at the end the 
                following:
                            ``(iii) Provider qualification.--The on-
                        the-job training under this paragraph shall be 
                        provided through providers identified in 
                        accordance with section 122(h).''.
    (d) Performance Requirements for Training Services Providers.--
Section 122(c)(2) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 3152(c)(2)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: ``The Governor shall establish levels 
of performance on the indicators of performance described in subclauses 
(I) through (IV) of section 116(b)(2)(A)(i) that a provider of training 
services shall be required to meet or exceed, based on the performance 
of all individuals receiving the training services, in order to renew 
eligibility under this paragraph and remain on the list of providers 
under subsection (d).''.
    (e) Mandatory Appropriations.--Section 136 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 
3181) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Training Services.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
and there are appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each 
fiscal year to provide training services and supportive services under 
section 134(c)(3), and the additional sums described in section 
134(c)(3)(C)(ii) for career services under section 134(c)(2).''.
    (f) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 108(b)(19) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 3123(b)(19)) 
        is amended by striking ``individual training accounts'' and 
        inserting ``skills training grants''.
            (2) Section 122(g) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 3152(g)) is 
        amended by striking ``individual training accounts'' and 
        inserting ``skills training grants''.

SEC. 4. TRAINING SERVICES CLEARINGHOUSE.

    (a) Amendment.--Subtitle E of title I of the Workforce Innovation 
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3241 et seq.) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:

``SEC. 196. CAREERONESTOP WEBSITE.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall maintain a website that 
includes the information and features described in this section 
(referred to in this section as the `CareerOneStop website').
    ``(b) Skills Training Grant Portal.--The CareerOneStop website 
shall contain a portal, for the use of individuals who are eligible for 
skills training grants under section 134(c)(3), to request such grants. 
Skills training grants shall be distributed by local boards, in 
accordance with that section.
    ``(c) List of Approved Training Providers.--The CareerOneStop 
website shall contain the lists of eligible providers of training 
services prepared by Governors under section 122(d)(1) and information 
identifying eligible providers as determined by one-stop operators 
under section 122(h)(1).
    ``(d) Information on Programs of Training Services.--The 
CareerOneStop website shall contain, for each program of training 
services provided under section 134(c)(3), information on--
            ``(1) the demographics, such as the sex, race, ethnicity, 
        median age, and education level, of participants in the 
        program;
            ``(2) performance, as measured on the indicators described 
        in subclauses (I) through (IV) of section 116(b)(2)(A)(i); and
            ``(3) the cost of attendance, including costs of tuition 
        and fees, for participants in the program.
    ``(e) Tools for Eligible Individuals.--The CareerOneStop website 
shall contain tools to enable individuals who are eligible to receive 
such training services to compare performance data across programs of 
training services, providers of such services, and States.
    ``(f) Resources for Providers of Training Services.--The 
CareerOneStop website shall contain resources for providers of training 
services, including guidance on each State that specifies--
            ``(1) the criteria, requirements, and procedures that a 
        provider shall meet to be listed as an eligible provider under 
        section 122(d)(1) or identified as an eligible provider under 
        section 122(h)(1) in the State; and
            ``(2) the minimum levels for the State described in section 
        122(b)(1)(A)(i).
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be 
necessary.''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of 
such Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 note) is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 195 the following:

``Sec. 196. CareerOneStop website.''.
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