II 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4981 

To provide eligible institutions with grant funds to support programs of 

study for in-demand industry sectors or occupations. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

AUGUST 1, 2024 

Ms. ROSEN introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

A BILL 

To provide eligible institutions with grant funds to support 

programs of study for in-demand industry sectors or 

occupations. 

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 ‘‘Skilled Workforce for 

5 America Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION.—The term ‘‘eligi9 ble institution’’ means an institution of higher eduVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:43 Sep 05, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4981.IS S4981

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1 cation, as defined in section 101 of the Higher Edu2 cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 

3 (2) IN-DEMAND INDUSTRY SECTOR OR OCCUPA4 TION.—The term ‘‘in-demand industry sector or oc5 cupation’’ has the meaning given the term in section 

6 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 

7 (29 U.S.C. 3102). 

8 (3) LOCAL BOARD.—The term ‘‘local board’’ 

9 has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the 

10 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 

11 U.S.C. 3102). 

12 (4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

13 the Secretary of Education. 

14 SEC. 3. GRANTS FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may award grants, 

16 on a competitive basis, to eligible institutions to enable 

17 those eligible institutions to fund programs to prepare stu18 dents to work in in-demand industry sectors or occupa19 tions and wrap-around services to support such students, 

20 as described in section 5. 

21 (b) GRANT DURATION.—The period of a grant under 

22 this Act shall not exceed 4 years. 

23 SEC. 4. APPLICATIONS. 

24 (a) APPLICATION REQUIREMENT.—An eligible insti25 tution desiring a grant under this Act shall submit to the 


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1 Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, 

2 and containing or accompanied by such information, as 

3 the Secretary may reasonably require. 

4 (b) CONTENTS.—An application submitted under 

5 subsection (a) shall— 

6 (1) describe how a grant under this Act 

7 would— 

8 (A) prepare students to— 

9 (i) work in an in-demand industry sec10 tor or occupation; or 

11 (ii) teach courses in in-demand indus12 try sectors or occupations at the secondary 

13 and post-secondary level; 

14 (B) benefit students served by the eligible 

15 institution; and 

16 (C) reflect the needs of local employers; 

17 (2) describe how funds awarded by a grant 

18 under this Act would be used; and 

19 (3) contain other information as the Secretary 

20 considers necessary to determine the nature of the 

21 local workforce needs, the quality of the proposed 

22 program, and the capability of the applicant to carry 

23 out the program. 


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1 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES. 

2 An eligible institution receiving a grant under this 

3 Act, in collaboration with the local board, shall use grant 

4 funds to— 

5 (1) establish and support programs of study in 

6 in-demand industry sectors or occupations; 

7 (2) provide academic and nonacademic wrap8 around services to students enrolled in those pro9 grams of study, including— 

10 (A) mentorship and advisement; 

11 (B) financial literacy; 

12 (C) academic support; 

13 (D) tuition reimbursement; 

14 (E) childcare assistance; 

15 (F) transportation; and 

16 (G) reimbursement for equipment; and 

17 (3) establish or support such additional pro18 grams as the Secretary may determine. 

19 SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

20 There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as 

21 may be necessary to carry out this Act. 

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