89–006 

111TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 111–453 

ENERGY JOBS FOR VETERANS ACT 

MARCH 22, 2010.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 

of the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. FILNER, from the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 4592] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 4592) to provide for the establishment of a pilot program 

to encourage the employment of veterans in energy-related positions, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an 

amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

Amendment .............................................................................................................. 1 

Purpose and Summary ............................................................................................ 3 

Background and Need for Legislation .................................................................... 3 

Hearings ................................................................................................................... 4 

Subcommittee Consideration .................................................................................. 5 

Committee Consideration ........................................................................................ 5 

Committee Votes ...................................................................................................... 5 

Committee Oversight Findings ............................................................................... 6 

Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives .................................... 6 

New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures ............. 6 

Earmarks and Tax and Tariff Benefits .................................................................. 6 

Committee Cost Estimate ....................................................................................... 6 

Congressional Budget Office Estimate ................................................................... 6 

Federal Mandates Statement ................................................................................. 7 

Advisory Committee Statement .............................................................................. 8 

Constitutional Authority Statement ...................................................................... 8 

Applicability to Legislative Branch ........................................................................ 8 

Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation ...................................................... 8 

AMENDMENT

The amendment is as follows: 

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 


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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be referred to as the ‘‘Energy Jobs for Veterans Act’’. 

SEC. 2. VETERANS ENERGY-RELATED EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROGRAM.—To encourage the employment of eligible 

veterans in the energy industry, the Secretary of Labor, as part of the Veteran’s 

Workforce Investment Program, shall carry out a pilot program to be known as the 

‘‘Veterans Energy-Related Employment Program’’. Under the pilot program, the Secretary shall award competitive grants to three States for the establishment and administration of a State program to make grants to energy employers and labor-management organizations that provide covered training, on-job training, apprenticeships, and certification classes to eligible veterans. Such a program shall be known 

as a ‘‘State Energy-Related Employment Program’’. 

(b) ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANTS.—To be eligible to receive a grant under the pilot program, a State shall submit to the Secretary an application that includes each of the 

following: 

(1) A proposal for the expenditure of grant funds to establish and administer 

a public-private partnership program designed to provide covered training, onjob training, apprenticeships, and certification classes to a significant number 

of eligible veterans and ensure lasting and sustainable employment in well-paying jobs in the energy industry. 

(2) Evidence that the State has— 

(A) a population of eligible veterans of an appropriate size to carry out 

the State program; 

(B) a robust and diverse energy industry; and 

(C) the ability to carry out the State program described in the proposal 

under paragraph (1). 

(3) Such other information and assurances as the Secretary may require. 

(c) USE OF FUNDS.—A State that is the recipient of a grant under this section 

shall use the grant for the following purposes: 

(1) Making grants to energy employers and labor-management organizations 

to reimburse such employers and organizations for the cost of providing covered 

training, on-job training, apprenticeships, and certification classes to eligible 

veterans. 

(2) Conducting outreach to inform energy employers, labor-management organizations, and veterans, including veterans in rural areas, of their eligibility or 

potential eligibility for participation in the State program. 

(d) CONDITIONS.—Under the pilot program, each grant to a State shall be subject 

to the following conditions: 

(1) The State shall repay to the Secretary, on such date as shall be determined by the Secretary, any amount received under the pilot program that is 

not used for the purposes described in subsection (c). 

(2) The State shall submit to the Secretary, at such times and containing such 

information as the Secretary shall require, reports on the use of grant funds. 

(e) EMPLOYER REQUIREMENTS.—In order to receive a grant made by a State under 

the pilot program, an energy employer shall— 

(1) submit to the administrator of the State Energy-Related Employment Program an application that includes— 

(A) the rate of pay for each eligible veteran proposed to be trained using 

grant funds; 

(B) the average rate of pay for an individual employed by the energy employer in a similar position who is not an eligible veteran; and 

(C) such other information and assurances as the administrator may require; and 

(2) agree to submit to the administrator, for each quarter, a report containing 

such information as the Secretary may specify. 

(f) LIMITATION.—None of the funds made available to an energy employer through 

a grant under the pilot program may be used to provide training of any kind to a 

person who is not an eligible veteran. 

(g) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Together with the report required to be submitted annually under section 4107(c) of title 38, United States Code, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the pilot program for the year covered by such report. 

The report on the pilot program shall include a detailed description of activities carried out under this section and an evaluation of the program. 

(h) ADMINISTRATIVE AND REPORTING COSTS.—Of the amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (j), two percent shall be 

made available to the Secretary for administrative costs associated with implementing and evaluating the pilot program under this section and for preparing and 

submitting the report required under subsection (f). The Secretary shall determine 


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the appropriate maximum amount of each grant awarded under this section that 

may be used by the recipient for administrative and reporting costs. 

(i) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section: 

(1) The term ‘‘covered training, on-job training, apprenticeships, and certification classes’’ means training, on-job training, apprenticeships, and certification classes that are— 

(A) designed to provide the veteran with skills that are particular to an 

energy industry and not directly transferable to employment in another industry; and 

(B) approved as provided in paragraph (1) or (2), as appropriate, of subsection (a) of section 3687 of title 38, United States Code. 

(2) The term ‘‘eligible veteran’’ means a veteran, as that term is defined in 

section 101(3) of title 38, United States Code, who is employed by an energy 

employer and enrolled or participating in a covered training, on-job training, apprenticeship, or certification class. 

(3) The term ‘‘energy employer’’ means an entity that employs individuals in 

a trade or business in an energy industry. 

(4) The term ‘‘energy industry’’ means any of the following industries: 

(A) The energy-efficient building, construction, or retrofits industry. 

(B) The renewable electric power industry, including the wind and solar 

energy industries. 

(C) The biofuels industry. 

(D) The energy efficiency assessment industry that serves the residential, 

commercial, or industrial sectors. 

(E) The oil and natural gas industry. 

(F) The nuclear industry. 

(j) APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 

$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2015, for the purpose of carrying 

out the pilot program. 

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

H.R. 4592 was introduced on February 3, 2010, by Representative Harry Teague of New Mexico. H.R. 4592, as amended, would 

create a pilot program within the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) 

to provide competitive grants for up to three States to encourage 

the hiring and training of military veterans in the energy industry. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

A recent survey of veterans’ unemployment by the DOL shows 

that the number of unemployed Iraq and Afghanistan veterans is 

now almost the same as the number of servicemembers currently 

deployed in support of those two wars. When the United States unemployment rate hit 9.7 percent last fall, veterans of the Iraq and 

Afghanistan wars were unemployed at a rate of 11.3 percent. Furthermore, from 2008 to 2009, the unemployment rate for young 

Iraq and Afghanistan veterans between the ages of 18 to 24, 

jumped seven points and hit 21.1 percent, as compared to 16.6 percent for the rest of the nation. Moreover, veterans’ unemployment 

in general has increased to 9.5 percent with over one million veterans seeking work. Among that number there are 246,000 between the ages of 18 and 34. Another 739,000 are between the ages 

of 35 and 64 or about 75 percent of unemployed veterans. 

Additionally, energy employers have indicated a need to tap into 

a market of skilled, trained workers that does not always exist. 

Large scale investments in renewable energy, nuclear energy, natural gas, and energy efficiency, among other energy technologies, 

mean that a trained and skilled workforce must be developed 

quickly. Veterans are technically proficient, hard working and disciplined, and can provide an excellent source of talented employees 

to meet the energy industry’s needs. 


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Recognizing the need to fill the need of a growing industry with 

a professional workforce, and to combat the problem of unemployment among those who served our nation in uniform, Representative Harry Teague introduced H.R. 4592 to encourage energy employers to hire veterans. The bill establishes a competitive grant 

program in which up to three states could be selected to fund incentives for energy employers to hire veterans. The selected states 

would reimburse employers for the cost of training and apprenticeship needed to qualify the veteran for the job. The program legislated by the bill is different than other Federal employment programs, including others aimed at veterans, because it would ensure 

that a veteran has secured sustainable employment before the 

State reimburses the employer for the training. The employer benefits because he or she has the opportunity to hire a veteran and 

provide training and apprenticeship without incurring cost. The 

veteran benefits because employers are provided a further incentive to hire him or her for a position that might otherwise go to 

a non-veteran and because the employer is required to offer training and work experience that ensures sustainable employment for 

the veteran. 

Entities eligible for funding through H.R. 4592 would include employers and labor-management organizations involved in the energy efficient building, construction and retrofits industries; the renewable electric power industry; the biofuels industry; the energy 

efficiency assessment industry; the oil and gas industry; and, the 

nuclear industry. 

During Subcommittee consideration of the bill as introduced, the 

Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, Representative John 

Boozman of Arkansas, expressed concern that government funds 

would be used to artificially create jobs in the energy industry that 

were not created by regular market forces. Mr. Boozman also suggested that instead of paying a portion of the salary that the language be changed to reimburse employers that were providing on 

the job training or certification. In addition, DOL expressed concern that the bill language, as introduced, could create a program 

that was duplicative of current programs under its authority. DOL 

suggested the program be placed under the Veteran’s Workforce Investment Program which already awards grants to train veterans 

for green energy jobs and that a portion of the appropriations be 

set aside for administration and evaluation of the program. These 

concerns were addressed by the Subcommittee in an amendment to 

H.R. 4592. 

H.R. 4592 is meant to assist those who served their country in 

the Armed Forces to be able to continue their work for the security 

of our country when they return home—by getting a job, and a career, producing our energy right here in America. Energy independence is one of our nation’s foremost security imperatives, and there 

is no one more suitable for—or capable of—filling energy jobs in 

America than our veterans. 

HEARINGS

On February 25, 2010, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity conducted a legislative hearing on various bills introduced 

during the 111th Congress, including H.R. 4592. The Following 

witnesses testified: The Honorable John J. Hall of New York; The 


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Honorable Adam H. Putnam of Florida; The Honorable Joe Sestak 

of Pennsylvania; The Honorable Adam Smith of Washington; The 

Honorable Michael R. Turner of Ohio; Mr. Robert W. Madden, Assistant Director, National Economic Commission, The American Legion; Mr. Justin Brown, Legislative Associate, National Legislative 

Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Mr. Timothy S. Embree, Legislative Associate, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; Mr. 

James Bombard, Legislative Director, National Association of State 

Approving Agencies; Mr. Mark E. Sullivan, Law Offices of Mark E. 

Sullivan, P.A.; Col. Shawn Shumake, U.S. Army, Director, Office of 

Legal Policy, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel 

and Readiness), Program Integration and Legal Policy, U.S. Department of Defense; Mr. Keith M. Wilson, Director of Education 

Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, accompanied by Mr. Mark Bologna, Director of Loan 

Guaranty Service, Veteran Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Mr. F. John Brizzi, Jr., Deputy-Assistant General Counsel, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Those submitting statements for the record included: The Honorable Bob Filner of California; The Honorable Ron Klein of Florida; 

Ms. Patricia E. Apy, American Bar Association; Ms. Stacy 

Bannerman of Medford, Oregon; Ms. Kelly Hruska, Government 

Relations Deputy Director, National Military Family Association; 

Mr. Brian Hawthorne, Legislative Director, Student Veterans of 

America; and, the Pennsylvania Association of Private School Administrators. 

SUBCOMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

On March 4, 2010, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity 

met in an open markup session and ordered favorably forwarded to 

the full Committee H.R. 4592, as amended, by voice vote. During 

consideration of the bill the following amendment in the nature of 

a substitute was considered: 

An amendment in the nature of a substitute by Mr. Harry 

Teague of New Mexico to create a ‘‘Veterans Energy Related Employment Program’’ pilot program which would award competitive 

grants to three states for the establishment of a program that 

would reimburse energy employers for the cost of providing on-thejob training for veterans in the energy sector while addressing the 

concerns highlighted in the February 25, 2010, Subcommittee legislative hearing was agreed to by voice vote. 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

On March 10, 2010, the full Committee met in an open markup 

session, a quorum being present, and ordered H.R. 4592, as amended, reported favorably to the House of Representatives, by voice 

vote. 

COMMITTEE VOTES

Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives requires the Committee to list the record votes on the motion 

to report the legislation and amendments thereto. There were no 

record votes taken on amendments or in connection with ordering 

H.R. 4592 reported to the House. A motion by Mr. Jeff Miller of 


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Florida to order H.R. 4592, as amended, reported favorably to the 

House of Representatives was agreed to by voice vote. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

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 

descriptive portions of this report. 

STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

In accordance with clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee’s performance goals and 

objectives are reflected in the descriptive portions of this report. 

NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, ENTITLEMENT AUTHORITY, AND TAX

EXPENDITURES

In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee adopts as its own the estimate of new budget authority, entitlement authority, or tax expenditures or revenues contained in the cost estimate prepared by 

the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 

402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 

EARMARKS AND TAX AND TARIFF BENEFITS

H.R. 4592 does not contain any congressional earmarks, limited 

tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9 of rule 

XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives. 

COMMITTEE COST ESTIMATE

The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate on H.R. 4592 

prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the following is the cost estimate for H.R. 4592 

provided by the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 

402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: 

U.S. CONGRESS, 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, 

Washington, DC, March 12, 2010. 

Hon. BOB FILNER, Chairman, Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4592, the Energy Jobs for 

Veterans Act. 

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

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Camille Woodland. 

Sincerely, 

DOUGLAS W. ELMENDORF, 

Director. 


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Enclosure. 

H.R. 4592—Energy Jobs for Veterans Act 

Summary: H.R. 4592 would require the Department of Labor 

(DoL) to create a pilot program to assist veterans in qualifying for 

jobs in the energy sector. The bill would authorize the appropriation of $50 million over the 2011–2015 period for this program. Assuming appropriation of the specified amounts, CBO estimates that 

implementing the legislation would cost $31 million over the 2011– 

2015 period. 

Enacting the legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. 

H.R. 4592 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). 

Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary impact of H.R. 4592 is shown in the following table. The costs 

of this legislation fall within budget function 700 (veterans benefits 

and services). 

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars— 

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011– 

2015 

CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION 

Authorization Level ........................................................... 10 10 10 10 10 50 

Estimated Outlays ............................................................ 0 3 8 10 10 31 

Basis of estimate: Under H.R. 4592, the Department of Labor 

would be required to initiate a program that would provide grants 

to employers and organizations that provide training, apprenticeships, and certification classes to prepare veterans for employment 

in energy-related fields. To fund the pilot program, which would be 

available in three states, the bill would authorize the appropriation 

of $10 million a year for 2011 through 2015. Based on historical 

spending patterns for similar programs, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 4592 would cost $31 million over the 2011–2015 period, assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts. 

Pay-as-you-go considerations: None. 

Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 4592 contains 

no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in 

UMRA. State, local, and tribal governments that provide employment assistance to veterans would benefit from grants authorized 

in the bill. 

Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Camille Woodland; Impact 

on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Lisa Ramirez-Branum; 

Impact on the Private Sector: Elizabeth Bass. 

Estimate approved by: Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director 

for Budget Analysis. 

FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal mandates regarding H.R. 4592 prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. 


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ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act would be created by H.R. 4592. 

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

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

of Representatives, the Committee finds that the Constitutional authority for H.R. 4592 is provided by Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United States. 

APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the 

terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or 

accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION

Section 1. Short title 

This section would provide the short title of H.R. 4592, as 

amended, as the ‘‘Energy Jobs for Veterans Act.’’ 

Section 2. Veterans Energy-Related Employment Program 

This section would create a ‘‘Veterans Energy Related Employment Program’’ pilot program which would award competitive 

grants to three States for the establishment of a program that 

would reimburse energy employers for the cost of providing on-thejob training for veterans in the energy sector. The reimbursements 

would go to employers or labor-management organizations. 

This section would require that each participating State provide 

evidence that it can produce such training to serve a population of 

eligible veterans, has a diverse energy industry, and the ability to 

carry out such a program. 

This section would authorize the use of grant funds to provide 

training to veterans, and conduct outreach to veterans informing 

them of the program and require that states submit proposals that 

certify that participating veterans would be hired at a wage rate 

consistent with the standard industry average for jobs that are 

technically involved and have a skill-set that is not transferable to 

other non-energy industries. Grant funds would be limited to veterans and the Secretary of Labor would be required to submit a report to Congress on the activities carried out by the program and 

an evaluation of the program. 

This section would authorize two percent of appropriated funds 

to be used for administrative costs and authorize the Secretary of 

Labor to determine the maximum amount of each grant awarded 

that may be used by the States for administrative and reporting 

costs. 

This section would authorize to be appropriated $10 million a 

year for five years, beginning in 2011 through 2015. 

Æ 


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