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112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1616 

To amend the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to integrate public libraries 

into State and local workforce investment boards, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 15, 2011 

Mr. HOLT (for himself and Mr. GRIJALVA) introduced the following bill; which 

was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 

A BILL 

To amend the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to integrate 

public libraries into State and local workforce investment 

boards, and for other purposes. 

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 ‘‘Workforce Investments 

5 through Local Libraries Act’’ or the ‘‘WILL Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. STATE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARDS. 

7 Section 111(b)(1)(C)(v) of the Workforce Investment 

8 Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2821(b)(1)(C)(v)) is amended by 

9 inserting ‘‘, public libraries,’’ after ‘‘community colleges’’. 

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1 SEC. 3. STATE PLAN. 

2 Section 112(b)(8)(A) of the Workforce Investment 

3 Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2822(b)(8)(A)) is amended— 

4 (1) in clause (ix), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

5 and 

6 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

7 ‘‘(xi) employment, training, and literacy 

8 services carried out by public libraries; and’’. 

9 SEC. 4. LOCAL WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD. 

10 Section 117(b)(2)(A)(iv) of the Workforce Invest11 ment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2832(b)(2)(A)(iv)) is amend12 ed by striking ‘‘individuals with disabilities and’’ inserting 

13 ‘‘public libraries, individuals with disabilities, and’’. 

14 SEC. 5. LOCAL PLAN. 

15 Section 118(b)(2) of the Workforce Investment Act 

16 of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2833(b)(2)) is amended— 

17 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through 

18 (10) as paragraphs (7) through (11), respectively; 

19 and 

20 (2) by inserting after paragraph (5) the fol21 lowing: 

22 ‘‘(6) a description of how the local board will 

23 coordinate workforce investment activities carried 

24 out in the local area with employment, training, and 

25 literacy services carried out by public libraries;’’. 

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1 SEC. 6. IDENTIFICATION OF ELIGIBLE PROVIDERS OF 

2 TRAINING SERVICES. 

3 Section 121(b)(2)(B) of the Workforce Investment 

4 Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2842(b)(2)(B)) is amended— 

5 (1) in clause (iv), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

6 (2) by redesignating clause (v) as clause (vi); 

7 and 

8 (3) by inserting after clause (iv) the following: 

9 ‘‘(v) employment, training, and lit10 eracy services carried out by public librar11 ies; and’’. 

12 SEC. 7. USE OF FUNDS FOR EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING 

13 ACTIVITIES. 

14 Section 134(d)(3)(B)(ii) of the Workforce Investment 

15 Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2864(d)(3)(B)(ii)) is amended by 

16 striking ‘‘and private nonprofit service providers,’’ and in17 serting ‘‘private nonprofit service providers, and other ap18 propriate entities, such as public libraries,’’. 

19 SEC. 8. DEMONSTRATION, PILOT, MULTISERVICE, RE20 SEARCH, AND MULTISTATE PROJECTS. 

21 Section 171(b)(1) of the Workforce Investment Act 

22 of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2916(b)(1)) is amended— 

23 (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) 

24 through (H) as subparagraphs (C) through (I), re25 spectively; and 

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1 (2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the fol2 lowing: 

3 ‘‘(B) the establishment of employment re4 source centers in public libraries to provide un5 employed and underemployed individuals access 

6 to workforce activities and information related 

7 to training services and employment opportuni8 ties which may include— 

9 ‘‘(i) resume development, job bank 

10 Web searches, and workshops on career in11 formation; 

12 ‘‘(ii) literacy services; and 

13 ‘‘(iii) acquisition of database licenses 

14 to improve access to career certification, li15 censing practice tests, and workforce skills 

16 improvement;’’. 

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