January 15, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S619 

(h) USE OF FUNDS.—An organization that 

receives a grant under this section may use 

the funds made available through the grant 

to provide programs of work experiences and 

training in green-collar industries that include education and paid work experiences. 

The work experiences shall involve retrofitting buildings (including facilities of small 

businesses) to achieve energy savings, or enhancing, creating, or preserving public 

space, within the communities served. In 

providing the programs, the organization 

may provide any of the activities described 

in subsection (b)(1) of that section 169. 

(i) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 

(1) INDICATORS.—For purposes of the program carried out under this section, the indicators of performance shall be— 

(A) acquisition of a high school diploma or 

its generally recognized equivalent by individuals who completed their participation in 

the program and who participated in training described in subsection (b); 

(B) entry of such individuals, who participated in work experiences described in subsection (b), into postsecondary education 

linked to the green economy, including registered apprenticeship programs in a greencollar industry; and 

(C) entry of such individuals, who participated in work experiences described in subsection (b), into unsubsidized employment in 

a green-collar industry. 

(2) ASSESSMENT.—The Secretary shall prepare an assessment of the program that— 

(A) describes the use of funds made available under this section to carry out the program and the progress achieved through that 

program; and 

(B) provides information on the performance of the program, including on the indicators of performance. 

(3) REPORT.—The Secretary shall annually 

submit to Congress a report containing the 

assessment described in paragraph (2). 

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

There is authorized to be appropriated to 

the Secretary for activities described in this 

Act $1,000,000,000, which shall be available for 

the period of January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010. 

By Mrs. MURRAY (for herself, 

Mr. BROWN, and Ms. STABENOW): 

S. 269. A bill to provide funding for 

unemployment and training activities 

for dislocated workers and adults, and 

for other purposes; to the Committee 

on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. 

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed 

in the RECORD. 

There being no objection, the text of 

the bill was ordered to be placed in the 

RECORD, as follows: 

S. 269 

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 ‘‘Retooling 

America’s Workers for a Green Economy 

Act’’. 

SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

Congress finds the following: 

(1) In October 2008, the numbers of mass 

layoffs (involving over 50 workers at one 

time) and initial unemployment claims 

reached their highest levels since 2001. According to the National Renewable Energy 

Laboratory, however, a major barrier to 

more rapid adoption of clean and renewable 

energy and energy efficiency measures is the 

lack of sufficient workers skilled in green 

technology. 

(2) In December 2008, unemployment figures showed a sharp deterioration in the 

economy. The unemployment rate rose from 

6.8 percent in November, to 7.2 percent in December, of 2008. Employers shed 524,000 jobs 

in December 2008, and 1,900,000 jobs were lost 

over just the last 4 months of 2008. These job 

losses were widespread across most major industry sectors. 

(3) According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 11,100,000 people were unemployed in 

December 2008, an increase of 3,600,000 people 

since the recession started in December 2007. 

In December 2008, the number of workers 

who wanted to work full-time but worked 

part-time because their hours were cut or 

they could not find full-time jobs reached 

8,000,000, up 3,400,000 since December 2007. 

(4) Analysts say that the Nation has yet to 

see the worst of the economic fallout. The 

latest prediction from HIS Global Insight 

forecasts that unemployment will be an estimated 8.6 percent by the end of 2009. 

(5) The reality of climate change and a 

shared desire to protect the environment for 

future generations have the potential to spur 

economic growth in green-collar jobs across 

the industrial spectrum. In order to prepare 

United States workers to build greener communities in both urban and rural settings, 

the Nation will need to make an investment 

in skills development for jobs in the current 

and future economies. 

SEC. 3. PURPOSE. 

The purpose of this Act is to retool America’s workers—including dislocated workers, 

those who are long-term unemployed individuals, and those who are low-skilled individuals, limited English proficient individuals, individuals with disabilities, or older 

workers—for green-collar industries, for existing viable industries, and for new and 

emerging industries so that the workers described in this section can contribute to the 

long-term competitiveness of the United 

States and its quality of life. 

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 

In this Act: 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The terms ‘‘adult’’, ‘‘chief 

elected official’’, ‘‘dislocated worker’’, ‘‘employment and training activities’’, ‘‘individual with a disability’’, ‘‘local area’’, 

‘‘local board’’, ‘‘outlying area’’, ‘‘rapid response activities’’, ‘‘Secretary’’, ‘‘State’’, 

and ‘‘State board’’ have the meanings given 

the terms in section 101 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801). 

(2) COMMUNITY COLLEGE.—The term ‘‘community college’’ means a 2-year institution 

of higher education, as defined in section 101 

of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 

1001). 

(3) GREEN-COLLAR INDUSTRIES.—The term 

‘‘green-collar industries’’ means industries 

throughout the economy of the United 

States— 

(A) that promote energy efficiency, energy 

conservation, and environmental protection, 

including promoting renewable energy and 

clean technology; 

(B) that offer jobs with substantial pay and 

benefits; and 

(C) that are industries in which there is 

likely to be continued demand for workers. 

SEC. 5. ACTIVITIES FOR DISLOCATED WORKERS. 

(a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—The Secretary is 

authorized to reserve $2,000,000,000 of the 

funds appropriated under this Act for rapid 

response activities, for dislocated worker 

employment and training activities under 

chapter 5 of subtitle B of title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2861 et 

seq.), or for employment and training assistance and additional assistance under section 

173(a) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2918(a)). 

(b) NATIONAL EMERGENCY GRANTS.—Of the 

reserved funds, the Secretary may use not 

more than $500,000,000 to award national 

emergency grants— 

(1) to provide employment and training assistance to workers affected by major economic dislocations under section 173(a)(1) of 

such Act (29 U.S.C. 2918(a)(1)); and 

(2) to provide additional assistance under 

section 173(a)(3) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 

2918(a)(3)) to a State or local board that 

meets the requirements of that section (in a 

case in which the expended funds involved 

were expended for assistance described in 

paragraph (1)). 

(c) STATE ACTIVITIES.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—After determining an 

amount from the reserved funds to be used 

under subsection (b), the Secretary may use 

the remaining funds to make allotments to 

States, and outlying areas, consistent with 

the allotment formula under section 132(b)(2) 

of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2862(b)(2)). Each State 

or outlying area may use 25 percent of the 

State’s or outlying area’s allotment for 

statewide rapid response activities for permanent closures or mass layoffs described in 

section 101(38) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 2801(38)) 

and efforts to avert future permanent closures or mass layoffs described in such section. 

(2) USE OF DISLOCATED WORKERS TO PROVIDE

ACTIVITIES.—In providing statewide rapid response activities, States or entities designated by States (and outlying areas or entities designated by outlying areas), working 

in conjunction with local boards and chief 

elected officials, may enhance their services 

by employing dislocated workers to provide 

outreach, informal coaching, counseling or 

mentoring support, and information to other 

dislocated workers or unemployed persons. 

(d) LOCAL ACTIVITIES.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Each State or outlying 

area shall use 75 percent of the State’s or 

outlying area’s allotment to make allocations directly to local boards, for local areas, 

using the formula under section 133(b)(2)(B) 

of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2863(b)(2)(B)). 

(2) PRIORITY.—A local board that receives 

an allocation under paragraph (1) shall use 

the funds made available through the allocation for dislocated worker employment and 

training activities. In providing the activities the local board shall give priority to 

providing the employment and training activities, including on-the-job training, in 

viable industries identified at the regional or 

local levels, including green-collar industries. 

(e) REPORT TO SECRETARY.—Each State, in 

submitting an annual report under section 

136(d) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2871(d)), shall include information on entry of individuals 

who participated in employment and training activities in green-collar industries and 

other viable industries under this section 

into unsubsidized employment in a greencollar industry or other viable industry. 

(f) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary 

shall annually prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress information on entry of individuals who received 

services under subsection (b) into unsubsidized employment in a green-collar industry or other viable industry. 

SEC. 6. ACTIVITIES FOR ADULTS WITH MULTIPLE 

BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. 

(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section 

is to fully utilize the Nation’s human capital 

by— 

(1) helping adults with multiple barriers to 

employment acquire the skills to obtain jobs 

in viable industries, by providing intensive 

services, training services, and other employment and training activities; and 

(2) in particular, by providing employment 

and training activities in green-collar industries and other viable industries. 

(b) DEFINITION.—The term ‘‘adult with 

multiple barriers to employment’’ means an 


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S620 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 15, 2009 

adult who is long-term unemployed, a lowskilled individual, limited English proficient, an individual with a disability, or an 

older worker, with multiple barriers to finding a job in a viable industry. 

(c) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—The Secretary is 

authorized to reserve $800,000,000 of the funds 

appropriated under this Act to carry out this 

section. The Secretary shall use the reserved 

funds to make allotments to States and outlying areas, consistent with the allotment 

formula under section 132(b)(1) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 

2862(b)(1)) to provide employment and training activities to adults with multiple barriers to employment. 

(d) STATE ACTIVITIES.—Each State or outlying area may use 10 percent of the State’s 

or outlying area’s allotment to assist local 

boards in providing employment and training activities to adults with multiple barriers to employment, and assist the adults in 

attaining jobs in viable industries, with as 

much flexibility as is practicable. In providing assistance under this subsection, the 

State or outlying area may provide aid that 

includes assistance with system alignment 

(described in subsection (e)(1)(D), the provision of capacity building and professional development activities for staff, and the provision of enhanced regional sector-based labor 

market information. 

(e) LOCAL ACTIVITIES.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Each State or outlying 

area shall use 90 percent of the State’s or 

outlying area’s allotment to make grants, on 

a competitive basis, to local boards for local 

areas, to provide employment and training 

activities to adults with multiple barriers to 

employment. 

(2) PRIORITY.—In making the grants, the 

chief executive officer of the State or outlying area, in consultation with the State 

board involved, shall give priority to those 

local boards that— 

(A) align their local areas to create regions 

that reflect natural labor markets or economic development districts; 

(B) reflect regional strategic partnerships 

described in paragraph (3) among local 

boards, industry (including business and 

labor), schools (including community colleges), and other community organizations 

to provide coherent programs of employment 

and training activities; 

(C) make special efforts to conduct outreach and provide services to adults with 

multiple barriers to employment who need 

to advance their careers or seek second careers due to the economic downturn; 

(D) align adult education, career and technical education, workforce investment, economic development, and related systems and 

resources to provide career pathway strategies for helping low-skilled individuals navigate through the continuum of needed education and supports, to ultimately achieve a 

postsecondary education credential or an industry-recognized certificate and a job leading to economic self-sufficiency; 

(E) provide an assurance that the local 

board will use at least 90 percent of the grant 

funds for intensive services described in section 134(d)(3)(C) and training services described in section 134(d)(4)(D) of such Act (29 

U.S.C. 2864(d)(3)(C), 2864(d)(4)(D)), without regard to the eligibility requirements of section 134(d) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2864(d)). 

(3) STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of this section, a strategic partnership shall, in particular, be composed of at least 1 representative of a local board serving a community, 

and of each of the 8 types of organizations 

described in subparagraph (B). 

(B) TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS.—The types of 

organizations referred to in subparagraph (A) 

are businesses, unions, labor-management 

partnerships, schools (including community 

colleges), public agencies, nonprofit community organizations, economic development 

entities, and philanthropic organizations, 

that are actively engaged in providing employment and training activities, including 

work opportunities and support, to adults 

with multiple barriers to employment. 

(f) REPORT TO SECRETARY.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Each State, in submitting 

an annual report under section 136(d) of such 

Act (29 U.S.C. 2871(d)), shall include information— 

(A) on acquisition of a recognized postsecondary education credential or an industryrecognized certificate by adults with multiple barriers to employment who participated in employment and training activities 

under this section; 

(B) on entry of such adults, who participated in such activities, into positions in unsubsidized employment in viable industries; 

and 

(C) for adults referred to in subparagraph 

(B), on average wages in such positions. 

(2) REFINEMENTS.—In establishing standards for the reports, the Secretary shall refine indicators to eliminate any unintended 

consequences for adults with multiple barriers to employment, or such adults who 

may need and seek less than full-time employment along a career path. 

SEC. 7. ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE 

ENERGY WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM. 

The Secretary shall reserve $625,000,000 of 

the funds appropriated under this Act to 

carry out section 171(e) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2916(e)). 

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

There is authorized to be appropriated to 

the Secretary of Labor for activities described in this Act, $3,425,000,000, which shall 

be available for the period of January 1, 2009 

through December 31, 2010. 

By Mr. CASEY (for himself and 

Mr. NELSON, of Nebraska): 

S. 270. A bill to provide for programs 

that reduce the need for abortion, help 

women bear healthy children, and support new parents; to the Committee on 

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. 

Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I rise 

today to speak about a member of the 

American family for whom we all care, 

but for whom we don’t do nearly 

enough to support: pregnant women. 

I remember the times my wife Terese 

learned she was pregnant, and even 

though I can never experience it directly, I know through her and my sisters that there is one indelible and unforgettable moment when a woman 

finds out she is pregnant. For many 

women, this is a moment of great joy, 

the miracle of pregnancy. Perhaps it 

has been long awaited or perhaps it is 

something of a surprise, but it is welcome. Many of these women don’t need 

help beyond what their families provide and others may receive adequate 

support within our existing framework 

of programs and services. 

But there is another circumstance 

that a pregnant woman may face. For 

that woman, the moment of discovery 

is not a moment of joy. For her, it is a 

moment of terror, or panic or even 

shame. She may be in a doctor’s office 

or clinic or she may be at home. For 

her, that moment begins a crisis in 

which she feels overwhelmingly and 

perhaps almost unbearably alone. She 

could be wealthy, middle income or 

poor, but most likely poor. Whatever 

her income, she feels, very simply, all 

alone. 

A pregnant woman may have an abusive spouse or boyfriend who is tormenting her. She is all alone. 

Another pregnant woman may believe that she cannot support or care 

for a new baby at this point in her life. 

She is all alone. 

Another woman might believe that 

her financial situation is so precarious 

that she cannot care for and raise a 

child. She may feel alone and helpless. 

We know that 48 percent of all pregnancies are unintended and, excluding 

miscarriages, 54 percent of unintended 

pregnancies end in abortion. The response ‘‘cannot afford a baby’’ is the 

second most frequently cited reason 

why women choose to have an abortion 

and 73 percent of women having abortions cited this reason as a contributing factor. 

A woman who is facing the challenges of an unplanned pregnancy that 

may be a crisis for her does not need a 

lecture from a politician or a clinical 

reminder that she has a simple choice 

to make. The choice is never simple. 

Never. This woman needs support and 

love and understanding. She needs to 

be embraced in her time of crisis, not 

sent on her way to deal with it on her 

own. She needs our help to walk with 

her, not only throughout the nine 

months of her pregnancy, but also for 

the early months and years of her 

child’s life. 

We in the Congress, in both the 

House and Senate and both parties, 

need to address this issue in a comprehensive way that meets these needs. 

Some members have initiated good efforts and we should applaud and support those efforts, but I believe that 

neither political party is doing enough 

for pregnant women in America today. 

While there is tremendous disagreement on how we can best do this, there 

is one significant area of common 

ground—one thing we all agree upon. 

We all want to reduce the number of 

abortions. 

Many women who have abortions do 

so very reluctantly, and while ‘‘choice’’ 

is a term that is widely used in this debate, many women who face unplanned 

pregnancies do not feel they have a 

genuine choice. That is why I am introducing the Pregnant Women Support 

Act. With this bill, it is my fervent 

hope that a new dialogue—a common 

ground—will emerge on how we can reduce abortions by offering pregnant 

women real choices: 

This bill will: assist pregnant and 

parenting teens to finish high school 

and prepare for college or vocational 

training; help pregnant college students stay in school, offering them 

counseling as well as assistance with 

continuing their education, parenting 

support and classes, and child care assistance. 


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