I 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2697 

To establish a task force on developing a 21st century surface transportation 

workforce, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 20, 2021 

Mr. LANGEVIN (for himself and Mr. MCKINLEY) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

A BILL 

To establish a task force on developing a 21st century 

surface transportation workforce, 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 ‘‘21st Century Trans5 portation Workforce Development Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. TASK FORCE ON DEVELOPING A 21ST CENTURY 

7 SURFACE TRANSPORTATION WORKFORCE. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 

9 date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor10 tation shall establish a task force on developing a 21st 


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1 century surface transportation workforce (in this section 

2 referred to as the ‘‘Task Force’’). 

3 (b) DUTIES.—Not later than 12 months after the es4 tablishment of the Task Force under subsection (a), the 

5 Task Force shall develop and submit to the Secretary rec6 ommendations and strategies for the Department of 

7 Transportation to— 

8 (1) evaluate the current and future state of the 

9 surface transportation workforce, including projected 

10 job needs in the surface transportation sector; 

11 (2) identify factors influencing individuals pur12 suing careers in surface transportation, including 

13 barriers to attracting individuals into the surface 

14 transportation workforce; 

15 (3) address barriers to retaining individuals in 

16 surface transportation careers; 

17 (4) identify and address potential impacts of 

18 emerging technologies on the surface transportation 

19 workforce; 

20 (5) increase access for vulnerable or underrep21 resented populations, including women and minori22 ties, to high-skill, in-demand surface transportation 

23 careers; 

24 (6) facilitate and encourage elementary, sec25 ondary, and post-secondary students in the United 


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1 States to pursue careers in the surface transpor2 tation sector; and 

3 (7) identify and develop pathways for students 

4 and individuals to secure pre-apprenticeships, reg5 istered apprenticeships, and other work-based learn6 ing opportunities in the surface transportation sector 

7 of the United States. 

8 (c) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing recommenda9 tions and strategies under subsection (b), the Task Force 

10 shall— 

11 (1) identify factors that influence whether 

12 young people and underrepresented populations, in13 cluding women and minorities, pursue careers in 

14 surface transportation; 

15 (2) consider how the Department of Transpor16 tation, businesses, industry, labor, educators, and 

17 other stakeholders can coordinate efforts to support 

18 qualified individuals in pursuing careers in the sur19 face transportation sector; 

20 (3) identify methods of enhancing surface 

21 transportation pre-apprenticeships and registered 

22 apprenticeships, job skills training, mentorship, edu23 cation, and outreach programs that are exclusive to 

24 young people in the United States; and 


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1 (4) identify potential sources of funding, includ2 ing grants and scholarships, that may be used to 

3 support young people and other qualified individuals 

4 in pursuing careers in the surface transportation 

5 sector. 

6 (d) CONSULTATION.—In developing the recommenda7 tions and strategies required under subsection (b), the 

8 Task Force may consult with— 

9 (1) local educational agencies (as such term is 

10 defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Sec11 ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)) 

12 and institutions of higher education (as such term is 

13 defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act 

14 of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)); and 

15 (2) State workforce development boards. 

16 (e) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the sub17 mission of the recommendations and strategies under sub18 section (b), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 

19 on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 

20 Representatives and the Committee on Environment and 

21 Public Works of the Senate a report containing such rec22 ommendations and strategies. 

23 (f) COMPOSITION OF TASK FORCE.—The Secretary 

24 shall appoint members to the Task Force whose diverse 

25 background and expertise allow such members to conVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:41 Jun 02, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2697.IH H2697

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1 tribute balanced points of view and ideas in carrying out 

2 this section, comprised of equal representation from each 

3 of the following: 

4 (1) Industries in the surface transportation sec5 tor. 

6 (2) Surface transportation sector labor organi7 zations. 

8 (3) Such other surface transportation stake9 holders and experts as the Secretary considers ap10 propriate. 

11 (g) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT.—Members shall be 

12 appointed to the Task Force for the duration of the exist13 ence of the Task Force. 

14 (h) COMPENSATION.—Task Force members shall 

15 serve without compensation. 

16 (i) SUNSET.—The Task Force shall terminate upon 

17 the submission of the report required under subsection (e). 

18 (j) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

19 (1) PRE-APPRENTICESHIP.—The term ‘‘pre-ap20 prenticeship’’ means a training model or program 

21 that prepares individuals for acceptance into a reg22 istered apprenticeship and has a demonstrated part23 nership with 1 or more registered apprenticeships. 

24 (2) REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP.—The term 

25 ‘‘registered apprenticeship’’ means an apprenticeship 


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1 program registered under the Act of August 16, 

2 1937 (29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.; commonly known as the 

3 ‘‘National Apprenticeship Act’’), that satisfies the 

4 requirements of parts 29 and 30 of title 29, Code 

5 of Federal Regulations (as in effect on January 1, 

6 2020). 

Æ 


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