Maritime and Energy Workforce Technical Training Enhancement Act

To require the Secretary of Energy to award grants to expand programs in maritime and energy workforce technical training, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Maritime and Energy Workforce Technical Training Enhancement Act 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Appropriate Federal agency The term appropriate Federal agency (A) the Department of Defense; (B) the Department of Energy; (C) the Department of Homeland Security; (D) the Department of Transportation; or (E) the Department of Veterans Affairs. (2) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education 20 U.S.C. 1001 (3) Secretary The term Secretary (4) Veteran The term veteran 3. Maritime and energy workforce technical training enhancement (a) In general (1) Grants authorized The Secretary shall award grants to eligible institutions to expand on existing programs in maritime and energy workforce technical training, including by— (A) admitting more students to the program; (B) training faculty; (C) expanding facilities; (D) creating new maritime career pathways, including a pathway from an associate degree to a baccalaureate degree; (E) awarding credit for prior learning experience; and (F) increasing cooperation with, as applicable— (i) an appropriate Federal agency; or (ii) the National Science Foundation. (2) Eligible institutions To be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph (1), an institution shall be an institution of higher education that— (A) is a community college or other public postsecondary educational institution; (B) is located in close proximity to marine or port facilities in the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, or Great Lakes; (C) offers a maritime training and education program; and (D) has an established association with— (i) a port authority or other established seaport or inland port facility; and (ii) an appropriate Federal agency. (3) Priority The Secretary shall give priority in awarding grants under this subsection to eligible institutions that have entered into a partnership with an appropriate Federal agency. (4) Grant amounts Grants awarded under this subsection shall be in amounts of not less than $1,000,000 and not more than $1,500,000. (b) Requests for applications (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 2 years, the Secretary shall issue a request for applications from eligible institutions for grants under subsection (a). (2) Applications An eligible institution seeking a grant under subsection (a) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including— (A) demonstration of a willingness and ability to participate in a partnership described in subsection (a)(3); and (B) a commitment and demonstration of an ability to maintain maritime and energy workforce technical training programs after the end of the grant period. (c) Grant uses (1) In general An eligible institution awarded a grant under subsection (a) shall use grant amounts to carry out— (A) training relating to maritime or energy transportation, logistics, and supply chain management; (B) training relating to shipbuilding and ship repair; (C) enhancement of academic and workforce training programs providing training for maritime and energy employment, including certifications and apprenticeships; (D) salary supplementation for faculty in maritime or energy training and education; (E) operation and maintenance of maritime or energy-related equipment and technology for use in instructional programs; (F) acquisition of marine vessels, safety equipment, ship simulators, electronic navigation devices, fire suppression equipment, physical and chemical measuring instruments, sampling devices, and other assets and equipment for use in maritime or energy training and education; (G) renovation or construction of buildings to house maritime or energy training and education programs; or (H) tuition reimbursement for successful completion of a maritime or energy course, program, or certification. (2) Limitation on construction An eligible institution awarded a grant under subsection (a) may not use greater than 50 percent of the grant amount to carry out paragraph (1)(G). (3) Admissions preference To the maximum extent practicable, an eligible institution awarded a grant under subsection (a) shall give preference to veterans in admission to maritime or energy training and education programs. (4) Grant period An eligible institution awarded a grant under subsection (a) may use the grant funds for the 3-year period following the award of the grant. (d) Grant for development of grant program (1) In general In developing the grant program under subsection (a), the Secretary may award a grant to an eligible nonprofit organization to provide assistance to the Secretary in carrying out this section. (2) Eligibility To be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph (1), a nonprofit organization shall have not fewer than 10 years of experience in working with eligible institutions on developing workforce development programs. (e) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2018. 4. Centers of Excellence in Maritime and Energy Workforce Technical Training (a) In general (1) Grants authorized The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Labor, shall award grants to not more than 10 eligible institutions— (A) to establish within each eligible institution receiving a grant a center, to be known as a Center of Excellence in Maritime and Energy Workforce Technical Training Center (B) through the Center established under subparagraph (A), to improve and expand maritime and energy workforce training opportunities for veterans, members of the Armed Forces, Federal employees, and civilians by— (i) implementing new training programs, including training programs in— (I) port-related transportation systems; (II) maritime and energy logistics and supply chain management; (III) small vessel repair; (IV) maintenance of navigation and deck cargo systems; (V) maintenance of sophisticated training equipment; (VI) port-related transportation, logistics, and supply chain management; (VII) shipbuilding and ship repair; and (VIII) operation and maintenance of equipment and technology for use in maritime and energy employment training; and (ii) providing job placement services in maritime and energy employment fields. (2) Eligible institutions To be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph (1), an institution shall be an institution of higher education that— (A) is a community college or other public postsecondary educational institution; (B) operates an existing maritime or energy workforce training program; (C) offers accredited programs in academic areas relevant to maritime or energy-related workforce training, including— (i) port-related transportation, logistics, and supply chain management; and (ii) shipbuilding and ship repair; (D) is well-recognized in the field of maritime workforce training; and (E) has an established association with— (i) a port authority or other established seaport or inland port facility; and (ii) an appropriate Federal agency. (3) Priority (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall give priority in awarding grants under this section to eligible institutions that have entered into, or demonstrate the willingness and ability to enter into— (i) a memorandum of understanding with an appropriate Federal agency; or (ii) a cooperative agreement with an appropriate private entity, as determined by the Secretary. (B) Memorandum of understanding and cooperative agreement described A memorandum of understanding or cooperative agreement referred to in subparagraph (A) shall provide for— (i) the provision of resources, whether in cash or in-kind, to the Center; or (ii) assistance to the Center for— (I) building maritime or energy training capacity; or (II) training Federal employees in maritime fields. (4) Grant amount Grants awarded under paragraph (1) shall be in amounts of not more than $1,500,000 per eligible institution. (b) Requests for applications (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a request for applications from eligible institutions for a grant under subsection (a). (2) Applications An eligible institution seeking a grant under subsection (a) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (c) Grant uses (1) In general An eligible institution awarded a grant under this section shall use the grant amount— (A) to develop an agenda for maritime and energy training and education; (B) to fund expansion of maritime and energy training and education; or (C) to publish or otherwise disseminate findings relating to best practices in maritime and energy training and education. (2) Grant period An eligible institution awarded a grant under subsection (a) may use the grant funds for the 5-year period following the award of the grant. (d) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2018.

Summary: Maritime and Energy Workforce Technical Training Enhancement Act This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to award grants to enable eligible community colleges and other public postsecondary institutions of higher education that are located near marine or port facilities in the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, or Great Lakes to expand upon existing programs in maritime and energy workforce technical training, including by admitting more students, training faculty, expanding facilities, creating new maritime career pathways from an associate degree to a baccalaureate degree, awarding credit for prior learning experience, and increasing cooperation with an appropriate federal agency or the National Science Foundation. DOE shall give priority to institutions that have entered into a partnership with an appropriate federal agency. Recipients shall use grant amounts for: training related to maritime or energy transportation, logistics, and supply chain management or to shipbuilding and ship repair; enhancement of academic and workforce training programs for maritime and energy employment; salary supplementation for faculty in maritime or energy training and education; operation and maintenance of maritime or energy related equipment and technology for use in instructional programs; acquisition of marine vessels and other assets and equipment for use in maritime or energy related training and education; renovation or construction of buildings to house maritime or energy training and education programs; or tuition reimbursement for successful completion of a maritime or energy course, program, or certification. DOE may also award a grant to an eligible nonprofit organization (one with at least 10 years of expertise in working with community colleges on developing workforce development programs) to provide assistance in carrying out this Act. DOE shall award a grant to to enable up to 10 eligible institutions that offer accredited programs in academic areas relevant to maritime or energy-related workforce training to: (1) establish Centers of Excellence in Maritime and Energy Workforce Technical Training; and (2) improve and expand maritime and energy workforce training opportunities through such Centers for veterans, members of the Armed Forces, federal employees, and civilians by implementing new training programs and providing job placement services in maritime and energy employment fields.