Transportation Workforce Investment Act of 2020

To develop and improve the transportation workforce, and for other purposes. 1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Transportation Workforce Investment Act of 2020 (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Transportation education and training program. Sec. 3. Surface transportation workforce grants. Sec. 4. Research and development strategic plan. Sec. 5. Task force on future of transportation workforce. 2. Transportation education and training program Section 504(f) of title 23, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: (f) Transportation education and training program (1) Establishment The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Labor, shall establish a program (in this subsection referred to as the Program (2) Grant authority In carrying out the Program, the Secretary may award a grant on a competitive basis in accordance with this subsection. (3) Eligible recipients (A) In general The Secretary may award a grant under the Program to any partnership that includes, at a minimum, the following entities: (i) An institution of higher education. (ii) A State department of transportation. (iii) Not fewer than 2 transportation sector employers. (B) Labor and joint labor-management organizations A partnership eligible for a grant under the Program may include a labor or joint labor-management organization. (4) Eligible projects (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), grant funds awarded under the Program may only be used to assist a project that includes, at a minimum, two of the following activities: (i) Developing, implementing, and assessing innovative programs of study with respect to a transportation sector. (ii) Training educators to teach secondary or postsecondary career and technical education courses with respect to a transportation sector. (iii) Increasing career recruitment and outreach to youth, including through career counseling and career exploration opportunities, to encourage participation in transportation sectors. (iv) Developing on-the-job training and work-based learning opportunities, including pre-apprenticeships and registered apprenticeships, with respect to a transportation sector. (v) Increasing participation of underrepresented individuals, including women, in the transportation workforce. (vi) Any other activity the Secretary determines appropriate for education or workforce development in a transportation sector. (B) Exception If a project is in the construction or maintenance sector, grant funds awarded under the Program may only be used to develop pre-apprenticeships that prepare individuals for acceptance into registered apprenticeships in such sector. (5) Applications To be eligible for a grant under this subsection, a partnership referred to in paragraph (3) shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, which shall include, at a minimum, a description of the following: (A) How the partnership will use grant funds to assist an eligible project. (B) The roles and responsibilities of each partner in assisting the project. (C) Any prior experience or demonstrated success in workforce development of a partner. (D) The current and projected workforce shortages, if any, in the relevant transportation sector and how the project will address those shortages. (E) Any promotion of the increased participation of underrepresented individuals, including women, in the transportation workforce that the project will provide. (F) Any recognized postsecondary credentials that participants in the project will be prepared for. (G) Any registered apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, or other on-the-job training or work-based learning opportunities the project will provide. (6) Considerations In making a grant under the Program, the Secretary shall consider— (A) regional diversity; (B) the degree to which an eligible project may address current or projected transportation workforce shortages; and (C) if applicable, the quality of any proposed on-the-job training or work-based learning opportunities to be provided. (7) Limitations on grants (A) Limitation on Amounts The amount of a grant under this subsection may not exceed $300,000. (B) Limitation on Federal share After a recipient has received 2 grants under this subsection, subsequent grants to the recipient may not be in an amount that exceeds 75 percent of the cost of the project to be assisted with the grant. (8) Report A recipient of a grant under this subsection shall submit to the Secretary, at such time as the Secretary determines appropriate, a report that includes a description of the following: (A) How grant funds were used. (B) The education and employment outcomes for individuals participating in or benefitting from the project assisted with grant funds under the Program (in this paragraph referred to as participants (i) The percentage, and median earnings, of participants who are in unsubsidized employment 90 days after exit from the project. (ii) The percentage of participants who are in unsubsidized employment 180 days after exit from the project. (iii) The percentage of participants who obtain a recognized postsecondary credential, or a secondary school diploma or recognized equivalent during the project or within 1 year after exit from the project. (iv) The percentage of participants who, during the project— (I) enrolled in an education or training program that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential or employment; and (II) developed skills necessary to receive such a credential or employment through such program. (9) Definitions In this subsection, the following definitions apply: (A) Career and technical education The term career and technical education Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 20 U.S.C. 2302 (B) Individual with a barrier to employment The term individual with a barrier to employment 29 U.S.C. 3012 (C) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education 20 U.S.C. 1001 (D) On-the-job training The term on-the-job training 29 U.S.C. 3102 (E) Pre-apprenticeship The term pre-apprenticeship (F) Program of study The term program of study Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 20 U.S.C. 2302 (G) Recognized postsecondary credential The term recognized postsecondary credential 29 U.S.C. 3102 (H) Registered apprenticeship The term registered apprenticeship 29 U.S.C. 50 National Apprenticeship Act (I) Special populations The term special populations 20 U.S.C. 2302 (J) Transportation sector The term transportation sector (K) Underrepresented individual The term underrepresented individual (i) an individual who belongs to a special population; (ii) an individual with a barrier to employment; or (iii) an individual otherwise determined by the Secretary to be underrepresented in the transportation workforce. (L) Work-based learning The term work-based learning Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 20 U.S.C. 2302 . 3. Surface transportation workforce grants Section 504(e) of title 23, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in subparagraph (B), by inserting , including development of the skills necessary to utilize emerging technologies development (B) in subparagraph (F), by striking and (C) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and (D) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs: (H) on-the-job training or work-based learning opportunities, including pre-apprenticeships and registered apprenticeships; (I) activities to support the establishment of industry or sector partnerships; (J) activities to increase the number of underrepresented individuals in such workforce; and (K) activities to update facilities and equipment used in career and technical education programs of study. ; and (2) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows: (3) Definitions In this subsection, the following definitions apply: (A) Career and technical education The term career and technical education 20 U.S.C. 2302 (B) Individual with a barrier to employment The term individual with a barrier to employment 29 U.S.C. 3012 (C) Industry or sector partnership The term industry or sector partnership 29 U.S.C. 3102 (D) On-the-job training The term on-the-job training 29 U.S.C. 3102 (E) Pre-apprenticeship The term pre-apprenticeship (F) Program of study The term program of study 20 U.S.C. 2302 (G) Registered apprenticeship The term registered apprenticeship 29 U.S.C. 50 National Apprenticeship Act (H) Special populations The term special populations 20 U.S.C. 2302 (I) Surface transportation workforce development, training, and education The term surface transportation workforce development, training, and education (J) Underrepresented individual The term underrepresented individual (i) an individual who belongs to a special population; (ii) an individual with a barrier to employment; or (iii) an individual otherwise determined by the Secretary to be underrepresented in the transportation workforce. (K) Work-based learning The term work-based learning Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 20 U.S.C. 2302 . 4. Research and development strategic plan Section 6503 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (c)(1)— (A) in subparagraph (E), by striking and (B) in subparagraph (F), by striking the semicolon and inserting ; and (C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (G) developing and maintaining a diverse workforce in transportation sectors. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (f) Transportation sector defined In this section, the term transportation sector . 5. Task force on future of transportation workforce (a) Establishment Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation (in this section referred to as the Secretary Task Force (b) Duties of Task Force The duties of the Task Force shall be to carry out the following activities: (1) Conduct an assessment of— (A) the current and projected state of the transportation workforce, including current and projected workforce shortages; (B) any existing barriers to attracting, developing, training, or retaining a skilled transportation workforce; and (C) the projected impact of emerging technologies, including automation, on the transportation workforce. (2) Develop recommendations and strategies for the Secretary and States to develop and improve the transportation workforce based on the assessment conducted pursuant to paragraph (1), including recommendations and strategies on the following: (A) Improving youth outreach, mentorship programs, and career guidance and academic counseling. (B) Improving career pathways, including through secondary and post-secondary career and technical education programs of study. (C) Providing on-the-job training or work-based learning opportunities, including pre-apprenticeships and registered apprenticeships. (D) Providing recognized postsecondary credentials, including credentials related to emerging technologies. (E) Supporting targeted outreach to underrpresented individuals, including women. (F) Providing new skills to public transportation workers employed in positions that may be impacted by emerging technologies. (c) Consideration In developing recommendations and strategies pursuant to subsection (b)(2), the Task Force shall consider how businesses, educators, the Secretary, State and local government agencies, and other relevant stakeholders can coordinate efforts to support workforce development in transportation sectors. (d) Membership (1) Appointment The Task Force shall be composed of members appointed by the Secretary, including representatives of the following: (A) Regionally diverse businesses operating in transportation sectors. (B) Labor organizations. (C) Local educational agencies. (D) Institutions of higher education, including community colleges and area career and technical education schools. (E) Eligible agencies. (F) Other experts and stakeholders in transportation sectors that the Secretary determines appropriate. (2) Terms Each member shall be appointed for the life of the Task Force. (e) Initial report (1) Submission to Secretary Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Task Force is established, the Task Force shall submit to the Secretary a report containing— (A) the findings of the assessment conducted pursuant to subsection (b)(1); and (B) the recommendations and strategies developed pursuant to subsection (b)(2). (2) Submission to Congress Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary receives the report submitted under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— (A) provide written comments on the report; and (B) submit the report and written comments to the appropriate committees of Congress. (f) Termination Except as provided in subsection (g), the Task Force shall terminate on the date that is 30 days after the date on which the Task Force submits the initial report to the Secretary under subsection (e)(1). (g) Updated reports (1) In general On the date that is five years after the date of termination under subsection (f), and every five years thereafter, the Task Force shall reconvene for purposes of the update required under paragraph (2) of this subsection. (2) Submission to Secretary Not later than 180 days after a date on which the Task Force reconvenes under paragraph (1), the Task Force shall submit to the Secretary an update of the report most recently submitted to the Secretary under this section by the Task Force. (3) Submission to Congress Not later than 30 days after a date on which the Secretary receives an updated report under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall— (A) provide written comments on the updated report; and (B) submit the updated report and written comments to the appropriate committees of Congress. (h) Definitions In this section: (1) Appropriate committees of Congress The term appropriate committees of Congress (2) Area career and technical education school The term area career and technical education school Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 20 U.S.C. 2302 (3) Career and technical education The term career and technical education Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 20 U.S.C. 2302 (4) Career guidance and academic counseling The term career guidance and academic counseling Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 20 U.S.C. 2302 (5) Career pathway The term career pathway 29 U.S.C. 3102 (6) Eligible agency The term eligible agency Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 20 U.S.C. 2302 (7) Individual with a barrier to employment The term individual with a barrier to employment 29 U.S.C. 3012 (8) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education 20 U.S.C. 1001 (9) Local educational agency The term local educational agency 20 U.S.C. 7801 (10) On-the-job training The term on-the-job training 29 U.S.C. 3102 (11) Pre-apprenticeship The term pre-apprenticeship (12) Program of study The term program of study Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 20 U.S.C. 2302 (13) Recognized postsecondary credential The term recognized postsecondary credential 29 U.S.C. 3102 (14) Registered apprenticeship The term registered apprenticeship 29 U.S.C. 50 National Apprenticeship Act (15) Special populations The term special populations 20 U.S.C. 2302 (16) State The term State (17) Transportation sector The term transportation sector (18) Underrepresented individual The term underrepresented individual (A) an individual who belongs to a special population; (B) an individual with a barrier to employment; or (C) an individual otherwise determined by the Secretary to be underrepresented in the transportation workforce. (19) Work-based learning The term work-based learning Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 20 U.S.C. 2302

Summary: Transportation Workforce Investment Act of 2020 This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a program to provide competitive grants to institutions of higher education, states, and other partnerships to support transportation sector education and workforce development projects. The bill expands authority for DOT to provide grants for surface transportation workforce development, training, and education to include (1) on-the-job training or work-based learning opportunities, including pre-apprenticeships and registered apprenticeships; (2) activities to support the establishment of industry or sector partnerships; (3) activities to increase the number of underrepresented individuals in such workforce; and (4) activities to update facilities and equipment used in career and technical education programs of study. DOT must also establish a task force to (1) conduct an assessment of the current and projected state of the transportation workforce, including any existing barriers to attracting, developing, training, or retaining a skilled transportation workforce; and (2) develop recommendations and strategies for DOT and states to improve the transportation workforce based on such assessment.