I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6176 
To require the Secretary of Energy to develop a solar workforce training 
course for certain members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 10, 2020 
Mr. O’HALLERAN (for himself, Mrs. LEE of Nevada, Mr. RIGGLEMAN, and 
Mr. WALTZ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on 
Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speak-
er, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the ju-
risdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To require the Secretary of Energy to develop a solar work-
force training course for certain members of the Armed 
Forces, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Solar Vocational Edu-
cation and Training for our Servicemembers Act’’ or the 
‘‘Solar VETS Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. SOLAR WORKFORCE TRAINING COURSE FOR MEM-
BERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) TRAINING COURSE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in collabora-
tion with the Secretary of Defense, shall develop a 
training course for careers in solar-related occupa-
tions to be— 
(A) made available— 
(i) at military installations; and 
(ii) to eligible members of the Armed 
Forces; and 
(B) administered by institutions of higher 
education pursuant to an agreement with the 
Secretary. 
(2) 
COURSE
COMPONENTS.—The 
training 
course shall include— 
(A) hands-on, in-person instruction with 
respect to solar-related occupations; 
(B) assistance with resume preparation; 
(C) assistance with job interview prepara-
tion; and 
(D) an examination that results in the re-
ceipt of an entry-level certification in solar in-
stallation (such as a certification from the 
North American Board of Certified Energy 
Practitioners). 
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(3) FEES
OR
CHARGES
PROHIBITED; REIM-
BURSEMENT FOR EXAMINATION COSTS.— 
(A) FEES OR CHARGES.—No fee or charge 
may be assessed to an eligible member of the 
Armed Forces in connection with the participa-
tion of the member in the training course. 
(B) 
REIMBURSEMENT.—The 
Secretary 
shall reimburse an eligible member of the 
Armed Forces for the costs of an examination 
described in paragraph (2)(D) incurred by the 
member. 
(b) SELECTION
OF PARTICIPATING MILITARY IN-
STALLATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in collabora-
tion with the Secretary of Defense, shall select mili-
tary installations at which the training course will be 
offered to eligible members of the Armed Forces. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In selecting a military 
installation, the Secretary shall consider— 
(A) the average number of eligible mem-
bers of the Armed Forces stationed at the mili-
tary installation; 
(B) the solar market in the local commu-
nity near the military installation, including the 
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number of relevant employers and job opportu-
nities; and 
(C) the capability of institutions of higher 
education located near the military installation 
to administer the training course. 
(c) AGREEMENT WITH INSTITUTION
OF HIGHER 
EDUCATION.—For each military installation at which the 
training course is to be offered, the Secretary shall enter 
into an agreement with an institution of higher education 
located near the military installation under which the in-
stitution shall administer the training course. 
(d) OUTREACH.—The Secretary, in collaboration 
with the Secretary of Defense, shall ensure that— 
(1) commanders at military installations are 
aware of the availability of the training course; and 
(2) installation transition offices inform eligible 
members of the Armed Forces about the training 
course. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions apply: 
(1) 
ELIGIBLE
MEMBER
OF
THE
ARMED 
FORCES.—The term ‘‘eligible member of the Armed 
Forces’’ means a member of the Armed Forces 
that— 
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(A) has completed at least 180 days on ac-
tive duty in the Armed Forces; and 
(B) is expected to be discharged or re-
leased from active duty in the Armed Forces 
within 180 days of the date of commencement 
of participation in the training course. 
(2) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 101 of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
(3) MILITARY INSTALLATION.—The term ‘‘mili-
tary installation’’ means a military installation that 
is located within any of the several States, the Dis-
trict of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands of the 
United States, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands, or Guam. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Energy. 
(5) TRAINING
COURSE.—The term ‘‘training 
course’’ means the training course developed under 
subsection (a). 
Æ 
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