I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6623 
To advance STEM education, provide for improved worker, training, retention, 
and advancement, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 26, 2018 
Mr. RYAN of Ohio (for himself, Mr. KHANNA, Ms. SA´NCHEZ, Ms. JACKSON 
LEE, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Ms. MOORE, and Ms. HANABUSA) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Edu-
cation and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways 
and Means, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Transportation 
and Infrastructure, Science, Space, and Technology, Natural Resources, 
Oversight and Government Reform, Foreign Affairs, and the Judiciary, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
committee concerned 
A BILL 
To advance STEM education, provide for improved worker, 
training, retention, and advancement, 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 ‘‘Working On Reward-
ing and Keeping Employees Resilient Act’’ or the 
‘‘WORKER Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title. 
Sec. 2. Table of contents. 
TITLE I—ADVANCING STEM EDUCATION 
Subtitle A—Expansion of Engineering Programs at Elementary and 
Secondary Schools 
Sec. 101. Grant program. 
Sec. 102. Table of contents. 
Subtitle B—Expansion of Maker Education and Makerspaces 
Sec. 110. Definitions. 
Sec. 111. State leadership activities. 
Sec. 112. Local uses of funds. 
Subtitle C—Increasing Women and Under-Represented Minorities in STEM 
Occupations 
Sec. 131. Support for programs that increase the participation of women and 
under-represented minorities in science, technology, engineer-
ing, and mathematics occupations. 
TITLE II—WORKER, TRAINING, RETENTION, AND ADVANCEMENT 
Subtitle A—Development of Work-Based Learning Programs 
Sec. 201. Purpose. 
Sec. 202. Definitions. 
Sec. 203. Grants authorized. 
Sec. 204. Application process. 
Sec. 205. Activities. 
Sec. 206. Administration by the Secretary. 
Sec. 207. Authorization of appropriations. 
Subtitle B—Reemployment 
Sec. 211. Requirement to provide reemployment bonus program under State 
unemployment compensation law. 
Sec. 212. Coordinating State unemployment compensation programs with the 
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. 
Sec. 213. Permissible use of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds 
for wage insurance. 
Sec. 214. Training vouchers. 
Sec. 215. Authorization of appropriations. 
TITLE III—ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DISTRESSED COMMUNITY 
INVESTMENT AGENCY 
Sec. 301. Definitions. 
Sec. 302. Distressed community investment agency. 
Sec. 303. Redesignation of Department of Commerce to Department of Innova-
tion and Investment. 
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Sec. 304. Redesignation of Secretary of Commerce to Secretary of Innovation 
and Investment. 
TITLE IV—AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 
Sec. 401. Authorization of appropriations. 
TITLE I—ADVANCING STEM 
EDUCATION 
Subtitle A—Expansion of Engineer-
ing Programs at Elementary 
and Secondary Schools 
SEC. 101. GRANT PROGRAM. 
Part F of title IV of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7251 et seq.) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in section 4601— 
(A) in subsection (a), in the matter pre-
ceding paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘(other than 
subpart 5)’’ before ‘‘part’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR SUB-
PART 5.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out subpart 5— 
‘‘(1) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 
and 2020; and 
‘‘(2) $21,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 
and 2022.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘Subpart 5—Engineering Education 
‘‘SEC. 4651. GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—From amounts appropriated 
under section 4601(c), the Secretary shall award grants, 
on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to implement 
formal and informal engineering education programs in el-
ementary schools and secondary schools to— 
‘‘(1) teach students the overall analytical and 
experimental approaches used in engineering and en-
gineering technology; and 
‘‘(2) increase participation of under-represented 
student groups in the engineering and engineering 
technology pipeline. 
‘‘(b) MAXIMUM GRANT AMOUNT.—A grant awarded 
under this subpart may not exceed $1,000,000. 
‘‘(c) MATCHING FUNDS.—An eligible entity receiving 
a grant under this subpart shall provide non-Federal 
funds in amount equal to the grant amount. Such non- 
Federal funds may include in-kind support (such as equip-
ment, supplies, materials, and participation of personnel 
in the development and implementation of activities to be 
carried out under the grant). 
‘‘(d) USES OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity receiving 
a grant under this subpart shall use such funds to 
carry out a program that— 
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‘‘(A) provides engineering instructional 
materials based on review and analysis of the 
effectiveness of existing formal, or informal re-
search-based and evidence-based locally relevant 
instructional materials; 
‘‘(B) provides professional development for 
pre-service and in-service teachers to teach en-
gineering; 
‘‘(C) provides instructions on engineering 
and engineering technology during normal 
classroom hours or after school; 
‘‘(D) incorporates evidence-based practices 
to increase diversity of student groups partici-
pating in the program; 
‘‘(E) encourages participation of engineers 
from local private and public organizations to 
mentor the teachers and students; and 
‘‘(F) encourages engineering faculty and 
students from institutions of higher education 
as mentors for the elementary school or sec-
ondary school students, and teachers as appro-
priate. 
‘‘(2) PUBLIC-PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIPS.—Each 
eligible entity awarded a grant under this subpart 
shall be encouraged to carry out the program funded 
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under the grant in partnership with one or more of 
the following: 
‘‘(A) Elementary schools or secondary 
schools receiving assistance under this subpart. 
‘‘(B) Institutions of higher education. 
‘‘(C) Private sector businesses. 
‘‘(D) Nonprofit organizations. 
‘‘(E) Community-based organizations. 
‘‘(F) Public or private entities with dem-
onstrated record of success in delivering edu-
cational support. 
‘‘(G) Summer school programs. 
‘‘(e) APPLICATIONS.—An application for a grant 
under this subpart submitted by an eligible entity shall 
demonstrate long-term commitment for the proposed pro-
gram through— 
‘‘(1) providing laboratory and instructional 
space; 
‘‘(2) establishing ongoing professional training 
programs for pre-service and in-service teachers and 
teachers in-residence; and 
‘‘(3) commitment to scaling successful pro-
grams for engineering and engineering technology 
education in elementary schools and secondary 
schools under the jurisdiction of the eligible entity. 
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‘‘(f) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this sub-
part, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities 
that serve under-represented minorities in engineering. 
‘‘(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en-
tity’ means— 
‘‘(A) a consortia of local educational agen-
cies; or 
‘‘(B) a local educational agency that is not 
receiving a subgrant under this subpart for the 
fiscal year for which the agency is applying for 
a grant under this subpart. 
‘‘(2) INSTRUCTIONAL
MATERIALS.—The term 
‘instructional materials’ means materials that— 
‘‘(A) emphasize— 
‘‘(i) engineering fundamentals and 
concepts, problem-based learning; and 
‘‘(ii) essential skills such as systems 
thinking, creativity, teamwork, communica-
tion, and ethical considerations; 
‘‘(B) are designed to introduce students to 
modern engineering and engineering technology 
tools such as computer-aided design, computer- 
aided manufacturing, statistical analysis, codes 
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and standards, human factors, and reliability 
analysis; and 
‘‘(C) are aligned with and integrated into 
relevant science, engineering, and mathematics 
standards that may exist in the applicable State 
or may be developed. 
‘‘SEC. 4652. ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
‘‘Not later than 1 year after the first grant is award-
ed under this subpart, and annually thereafter, the Sec-
retary shall provide a report to Congress on activities and 
results under this subpart. Such reports shall describe— 
‘‘(1) the total number of grant applications re-
ceived for the preceding each year; 
‘‘(2) the number and geographic distribution of 
the grants for such year and for all grants awarded 
under this subpart; 
‘‘(3) participation of minority-serving institu-
tions of higher education, such as historically Black 
colleges and universities and Hispanic-serving insti-
tutions; 
‘‘(4) participation of under-represented and eco-
nomically disadvantaged student groups; 
‘‘(5) plans for collaboration among eligible enti-
ties receiving a grant under this subpart; 
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‘‘(6) overall program outcomes and issues of 
concern; and 
‘‘(7) recommendations for program revisions to 
achieve the desired program outcome.’’. 
SEC. 102. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
The table of contents in section 2 of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by in-
serting after the item relating to section 4644 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SUBPART 5—ENGINEERING EDUCATION 
‘‘4651. Grant program authorized. 
‘‘4652. Annual report to Congress.’’. 
Subtitle B—Expansion of Maker 
Education and Makerspaces 
SEC. 110. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Tech-
nical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(35) MAKER EDUCATION.—The term ‘maker 
education’ means a hands-on learning approach that 
encourages students to imagine, create, innovate, 
tinker, and collaborate through the process of manu-
facturing, testing, and demonstrating their ideas. 
‘‘(36) MAKERSPACE.—The term ‘makerspace’ 
means a community space that provides access to 
tools, technology, and knowledge for learners and 
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entrepreneurs, that result in the prototyping or cre-
ation of physical goods, and which supports the de-
velopment of educational opportunities for personal 
growth, workforce training, and early stage business 
ventures.’’. 
SEC. 111. STATE LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES. 
Section 124 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Tech-
nical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2344) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (b)(3)(D)(iii), by inserting be-
fore the semicolon at the end the following: ‘‘and 
maker education’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of para-
graph (16); 
(B) by striking the period and inserting ‘‘; 
and’’ at the end of paragraph (17); and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(18) 
support 
for 
maker 
education 
and 
makerspaces.’’. 
SEC. 112. LOCAL USES OF FUNDS. 
Section 135 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Tech-
nical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2355) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (b)(5)— 
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(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (C); 
(B) by adding ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (D); and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(E) programs designed to train teachers 
specifically in the effective use and application 
of maker education and makerspaces;’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of para-
graph (19); 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (20) as 
paragraph (21); and 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (19), the 
following: 
‘‘(20) 
to 
support 
maker 
education 
and 
makerspaces; and’’. 
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Subtitle C—Increasing Women and 
Under-Represented 
Minorities 
in STEM Occupations 
SEC. 131. SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS THAT INCREASE THE 
PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN AND UNDER-REP-
RESENTED MINORITIES IN SCIENCE, TECH-
NOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS 
OCCUPATIONS. 
Section 124(b) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2344(b)) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(10) supporting programs that increase the 
participation of women and under-represented mi-
norities in career and technical education programs 
leading to occupations in science, technology, engi-
neering, and mathematics.’’. 
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TITLE II—WORKER, TRAINING, 
RETENTION, AND ADVANCE-
MENT 
Subtitle A—Development of Work- 
Based Learning Programs 
SEC. 201. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this subtitle is to promote industry 
or sector partnerships that engage in collaborative plan-
ning, resource alignment, and training efforts across mul-
tiple businesses, for a range of workers employed or poten-
tially employed by infrastructure industries, in order to 
encourage industry growth and competitiveness and to im-
prove worker training, retention, and advancement. 
SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS. 
In this subtitle: 
(1) CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION; CA-
REER GUIDANCE AND ACADEMIC COUNSELING.—The 
terms ‘‘career and technical education’’ and ‘‘career 
guidance and academic counseling’’ have the mean-
ings given such terms in section 3 of the Carl D. 
Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 
2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302). 
(2) CAREER
PATHWAY.—The term ‘‘career 
pathway’’ has the meaning given such term in sec-
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tion 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
Act (29 U.S.C. 3102). 
(3) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means an entity that is an industry or sector 
partnership, a nonprofit workforce intermediary, or 
(with respect to an implementation grant) an entity 
that is in the process of establishing an industry or 
sector partnership. 
(4) INDIVIDUAL WITH A BARRIER TO EMPLOY-
MENT; INDUSTRY OR SECTOR PARTNERSHIP; LOCAL 
BOARD.—The terms ‘‘individual with a barrier to 
employment’’, ‘‘industry or sector partnership’’, and 
‘‘local board’’ have the meanings given such terms in 
section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Oppor-
tunity Act. 
(5) RECOGNIZED
POSTSECONDARY
CREDEN-
TIAL; REGISTERED
APPRENTICESHIP
PROGRAM.— 
The terms ‘‘recognized postsecondary credential’’ 
and ‘‘registered apprenticeship program’’ have the 
meanings given such terms in such section. 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Labor. 
(7) STATE; STATE BOARD.—The terms ‘‘State’’ 
and ‘‘State board’’ have the meanings given such 
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terms in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
Opportunity Act. 
(8) TARGETED INFRASTRUCTURE INDUSTRY.— 
The term ‘‘targeted infrastructure industry’’ means 
an industry, including transportation (including sur-
face, transit, aviation, or railway transportation), 
construction, energy, information technology, manu-
facturing, or utilities industries, that the eligible en-
tity identifies in accordance with section 204(c) to 
be served by a grant under this subtitle. 
(9) WORK-BASED
LEARNING
PROGRAM.—The 
term ‘‘work-based learning program’’ means a pro-
gram (which may be a registered apprenticeship pro-
gram) that provides workers with paid work experi-
ence and corresponding approved classroom instruc-
tion, delivered in an employment relationship that 
both the employer and worker intend to be perma-
nent. 
SEC. 203. GRANTS AUTHORIZED. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation 
with the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of En-
ergy, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Edu-
cation, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
Agency, and the Chief of Engineers and Commanding 
General of the Army Corps of Engineers, shall award, on 
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a competitive basis, grants to eligible entities to plan and 
implement activities to achieve the strategic objectives de-
scribed in section 204(d) with respect to a targeted infra-
structure industry. 
(b) GRANTS.— 
(1) TYPES
OF
GRANTS.—A grant awarded 
under this subtitle may be in the form of— 
(A) an implementation grant, for entities 
seeking an initial grant under this subtitle; or 
(B) a renewal grant for entities that have 
already received an implementation grant under 
this subtitle. 
(2) DURATION.—Each grant awarded under 
this subtitle shall be for a period not to exceed 3 
years. 
(3) AMOUNT.—The amount of a grant awarded 
under this subtitle may not exceed— 
(A) 
for 
an 
implementation 
grant, 
$2,500,000; and 
(B) for a renewal grant, $1,500,000. 
(c) AWARD BASIS.— 
(1) GEOGRAPHIC
DIVERSITY.—The Secretary 
shall award grants under this subtitle in a manner 
that ensures geographic diversity in the areas in 
which activities will be carried out under the grants. 
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(2) PRIORITY
FOR
RENEWAL
GRANTS.—In 
awarding renewal grants under this subtitle, the 
Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities 
that— 
(A) demonstrate long-term sustainability of 
an industry or sector partnership or nonprofit 
workforce intermediaries; and 
(B) provide a non-Federal share of the 
cost of the activities. 
SEC. 204. APPLICATION PROCESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity desiring a grant 
under this subtitle shall submit an application to the Sec-
retary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary may require, including the 
contents described in subsection (b). 
(b) CONTENTS.—An application submitted under this 
subtitle shall contain, at a minimum— 
(1) a description of the eligible entity, evidence 
of the eligible entity’s capacity to carry out activities 
to achieve the strategic objectives described in sub-
section (d), and the expected participation and re-
sponsibilities of each of the partners included in the 
industry or sector partnership involved; 
(2) a description of the targeted infrastructure 
industry served by the grant, and a description of 
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how such industry was identified in accordance with 
subsection (c); 
(3) a description of the workers that will be tar-
geted or recruited by the partnership, including an 
analysis of the existing labor market, a description 
of potential barriers to employment for targeted 
workers, and a description of strategies that will be 
employed to help workers overcome such barriers; 
(4) a description of the strategic objectives de-
scribed in subsection (d) that the eligible entity in-
tends to achieve concerning the targeted infrastruc-
ture industry; 
(5) a description of the credentials that the eli-
gible entity proposes to use or develop as a perform-
ance measure, to assess the degree to which the eli-
gible entity has achieved such strategic objectives, 
which credentials— 
(A) shall be nationally portable; 
(B) shall be recognized postsecondary cre-
dentials or a registered apprenticeship; and 
(C) shall be related to the targeted infra-
structure industry that the eligible entity pro-
poses to support; 
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(6) a description of the manner in which the eli-
gible entity intends to make sustainable progress to-
wards achieving such strategic objectives; 
(7) 
performance 
measures 
for 
measuring 
progress towards achieving such strategic objectives; 
(8) a description of the Federal and non-Fed-
eral resources, available under provisions of law 
other than this subtitle, that will be leveraged in 
support of the partnerships and activities under this 
subtitle; 
(9) a description of the recruiting tools used by 
the eligible entity to recruit a diverse pool of workers 
and under-represented minorities in the infrastruc-
ture sector; and 
(10) a timeline for progress towards achieving 
such strategic objectives. 
(c) TARGETED INFRASTRUCTURE INDUSTRY.—Each 
grant under this subtitle shall serve a targeted infrastruc-
ture industry that is identified by the eligible entity 
through working with businesses, industry associations 
and organizations, labor organizations, State boards, local 
boards, economic development agencies, and other organi-
zations that the eligible entity determines necessary. 
(d) STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES.—The activities to be 
carried out under each grant awarded under this subtitle 
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shall be designed to achieve strategic objectives that in-
clude the following: 
(1) Recruiting key stakeholders in the targeted 
infrastructure industry, such as multiple businesses, 
labor organizations, local boards, and education and 
training providers, including providers of career and 
technical education, and regularly convening the 
stakeholders in a collaborative structure that sup-
ports the sharing of information, ideas, and chal-
lenges common to the targeted infrastructure indus-
try. 
(2) Identifying the training needs of multiple 
businesses in the targeted infrastructure industry, 
including— 
(A) needs for skills critical to competitive-
ness and innovation in the industry; 
(B) needs of the registered apprenticeship 
programs or other work-based learning pro-
grams supported by the grant; and 
(C) needs for the usage of career path-
ways. 
(3) Facilitating actions that lead to economies 
of scale by aggregating training and education needs 
of multiple businesses. 
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(4) Helping postsecondary educational institu-
tions, training institutions, sponsors of registered 
apprenticeship programs, and all other providers of 
career and technical education and training pro-
grams receiving assistance under this subtitle, align 
curricula, entrance requirements, and programs to 
the targeted infrastructure industry needs and the 
credentials described in subsection (b)(6), particu-
larly for higher skill, high-priority occupations re-
lated to the targeted infrastructure industry. 
(5) Providing information on the grant activi-
ties to the State agency carrying out the State pro-
gram under the Wagner-Peyser Act (29 U.S.C. 49 
et seq.), including staff of the agency that provide 
services under such Act, to enable the agency to in-
form recipients of unemployment compensation of 
the employment and training opportunities that may 
be offered through the grant activities. 
(6) Helping partner businesses in industry or 
sector partnerships to attract potential workers from 
a diverse jobseeker base, including individuals with 
barriers to employment, by identifying any such bar-
riers through analysis of the labor market and im-
plementing strategies to help such workers overcome 
such barriers. 
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SEC. 205. ACTIVITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity receiving a 
grant under this subtitle shall— 
(1) designate an entity in the industry or sector 
partnership as the fiscal agent for the grant funds; 
and 
(2) carry out activities described in subsections 
(b) (as applicable), (c), and (d) to achieve the stra-
tegic objectives identified in the entity’s application 
under section 204(b)(5), in a manner that integrates 
services and funding sources to ensure effectiveness 
of the activities and that uses the grant funds effi-
ciently. 
(b) PLANNING ACTIVITIES.—An eligible entity receiv-
ing an implementation grant under this subtitle shall use 
not more than $250,000 of the grant funds to carry out 
planning activities during the first year of the grant pe-
riod. Such activities may include— 
(1) establishing the industry or sector partner-
ship; 
(2) convening key stakeholders as identified in 
the application process; 
(3) conducting outreach to local businesses and 
business associations; or 
(4) conducting an evaluation of workforce needs 
in the local area. 
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(c) BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT.—An eligible entity re-
ceiving a grant under this subtitle shall use the grant 
funds to provide services to engage businesses in efforts 
to achieve the strategic objectives identified in the entity’s 
application under section 204(b)(5). The services may in-
clude assisting businesses— 
(1) in navigating the registration process for a 
sponsor of a registered apprenticeship program; 
(2) by connecting the business with an edu-
cation provider, including a provider of career and 
technical education, to develop classroom instruction 
to complement on-the-job learning; 
(3) in developing the curriculum design of a 
work-based learning program; 
(4) in employing workers participating in a 
work-based learning program for a transitional pe-
riod before a business hires the worker for full-time 
employment not less than 30 hours a week; 
(5) in providing training to managers and 
front-line workers to serve as trainers or mentors to 
workers participating in a work-based learning pro-
gram; 
(6) in providing career awareness activities, 
such as career guidance and academic counseling; 
and 
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(7) in recruiting, for participation in a work- 
based learning program, individuals eligible to re-
ceive additional workforce or human services, includ-
ing— 
(A) individuals participating in programs 
under the Workforce Innovation and Oppor-
tunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.), and the 
amendments made by such Act, including to the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701 et 
seq.); 
(B) recipients of assistance through the 
supplemental nutrition assistance program es-
tablished under the Food and Nutrition Act of 
2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.); 
(C) recipients of assistance through the 
program of block grants to States for tem-
porary assistance for needy families established 
under part A of title IV of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.); or 
(D) any other individuals with a barrier to 
employment. 
(d) SUPPORT SERVICES.—The eligible entity receiv-
ing a grant under this subtitle shall use the grant funds 
to provide services to support the success of individuals 
described in subsection (c)(7) who are participating in a 
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to section 134 of the Workforce Innovation and Op-
portunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3174) by the amendments 
made by this subsection. 
SEC. 215. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 137 of the Workforce Innovation and Oppor-
tunity Act (29 U.S.C. 2872) is amended in each of sub-
sections (b) and (c) by striking ‘‘2003’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’. 
TITLE III—ESTABLISHMENT OF 
THE 
DISTRESSED 
COMMU-
NITY INVESTMENT AGENCY 
SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) AGENCY.—The term ‘‘agency’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 551 of title 5, 
United States Code. 
(2) DISTRESSED COMMUNITY.—The term ‘‘dis-
tressed community’’ means a geographic unit, as de-
fined by the Secretary of Commerce, with— 
(A) a low per capita income; 
(B) an unemployment rate below the na-
tional average; or 
(C) actual or threatened severe unemploy-
ment or economic adjustment problems. 
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