and local labor enforcement agencies, labor organizations, 
institutions of higher education, research organizations, 
advocacy organizations, non-profits, and other community 
organizations. 
(c) CONVERSION.—The Secretary may convert any 
fellow appointed under this section to a career appoint-
ment in the competitive service. 
SEC. 4. EXPAND THE DOL HONORS ATTORNEYS PROGRAM. 
Not later than two years after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary shall increase the number 
of positions in the Department’s Office of the Solicitor’s 
Honors Program for Attorneys to a minimum of twenty 
positions with a focus on creating a pipeline of attorneys 
into the Division and Administration. 
SEC. 5. PERFORMANCE, RECRUITMENT AND RELOCATION, 
AND RETENTION BONUS PROGRAMS. 
(a) BONUS PROGRAM.—Not later than two years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall establish and carry out a bonus and incentive pro-
gram for any covered employee. Such program shall award 
bonuses based on performance, with an emphasis on per-
formance of investigatory and enforcement efforts. 
(b) RECRUITMENT AND RELOCATION BONUSES.— 
Not later than two years after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary may pay a recruitment or reloca-
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tion bonus under section 5753(e) of title 5, United States 
Code, to a covered employee without regard to any re-
quirements for certification or approval under that sec-
tion. 
(c) RETENTION BONUSES.—Not later than two years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act— 
(1) the Secretary may pay a retention bonus 
under section 5754(f) of title 5, United States Code, 
to a covered employee without regard to any require-
ment for certification or approval under that sub-
section; and 
(2) the Secretary may pay a retention bonus as 
specified in subsection (e)(2) of section 5754 of such 
title 5 to a covered employee and may pay the bonus 
as a single lump-sum payment at the beginning of 
the full period of service required by an agreement 
under subsection (d) of such section. 
(d) MERIT AWARDS.—Not later than two years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary may 
grant a cash award under section 4502(b) of title 5, 
United States Code, to a covered employee without regard 
to any requirement for certification or approval under that 
section. 
(e) INCENTIVES
FOR CRITICAL SKILLS.—(1) Not 
later than two years after the date of the enactment of 
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this Act, the Secretary may provide a critical skill incen-
tive to a covered employee if the Secretary determines— 
(A) the employee possesses a high-demand 
skill or skill that is at a shortage; 
(B) such skill is directly related to the du-
ties and responsibilities of the employee’s posi-
tion; and 
(C) employment of an individual with such 
skill in such position serves a critical mission- 
related need of the Department. 
(2) An incentive provided to an employee under 
paragraph (1) may not to exceed 25 percent of the 
basic pay of the employee. 
(3) Provision of an incentive under paragraph 
(1) shall be contingent on the employee entering into 
a written agreement to complete a period of employ-
ment with the Department. 
(4) An incentive provided under paragraph (1) 
shall not be considered basic pay for any purpose. 
(5) The Secretary may prescribe conditions, in-
cluding with respect to eligibility, and limitations on 
provision of incentive under paragraph (1). 
(f) COVERED EMPLOYEE DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘covered employee’’ means— 
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(1) an employee of the Division or the Adminis-
tration; or 
(2) any other employee of the Department that 
supports enforcement efforts of the Division or the 
Administration, as determined by the Secretary. 
SEC. 6. INCREASE IN STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT FOR DE-
PARTMENT EMPLOYEES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Consistent with subsection (b), 
with respect to any covered employee who is otherwise eli-
gible for student loan repayments under section 5379 of 
title 5, United States Code— 
(1) subsection (b)(2)(A) of such section shall be 
applied by substituting ‘‘$30,000’’ for ‘‘$10,000’’; 
and 
(2) subsection (b)(2)(B) of such section shall be 
applied by substituting ‘‘$180,000’’ for ‘‘$60,000’’. 
(b) AGREEMENT.—A covered employee described in 
subsection (e)(2) or (3) may not receive increased student 
loan payment under this section until on or after the date 
the employee enters into a written service agreement, in 
such form and manner as the Secretary may prescribe, 
to complete a period of employment with the Department 
of at least 5 years. 
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(c) APPLICATION.—The increased loan repayment 
provided under subsection (a) shall cease to apply after 
an individual leaves employment with the Department. 
(d) COVERED EMPLOYEE DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘covered employee’’ means any employee of the 
Department— 
(1) who has been such an employee for a period 
of at least five consecutive years; 
(2) who, on the date of enactment of this Act, 
has less than five years of continuous service with 
the Department; or 
(3) initially appointed to a position in the De-
partment after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 7. REPORTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than two years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in col-
laboration with the Comptroller General of the United 
States, shall submit to Congress and make publicly avail-
able a report that identifies necessary and recommended 
changes to increase the ability of the Department to en-
force Federal labor laws, including— 
(1) how to address the need for increased ca-
pacity at the Department, including the need for 
more personnel, funding, and other resources as de-
termined by the Secretary; 
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(2) identifying any limitations on the Secretary 
with respect to enforcing Federal labor laws due 
to— 
(A) the number of employees of the De-
partment; and 
(B) the organizational structure of the De-
partment; 
(3) identifying any opportunities for, and limi-
tations on the ability of, the Secretary to work with 
labor organizations or community-based organiza-
tions to enforce Federal labor laws; 
(4) how to develop a recruitment strategy in-
tended to increase outreach to, and the employment 
of, underrepresented populations, including through 
outreach and partnerships at historically Black col-
leges or universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, 
Tribal colleges or universities, and other minority- 
serving institutions; and 
(5) how to best utilize incentives such as bo-
nuses, loan repayment, and other benefits to in-
crease recruitment and retention. 
(b) DISCRETIONARY GRANT AND REPORT.—The Sec-
retary may award a one-time grant, on a competitive 
basis, to an institution of higher education to— 
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(5) 
MINORITY-SERVING
INSTITUTION.—The 
term ‘‘minority-serving institution’’ means an insti-
tution listed in section 371(a) of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)). 
(6) TRIBAL
COLLEGE
OR
UNIVERSITY.—The 
term ‘‘Tribal college or university’’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 316 of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c). 
(7) UNDERREPRESENTED
POPULATION.—The 
term ‘‘underrepresented population’’ means a popu-
lation of individuals (based on race, color, religion, 
sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gen-
der identity), national origin, age (40 or older), dis-
ability status, and genetic information (including 
family medical history)) who have been historically 
less represented, as defined by the Secretary, in the 
workforce of the Department of Labor. 
SEC. 8. GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) GRANT AUTHORITY.—From the amounts appro-
priated under subsection (i), the Secretary may award 
grants, on a competitive basis, to States to increase the 
capacity of State and local departments of labor to enforce 
labor laws. 
(b) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, a State shall submit to the Secretary 
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an application at such a time, in such a manner, and con-
taining such information as the Secretary may require, 
which shall include— 
(1) a description of the intended uses of grant 
funds; and 
(2) a description of the needs of the State, or 
a unit of general local government, with respect en-
forcing labor laws, including— 
(A) insufficient capacity of a department 
of labor or other similar agency due to insuffi-
cient personnel, funding, or other resources; 
and 
(B) whether there are case backlogs or 
personnel working overtime at such department, 
and any other relevant information; and 
(3) an assurance that the State will— 
(A) enter into a data sharing agreement as 
required under subsection (d); and 
(B) comply with subsection (f). 
(c) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall prioritize States that demonstrate 
the greatest need for assistance in enforcing labor laws, 
as compared to the other States submitting applications 
under subsection (b). 
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(d) DATA SHARING AGREEMENT.—Not later than 
two years after the receipt of a grant under this section, 
a State that receives such grant shall enter into a data 
sharing agreement with the Secretary to— 
(1) share investigation data related to potential 
and confirmed labor law violations, including— 
(A) the locations of such violations; 
(B) an identification of— 
(i) entities that routinely commit 
labor law violations; and 
(ii) the most common labor law viola-
tions; and 
(C) any other relevant information as de-
termined by the Secretary; and 
(2) promote communication and enforcement 
efforts between the Secretary and State and local 
departments of labor, or any agency that enforces 
labor laws. 
(e) REQUIRED USES.—A State receiving a grant 
under this section shall use grant funds to increase the 
capacity of the relevant labor enforcement department or 
similar agency of the State, or one or more similar agen-
cies of a unit of general local government, to enforce labor 
laws, by— 
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(1) recruiting and retaining employees in de-
partments of labor or similar agencies; 
(2) carrying out any activity the Secretary de-
termines necessary to increase the capacity of the 
State, or a unit of general local government in the 
State, to enforce such laws; or 
(3) distributing grant funds to a unit of general 
local government in the State for such unit to use 
the funds for a purpose described in paragraph (1) 
or (2). 
(f) SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT.—A State receiv-
ing a grant under this section shall use such grant to sup-
plement, and not supplant, State and local funding for 
labor enforcement departments or similar agencies of such 
State or unit of general local government. 
(g) MONITORING.—The Secretary shall establish a 
mechanism or process to regularly monitor and audit the 
uses of grant funds by a State, or a unit of local govern-
ment of such State, to ensure that the funds are used in 
accordance with this section. 
(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) LABOR LAWS.—The term ‘‘labor laws’’ in-
cludes Federal, State, and local labor laws, including 
child labor law, wage and hour law, occupational 
safety and health law, and any other relevant labor 
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law as determined by the Secretary, State, or unit 
of general local government. 
(2) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means— 
(A) any of the 50 States; 
(B) the District of Columbia; and 
(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 
(3) UNIT OF GENERAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT.— 
The term ‘‘unit of general local government’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 3 of the Work-
force Innovation and Improvement Act (29 U.S.C. 
3102). 
(i) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated $250,000,000 to carry 
out this section for each fiscal year. 
Æ 
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