I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2442 
To provide job creation and assistance, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 22, 2007 
Mr. MCHUGH introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on 
Ways and Means, Judiciary, and Financial Services, 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 con-
cerned 
A BILL 
To provide job creation and assistance, 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 ‘‘Rural America Job 
Assistance and Creation Act’’. 
SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR REGIONAL SKILLS ALLIANCE SKILL 
DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
08:13 May 27, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2442.IH
H2442
cprice-sewell on PRODPC61 with BILLS
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Labor, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, shall 
award grants to eligible entities described in sub-
section (b) to assist such entities to improve the job 
skills necessary for employment in specific indus-
tries. 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES DESCRIBED.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity de-
scribed in this subsection is a consortium 
that— 
(i) shall consist of representatives 
from not less than 5 businesses, or a lesser 
number of businesses if such lesser number 
of businesses employs at least 30 percent 
of the employees in the industry involved 
in the region (or a nonprofit organization 
that represents such businesses); 
(ii) may consist of representatives 
from— 
(I) labor organizations; 
(II) State and local government; 
and 
(III) educational institutions; 
(iii) is established to serve one or 
more particular industries; and 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
08:13 May 27, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2442.IH
H2442
cprice-sewell on PRODPC61 with BILLS
(iv) is established to serve a particular 
geographic region. 
(B) MAJORITY OF REPRESENTATIVES.—A 
majority of the representatives comprising the 
consortium shall be representatives described in 
subparagraph (A)(i). 
(3) PRIORITY
FOR
SMALL
BUSINESSES.—In 
providing grants under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
of Labor shall give priority to an eligible entity if a 
majority of representatives forming the entity rep-
resent small-business concerns (as defined in section 
3(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(a))). 
(4) 
MAXIMUM
AMOUNT
OF
GRANT.—The 
amount of a grant awarded to an eligible entity 
under paragraph (1) may not exceed $1,000,000 for 
any fiscal year. 
(b) USE OF AMOUNTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Labor may 
not award a grant under subsection (a) to an eligible 
entity unless such entity agrees to use amounts re-
ceived from such grant to improve the job skills nec-
essary for employment by businesses in the industry 
with respect to which such entity was established. 
(2) CONDUCT OF PROGRAM.— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
08:13 May 27, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2442.IH
H2442
cprice-sewell on PRODPC61 with BILLS
(A) IN
GENERAL.—In carrying out the 
program described in paragraph (1), the eligible 
entity may provide for— 
(i) an assessment of training and job 
skill needs for the industry; 
(ii) the development of a sequence of 
skill standards that are benchmarked to 
advanced industry practices; 
(iii) the development of curriculum 
and training methods, including, where ap-
propriate, e-learning or technology-based 
training; 
(iv) the purchase, lease, or receipt of 
donations of training equipment; 
(v) the identification of training pro-
viders and the development of partnerships 
between the industry and educational insti-
tutions, including community colleges; 
(vi) the development of apprenticeship 
programs; 
(vii) the development of training pro-
grams for workers, including dislocated 
workers; 
(viii) the development of training 
plans for businesses; and 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
08:13 May 27, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2442.IH
H2442
cprice-sewell on PRODPC61 with BILLS