I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 579 
To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a pilot competitive grant 
program for the development of a skilled energy workforce, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 28, 2021 
Mr. NORCROSS (for himself and Mr. MCKINLEY) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 
A BILL 
To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a pilot com-
petitive grant program for the development of a skilled 
energy workforce, 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 ‘‘21st Century Energy 
Workforce Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) the energy sector is the third-largest indus-
try in the United States; 
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(2) 1,500,000 new skilled workers will be need-
ed in the energy sector over the next 15 years; and 
(3) a skilled workforce is a critical component 
of ensuring the growth of the energy sector in the 
United States. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPRENTICESHIP
PROGRAM.—The term 
‘‘apprenticeship program’’ means— 
(A) an apprenticeship program registered 
with the Department of Labor as of the date of 
enactment of this Act that has a completion 
rate for participants of not less than 60 per-
cent; or 
(B) an apprenticeship program not reg-
istered with the Department of Labor as of the 
date of enactment of this Act, but that the Sec-
retary determines should be eligible for a grant 
under section 5. 
(2) BOARD.—The term ‘‘Board’’ means the Na-
tional Center of Excellence for the 21st Century 
Workforce Advisory Board established under section 
4(a). 
(3) COMMUNITY COLLEGE.—The term ‘‘commu-
nity college’’ means a junior or community college 
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(as defined in section 312(f) of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058(f))). 
(4) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘program’’ means 
the pilot program established under section 5(a). 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Energy. 
(6) VETERANS
SERVICE
ORGANIZATION.—The 
term ‘‘veterans service organization’’ means an orga-
nization recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs for the representation of veterans under section 
5902 of title 38, United States Code. 
SEC. 4. NATIONAL CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR THE 21ST 
CENTURY WORKFORCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a 
nationwide advisory board, to be known as the ‘‘National 
Center of Excellence for the 21st Century Workforce Advi-
sory Board’’, to foster strategic vision, guidance, and net-
works for the energy industry. 
(b) REPRESENTATIVES.—The members of the Board 
shall consist of energy sector stakeholders, including— 
(1) representatives of relevant industries; 
(2) experts in labor, economics, and workforce 
development; 
(3) representatives of States and units of local 
government; 
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(4) representatives of elementary and secondary 
education and postsecondary education; and 
(5) representatives of labor organizations. 
(c) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Board are— 
(1) to support and develop training and science 
education programs that— 
(A) meet the industry and labor needs of 
the energy sector; and 
(B) provide opportunities for students to 
become qualified for placement in traditional 
and clean energy sector jobs; 
(2) to align apprenticeship programs and indus-
try certifications to further develop succession plan-
ning in the energy sector; 
(3) to integrate educational standards to de-
velop foundational skills for elementary and sec-
ondary education and postsecondary education to 
create a pipeline between education and career; and 
(4) to support the replication of existing model 
energy curricula. 
SEC. 5. ENERGY WORKFORCE PILOT GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of 
Education, shall establish a pilot program to award grants 
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on a competitive basis to eligible entities for job training 
to obtain an industry-recognized credential. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, an entity shall be a public or nonprofit 
organization that— 
(1) includes an advisory board of proportional 
participation, as determined by the Secretary, of rel-
evant organizations, including— 
(A) relevant energy industry organizations, 
including public and private employers; 
(B) labor organizations; and 
(C) elementary and secondary education 
and postsecondary education organizations; 
(2) demonstrates experience in implementing 
and operating job training and education programs; 
(3) demonstrates the ability to recruit and sup-
port individuals who plan to work in the energy in-
dustry in the successful completion of relevant job 
training and education programs; and 
(4) provides students who complete the job 
training and education program with an industry- 
recognized credential. 
(c) APPLICATIONS.—Eligible entities desiring a grant 
under this section shall submit to the Secretary an appli-
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cation at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary may require. 
(d) PRIORITY.—In selecting eligible entities to receive 
grants under this section, the Secretary shall prioritize ap-
plicants that— 
(1) house the job training and education pro-
grams in— 
(A) a community college or institution of 
higher education that includes basic science and 
math education in the curriculum of the com-
munity college, institution of higher education; 
or 
(B) an apprenticeship program, and with 
respect to such apprenticeship programs de-
scribed in section 3(1)(B), the Secretary shall 
further prioritize such programs that can dem-
onstrate to the Secretary a completion rate for 
participants of not less than 60 percent; 
(2) work with the Secretary of Defense or vet-
erans organizations to transition members of the 
Armed Forces and veterans to careers in the energy 
sector; 
(3) apply as a State or regional consortia to le-
verage best practices already available in the State 
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or region in which the community college or institu-
tion of higher education is located; 
(4) have a State-supported entity included in 
the application; 
(5) include an apprenticeship program as part 
of the job training and education program; 
(6) develop a mentorship program for energy 
professionals and elementary and secondary edu-
cation students; 
(7) provide support services and career coach-
ing; 
(8) provide introductory energy workforce devel-
opment training; or 
(9) provide industry-affiliated pre-apprentice-
ship programs, including intensive skill-building pro-
grams and intensive short-term programs. 
(e) 
ADDITIONAL
CONSIDERATION.—In 
making 
grants under this section, the Secretary shall consider re-
gional diversity. 
(f) LIMITATION ON APPLICATIONS.—An eligible enti-
ty may not submit, either individually or as part of a joint 
application, more than 1 application for a grant under this 
section during any 1 fiscal year. 
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(g) LIMITATIONS
ON AMOUNT
OF GRANT.—The 
amount of a grant for any 1 year shall not exceed 
$1,000,000. 
(h) COSTS.— 
(1) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of 
the cost of a job training and education program 
carried out using a grant under this section shall be 
not greater than 65 percent. 
(2) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The non-Federal share 
of the cost of a job training and education pro-
gram carried out using a grant under this sec-
tion shall consist of not less than 50 percent 
cash. 
(B) LIMITATION.—Not greater than 50 
percent of the non-Federal contribution of the 
total cost of a job training and education pro-
gram carried out using a grant under this sec-
tion shall be in the form of in-kind contribu-
tions of goods or services fairly valued. 
(i) REDUCTION OF DUPLICATION.—Prior to submit-
ting an application for a grant under this section, each 
applicant shall consult with the applicable agencies of the 
Federal Government and coordinate the proposed activi-
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ties of the applicant with existing State and local pro-
grams. 
(j) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall 
provide technical assistance and capacity building to na-
tional and State energy partnerships, including the enti-
ties described in subsection (b)(1), to leverage the existing 
job training and education programs of the Department 
of Energy. 
(k) REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit to Con-
gress and make publicly available on the website of the 
Department of Energy an annual report on the program 
established under this section, including a description of— 
(1) the entities receiving grants; 
(2) the activities carried out using the grants; 
(3) best practices used to leverage the invest-
ment of the Federal Government; 
(4) the rate of employment for participants 
after completing a job training and education pro-
gram carried out using a grant; and 
(5) an assessment of the results achieved by the 
program. 
(l) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025. 
Æ 
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