I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 497 
To allow that certain Federal job training and career education programs 
give priority to programs that lead to recognized postsecondary credentials. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 5, 2013 
Mr. BARLETTA (for himself and Mr. SCHNEIDER) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Work-
force, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period 
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To allow that certain Federal job training and career edu-
cation programs give priority to programs that lead to 
recognized postsecondary credentials. 
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 ‘‘America Works Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Recent data show that United States manu-
facturing companies cannot fill as many as 600,000 
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skilled positions, even as unemployment numbers 
hover at historically high levels. 
(2) The unfilled positions are mainly in the 
skilled production category, and in occupations such 
as machinist, operator, craft worker, distributor, or 
technician. 
(3) In less than 20 years, an overall loss of ex-
pertise and management skill is expected to result 
from the gradual departure from the workplace of 
77,200,000 workers. 
(4) Postsecondary success and workforce readi-
ness can be achieved through attainment of a recog-
nized postsecondary credential. 
(5) The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupa-
tional Outlook estimates that 746,500 new jobs in 
computer-related occupations will be generated from 
2010 to 2020. This would equate to a 23 percent 
net growth in computer-related occupations. 
(6) Computer-related occupations with the high-
est projected growth rates include database adminis-
trators, software developers, and network and com-
puter systems administrators. 
(7) As of June 2012, there were approximately 
301,214 job openings in the information technology 
sector. 
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(8) According to a recent report, 64 percent of 
managers hiring for information technology jobs rate 
certifications as having extremely high or high value 
in validating information technology skills and ex-
pertise, and that value is rated highest by senior 
managers, such as chief information officers, and by 
medium-size firms. 
SEC. 3. INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED AND NATIONALLY PORT-
ABLE CREDENTIALS FOR JOB TRAINING PRO-
GRAMS. 
(a) WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT OF 1998.— 
(1) YOUTH ACTIVITIES.—Section 129(c)(1)(C) 
of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 
2854(c)(1)(C)) is amended— 
(A) by redesignating clauses (ii) through 
(iv) as clauses (iii) through (v), respectively; 
and 
(B) inserting after clause (i) the following: 
‘‘(ii) training (which may include pri-
ority consideration for training programs 
that lead to recognized postsecondary cre-
dentials (as defined in section 4 of the 
America Works Act) that are aligned with 
in-demand occupations or industries in the 
local area involved, if the local board deter-
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mines that the programs meet the quality 
criteria described in section 123);’’. 
(2) GENERAL EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING AC-
TIVITIES.—Section 134(d)(4)(F) of the Workforce 
Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2864(d)(4)(F)) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(iv) PROGRAMS THAT LEAD TO AN 
INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED
AND
NATIONALLY 
PORTABLE CREDENTIAL.—In assisting in-
dividuals in selecting programs of training 
services under this section, a one-stop op-
erator and employees of a one-stop center 
referred to in subsection (c) may give pri-
ority consideration to programs (approved 
in conjunction with eligibility decisions 
made under section 122) that lead to rec-
ognized postsecondary credentials (as de-
fined in section 4 of the America Works 
Act) that are aligned with in-demand occu-
pations or industries in the local area in-
volved.’’. 
(3) CRITERIA.— 
(A) GENERAL EMPLOYMENT AND TRAIN-
ING ACTIVITIES.—Section 122(b)(2)(D) of the 
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Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 
2842(b)(2)(D)) is amended— 
(i) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(ii) in clause (iii), by striking the pe-
riod and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(iv) in the case of a provider of a 
program of training services that leads to 
a recognized postsecondary credential (as 
defined in section 4 of the America Works 
Act), that the program leading to the cre-
dential meets such quality criteria as the 
Governor shall establish.’’. 
(B) YOUTH ACTIVITIES.—Section 123 of 
the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 
U.S.C. 2843) by inserting ‘‘(including such 
quality criteria as the Governor shall establish 
for a training program that leads to a recog-
nized postsecondary credential (as defined in 
section 4 of the America Works Act))’’ after 
‘‘plan’’. 
(b) CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.— 
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(1) STATE PLAN.—Section 122(c)(1)(B) of the 
Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education 
Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2342(c)(1)(B)) is amend-
ed— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(B) how’’ and inserting 
‘‘(B)(i) how’’; 
(B) by inserting ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon; 
and 
(C) by adding at the end the following 
‘‘(ii) in the case of an eligible entity that, 
in developing and implementing programs of 
study leading to recognized postsecondary cre-
dentials, desires to give a priority to such pro-
grams that are aligned with in-demand occupa-
tions or industries in the area served (as deter-
mined by the eligible agency) and that may pro-
vide a basis for additional credentials, certifi-
cates, or degree, how the entity will do so;’’. 
(2) USE OF LOCAL FUNDS.—Section 134(b) of 
the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education 
Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2354(b)) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (11), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 
and inserting a semicolon; 
(B) in paragraph (12)(B), by striking the 
period and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
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(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(13) describe the career and technical edu-
cation activities supporting the attainment of recog-
nized postsecondary credentials (as defined in sec-
tion 4 of the America Works Act), and, in the case 
of an eligible recipient that desires to provide pri-
ority consideration to certain programs of study in 
accordance with the State plan under section 
122(c)(1)(B), how the eligible recipient will give pri-
ority consideration to such activities.’’. 
(3) 
TECH-PREP
PROGRAMS.—Section 
203(c)(2)(E) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 
2373(c)(2)(E)) is amended by striking ‘‘industry- 
recognized credential, a certificate,’’ and inserting 
‘‘recognized postsecondary credential (as defined in 
section 4 of the America Works Act and approved by 
the eligible agency),’’. 
(c) TRAINING PROGRAMS UNDER TAA.—Section 
236(a) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2296(a)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(12) In approving training programs for adversely 
affected workers and adversely affected incumbent work-
ers under paragraph (1), the Secretary may give priority 
consideration to workers seeking training through pro-
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grams that are approved in conjunction with eligibility de-
cisions made under section 122 of the Workforce Invest-
ment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2842), and that lead to rec-
ognized postsecondary credentials (as defined in section 
4 of the America Works Act) that are aligned with in- 
demand occupations or industries in the local area (de-
fined for purposes of title I of the Workforce Investment 
Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.)) involved.’’. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED.—The term ‘‘indus-
try-recognized’’, used with respect to a credential, 
means a credential that— 
(A) is sought or accepted by employers 
within the industry sector involved as recog-
nized, preferred, or required for recruitment, 
screening, hiring, or advancement; 
(B) is endorsed by a recognized trade or 
professional association or organization, rep-
resenting a significant part of the industry sec-
tor; and 
(C) is a nationally portable credential, 
meaning a credential that is sought or accepted, 
across multiple States, as described in subpara-
graph (A). 
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(2) RECOGNIZED
POSTSECONDARY
CREDEN-
TIAL.—The term ‘‘recognized postsecondary creden-
tial’’ means a credential consisting of an industry- 
recognized credential for postsecondary training, a 
certificate that meets the requirements of subpara-
graphs (A) and (C) of paragraph (1) for postsec-
ondary training, a certificate of completion of a post-
secondary apprenticeship through a program de-
scribed in section 122(a)(2)(B) of the Workforce In-
vestment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2842(a)(2)(B)), or 
an associate degree or baccalaureate degree awarded 
by an institution of higher education (as defined in 
section 102(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1002(a))). 
SEC. 5. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require an 
entity with responsibility for selecting or approving an 
education, training, or workforce investment activities pro-
gram with regard to a covered provision, to select a pro-
gram with a recognized postsecondary credential or certifi-
cate as defined by this Act. 
SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, take 
effect 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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