I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1280 
To direct the Secretary of Labor to create a searchable database containing 
a credentials registry, a skills database, and a jobs bank. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 4, 2015 
Mr. CARNEY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Labor to create a searchable 
database containing a credentials registry, a skills data-
base, and a jobs bank. 
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 ‘‘Skills Connection Act’’. 
SEC. 2. CREATION OF SEARCHABLE DATABASE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall 
create a publicly available, easily navigable, and searchable 
database containing the following: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:27 Mar 12, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1280.IH
H1280
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) A registry of credentials (which may be cer-
tificates), for purposes of enabling programs that 
lead to such a credential to receive priority under a 
covered provision. 
(2) A skills database, for purposes of enabling 
programs that lead to such a credential to receive 
priority under a covered provision. 
(3) A jobs bank. 
(b) CREDENTIALS REGISTRY.—In creating a registry 
of credentials, the Secretary shall— 
(1) list the credential in the registry if the cre-
dential is required by Federal or State law for an oc-
cupation (such as a credential required by a State 
law regarding qualifications for a health care occu-
pation); 
(2) list the credential, and list an updated cre-
dential, in the registry if the credential involved is 
an industry-recognized, nationally portable credential 
that is consistent with the Secretary’s established in-
dustry competency models and is consistently up-
dated through third party validation to reflect 
changing industry competencies; and 
(3) for each credential listed in the registry, 
provide an assessment of which skills listed in the 
skills database created under subsection (c) align 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:27 Mar 12, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1280.IH
H1280
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
with or are related to the requirements of the cre-
dential. 
(c) SKILLS DATABASE.—In creating a skills data-
base, the Secretary shall— 
(1) list identifiable skills that are required for 
employment in the manufacturing sector, as deter-
mined by the Secretary— 
(A) by using the Manufacturing Institute- 
endorsed Skills Certification System or similar 
resource; or 
(B) by consulting with an organization 
similar to the Manufacturing Institute; 
(2) after consultation with the Manufacturing 
Institute or similar organization and representatives 
of the Armed Forces list identifiable skills developed 
through service in the Armed Forces; and 
(3) for each skill listed under paragraphs (1) 
and (2), include information about how that skill 
aligns with or is related to the requirements for the 
credentials listed under the credentials registry cre-
ated under subsection (b). 
(d) JOBS BANK.—In creating a jobs bank, the Sec-
retary shall— 
(1) enable job seekers to— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:27 Mar 12, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1280.IH
H1280
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(A) enter basic information through the 
statewide employment statistics system estab-
lished under section 15 of the Wagner-Peyser 
Act (29 U.S.C. 49l–2) for their State of resi-
dence about their skills, experience, credentials, 
and preferred area of employment; and 
(B) browse job listings submitted by em-
ployers to such jobs bank that match the cre-
dentials, experience, or other qualifications en-
tered under subparagraph (A); 
(2) automatically match available jobs with job 
seekers who have matching qualifications; and 
(3) enable information relating to shortages in 
certain skills or credentials available to be utilized by 
State workforce investment board established under 
section 101 of the Workforce Innovation and Oppor-
tunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3111) and others to inform 
decisions about how to allocate workforce develop-
ment resources. 
(e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act 
shall be construed— 
(1) to require an entity with responsibility for 
selecting or approving an education, training, or 
workforce investment activities program with regard 
to a covered provision, to select a program with a 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:27 Mar 12, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1280.IH
H1280
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
credential listed in the registry described in sub-
section (b); or 
(2) to be an endorsement of a skill listed under 
the skills database described in subsection (c) by the 
Secretary of Labor or the Federal Government. 
(f) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—For each fiscal year, 
funds shall be available from the amount appropriated for 
each such fiscal year for the Workforce Innovation Fund 
established under section 1801(a)(3) of title VIII of divi-
sion B of Public Law 112–10 for the costs of carrying 
out the provisions of this Act. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) 
ARMED
FORCES.—The 
term 
‘‘Armed 
Forces’’ means the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Ma-
rine Corps. 
(2) COVERED PROVISION.—The term ‘‘covered 
provision’’ means any of sections 129 and 134 of the 
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3164, 3174), 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)), and section 
236 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2296). 
(3) INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CREDENTIAL.—The 
term ‘‘industry-recognized’’, used with respect to a 
credential, means a credential that— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:27 Mar 12, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1280.IH
H1280
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(A) is sought or accepted by companies 
within the industry sector involved as recog-
nized, preferred, or required for recruitment, 
screening, or hiring; and 
(B) is endorsed by a nationally recognized 
trade association or organization representing a 
significant part of the industry sector. 
(4) NATIONALLY PORTABLE.—The term ‘‘na-
tionally portable’’, used with respect to a credential, 
means a credential that is sought or accepted by 
companies within the industry sector involved, across 
multiple States, as recognized, preferred, or required 
for recruitment, screening, or hiring. 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Labor. 
(6) WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT
ACTIVITIES.— 
The term ‘‘workforce investment activities’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 3 of the Work-
force Innovation and Opportunity Act. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:27 Mar 12, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H1280.IH
H1280
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS