I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3983
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to promote a fairer and
more efficient means for using highly skilled workers, to improve the
collection and use of H–1B nonimmigrant fees, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 15, 2000
Mr. DREIER (for himself, Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr.
DAVIS of Virginia, Mr. DOOLEY of California, Mr. ARMEY, Ms. ESHOO,
Ms. DUNN, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. OXLEY, Mr. DOGGETT, Mr.
SHAYS, Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. MENENDEZ,
Mr. KNOLLENBERG, Mr. ROEMER, Mr. LINDER, Ms. MCCARTHY of Mis-
souri, Mr. KOLBE, Ms. PELOSI, and Mrs. MORELLA) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and
in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and
Science, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to promote
a fairer and more efficient means for using highly skilled
workers, to improve the collection and use of H–1B
nonimmigrant fees, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
‘‘Helping to Improve Technology Education and Achieve-
ment Act of 2000’’.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of
this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I—PROVISIONS RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT-BASED
IMMIGRATION
Sec. 101. Assuring fair distribution of employment-based visas.
Sec. 102. Internet recruitment.
Sec. 103. Application of Internet based technologies.
TITLE II—PROVISIONS RELATING TO H–1B NONIMMIGRANTS
Sec. 201. Temporary visa increase.
Sec. 202. Requiring filing of W–2 forms.
Sec. 203. Extension of authorized stay while adjudications are pending.
TITLE III—COLLECTION AND USE OF H–1B NONIMMIGRANT FEES
Sec. 301. Increase in fee on initial petitions.
Sec. 302. Use of fees for student loan forgiveness.
Sec. 303. Use of fees for upward bound.
Sec. 304. Use of fees for low income scholarship program.
Sec. 305. Use of fees for regional skills training alliances.
Sec. 306. Use of fees for administrative purposes.
Sec. 307. Effective date.
TITLE I—PROVISIONS RELATING
TO EMPLOYMENT-BASED IM-
MIGRATION
SEC. 101. ASSURING FAIR DISTRIBUTION OF EMPLOYMENT-
BASED VISAS.
(a) LIMITATION ON PER COUNTRY CEILING WITH
RESPECT TO EMPLOYMENT-BASED IMMIGRANTS.—
(1) SPECIAL RULES.—Section 202(a) of the Im-
migration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1152(a)) is
amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
‘‘(5) RULES
FOR
EMPLOYMENT-BASED
IMMI-
GRANTS.—
‘‘(A) CERTAIN EMPLOYMENT-BASED IMMI-
GRANTS NOT SUBJECT TO PER COUNTRY LIMI-
TATION IF ADDITIONAL VISAS AVAILABLE.—If
the total number of visas available under para-
graph (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) of section 203(b)
for a calendar quarter exceeds the number of
qualified immigrants who may otherwise be
issued such visas, the visas made available
under that respective paragraph shall be issued
without regard to the numerical limitation
under paragraph (2) of this subsection during
the remainder of the calendar quarter.
‘‘(B) LIMITING FALL ACROSS FOR CERTAIN
COUNTRIES SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (e).—In
the case of a foreign state or dependent area to
which subsection (e) applies, if the total number
of visas issued under section 203(b) exceeds the
maximum number of visas that may be made
available to immigrants of the state or area
(B) would be subject to the per country
limitations applicable to immigrants under
those paragraphs but for this paragraph,
may apply for, and the Attorney General may grant,
an extension of such nonimmigrant status until the
alien’s application for adjustment of status has been
processed and a decision made thereon.
(4) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made
by paragraphs (1) and (2) apply to calendar quar-
ters beginning on or after October 1, 2000.
(b) RECAPTURE OF UNUSED EMPLOYMENT-BASED
IMMIGRANT VISAS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, the number of employment-based
visas (as defined in paragraph (3)) made available
for a fiscal year (beginning with fiscal year 2001)
shall be increased by the number described in para-
graph (2). Visas made available under this sub-
section shall only be available in a fiscal year to em-
ployment-based immigrants under paragraph (1),
(2), or (3) of section 203(b) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act.
(2) NUMBER AVAILABLE.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), the number described in this para-
graph is the difference between the number of
employment-based visas that were made avail-
able in fiscal year 1999 and 2000 and the num-
ber of such visas that were actually used in
such fiscal years.
(B) REDUCTION.—The number described
in subparagraph (A) shall be reduced, for each
fiscal year after fiscal year 2001, by the cumu-
lative number of immigrant visas made avail-
able under paragraph (1) for previous fiscal
years.
(C) 
CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing 
in 
this
paragraph shall be construed as affecting the
application of section 201(c)(3)(C) of the Immi-
gration 
and 
Nationality 
Act 
(8 
U.S.C.
1151(c)(3)(C)).
(3) EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISAS DEFINED.—For
purposes of this subsection, the term ‘‘employment-
based visa’’ means an immigrant visa which is issued
pursuant to the numerical limitation under section
203(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1153(b)).
SEC. 102. INTERNET RECRUITMENT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out any requirements
under the Immigration and Nationality Act that requires
the Secretary of Labor to determine whether an employer
has taken action to recruit United States workers, the Sec-
retary of Labor shall take into account efforts undertaken
through the Internet. If an employer uses exclusively the
Internet as a tool to recruit, this shall not in itself be con-
sidered to be unsatisfactory.
(b) VERIFICATION.—In carrying out subsection (a),
the Secretary of Labor shall use the Internet to verify em-
ployer recruitment efforts undertaken using that medium.
(c) APPLICATION.—Subsections (a) and (b) apply
only in the case where the employer demonstrates that the
employment position for which the worker was sought was
posted for no less than 30 days on the Internet Web Site
designated by the Secretary of Labor for the purpose of
disseminating information about job opportunities.
SEC. 
103. 
APPLICATION 
OF 
INTERNET 
BASED 
TECH-
NOLOGIES.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF A TRACKING SYSTEM.—The
Attorney General and the Secretary of Labor, not later
than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act,
in consultation with the Technology Advisory Committee
established under subsection (c), shall establish an Inter-
net web-based system, that will permit a person, employer,
immigrant, or nonimmigrant who has filings with the At-
torney General or such Secretary for any benefit under
the Immigration and Nationality Act, access to online in-
formation about the processing status of the filing in-
volved.
(b) FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR ON-LINE FILING AND
IMPROVED PROCESSING.—
(1) ON-LINE FILING.—The Attorney General,
in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, the Sec-
retary of Commerce, and the Technology Advisory
Committee under subsection (c), shall conduct a fea-
sibility study on the on-line filing of the filings de-
scribed in subsection (a). The study shall include an
estimate of the timeframe and cost and shall con-
sider other factors in implementing such a filing sys-
tem, including the feasibility of fee payment on-line.
(2) 
EXAMINATION
OF
IMPROVED
PROC-
ESSING.—The study shall also include a review of
computerization and technology of the Department
of Labor and the Immigration and Naturalization
Service relating to the immigration services and
processing of filings related to immigrant services.
The study shall examine how to meet the goal of
achieving processing of 98 percent of filings for law-
ful permanent resident status within 3 months of
the date on which they are filed and 98 percent of
filings for nonimmigrant status within 1 month of
the date on which they are filed.
(3) REPORT.—A report on the study under this
subsection shall be submitted to the Committees on
the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and
the Senate not later than January 1, 2001.
(c) TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Attorney General,
the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Com-
merce shall jointly establish, not later than 30 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act an advi-
sory committee (in this section referred to as the
‘‘Technology Advisory Committee’’) to assist them
in—
(A) establishing the tracking system under
subsection (a);
(B) conducting the study under subsection
(b); and
(C) establishing a system to verify Internet
recruitment described in section 102.
The Technology Advisory Committee shall be estab-
lished after consultation with the Committees on the
Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the
Senate.
(2) COMPOSITION.—The Technology Advisory
Committee shall be composed of representatives
from high technology companies capable of estab-
lishing and implementing the system in an expedi-
tious manner, and representatives of persons who
may use the tracking system described in subsection
(a) and the on-line filing system described in sub-
section (b)(1).
TITLE 
II—PROVISIONS 
RELAT-
ING 
TO 
H–1B 
NON-
IMMIGRANTS
SEC. 201. TEMPORARY VISA INCREASE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 214(g)(1)(A)(iv) of the
Immigration 
and 
Nationality 
Act 
(8 
U.S.C.
1184(g)(1)(A)(iv)) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(iv) subject to paragraphs (5) and (6),
200,000 in each of fiscal years 2001, 2002, and
2003; and’’.
(b) RESERVATION FOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER
EDUCATION AND OTHER RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS.—
Section 214(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1184(g)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(5) Of the number specified in paragraph (1)(A)(iv),
10,000 in each of fiscal years 2001, 2002, and 2003 shall
be reserved to provide nonimmigrant status to aliens with
respect to whom a petition under section 214(c) has been
filed by an employer that is—
‘‘(A) an institution of higher education (as de-
fined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965), or a related or affiliated nonprofit entity;
or
‘‘(B) a nonprofit research organization or a
governmental research organization.’’.
(c) RESERVATION FOR ALIENS WITH MASTER’S DE-
GREE.—Section 214(g) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(g)), as amended by subsection
(b), is further amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(6) Of the number specified in paragraph (1)(A)(iv),
60,000 in each of fiscal years 2001, 2002, and 2003 shall
be reserved to provide nonimmigrant status to aliens who
have attained a master’s or higher degree (or its equiva-
lent).’’.
(d) ADDITIONAL VISAS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1999.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section
214(g)(1)(A)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(g)(1)(A)(ii)), the total number
of aliens who may be issued visas or otherwise pro-
vided 
nonimmigrant 
status 
under 
section
101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of such Act in fiscal year 1999
is increased by a number equal to the number of
aliens who are issued such a visa or provided such
status during the period beginning on the date on
which the limitation in such section 214(g)(1)(A)(ii)
is reached and ending on September 30, 1999.
(2) EFFECTIVE
DATE.—Paragraph (1) shall
take effect as if included in the enactment of section
411 of the American Competitiveness and Workforce
Improvement Act of 1998 (as contained in title IV
of division C of the Omnibus Consolidated and
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999;
Public Law 105–277).
SEC. 202. REQUIRING FILING OF W–2 FORMS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 212(n)(1) of the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(n)(1)) is
amended by inserting after subparagraph (G) the fol-
lowing new subparagraph:
‘‘(H) The employer will, with respect to each
employee who is an alien admitted or provided sta-
tus as a nonimmigrant described in section
101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b), annually submit to the Sec-
retary of Labor a copy of the most recent statement
under section 6051 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986. Such submission may be made by electronic
means.’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by
subsection (a) applies to applications described in section
212(n)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act made
on or after October 1, 2000, but only with respect to state-
ments made under section 6051 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 on or after January 1, 2001.
SEC. 203. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZED STAY WHILE ADJU-
DICATIONS ARE PENDING.
(a) EXEMPTION FROM LIMITATION.—The limitation
contained in section 214(g)(4) of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(g)(4)) with respect to the du-
ration of authorized stay shall not apply to any non-
immigrant alien previously issued a visa or otherwise pro-
vided 
nonimmigrant 
status 
under 
section
101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of such Act on whose behalf a petition
under section 204(b) of such Act to accord the alien immi-
grant status under section 203(b) of such Act, or an appli-
cation for adjustment of status under section 245 of such
Act to accord the alien status under section 203(b) of such
Act, has been filed, if 6 months or more have elapsed since
the date of filing of a labor certification application on
the alien’s behalf, if required for the alien to obtain status
under section 203(b) of such Act, or the filing of the peti-
tion under section 204(b) of such Act.
(b) EXTENSION OF H1–B WORKER STATUS.—The
Attorney General shall extend the stay of an alien who
qualifies for an exemption under subsection (a) in 1-year
increments until such time as a final decision is made on
the application for the alien to obtain lawful permanent
residence.
TITLE 
III—COLLECTION 
AND
USE OF H–1B NONIMMIGRANT
FEES
SEC. 301. INCREASE IN FEE ON INITIAL PETITIONS.
Section 214(c)(9)(B) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(c)(9)(B)) is amended by striking
‘‘$500 for each such petition.’’ and inserting ‘‘$1,000 for
each petition under clause (i) and $500 for each petition
under clause (ii) or (iii).’’.
SEC. 302. USE OF FEES FOR STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS.
(a) 
AUTHORITY
TO
USE
DEPOSITS.—Section
286(s)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1356(s)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(2) USE OF FEES FOR STUDENT LOAN FOR-
GIVENESS.—33 percent of the amounts deposited
into the H–1B Nonimmigrant Petitioner Account on
and after October 1, 2000, shall remain available to
the Secretary of Education until expended to carry
out the student loan forgiveness program under sec-
tion 428L of the Higher Education Act of 1965.’’.
(b) PROGRAM.—Part B of title IV of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 is amended by inserting after section
428K (20 U.S.C. 1078–11) the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 428L. LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR MATHEMATICS AND
SCIENCE TEACHERS.
‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this section to
encourage more individuals to enter and stay in the field
of teaching mathematics, science, and related fields.
‘‘(b) PROGRAM.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry
out a program of assuming the obligation to repay,
pursuant to subsection (c), a loan made, insured, or
guaranteed under this part or part D (excluding
loans made under sections 428B and 428C or com-
parable loans made under part D) for any new bor-
rower after October 1, 1998, who—
‘‘(A) has been employed as a full-time
teacher of mathematics, science, or a related
field for 3 consecutive complete school years in
a 
school 
that 
qualifies 
under 
section
465(a)(2)(A) for loan cancellation for Perkins
loan recipients who teach in such schools;
‘‘(B) is a fully qualified teacher; and
‘‘(C) is not in default on a loan for which
the borrower seeks forgiveness.
‘‘(2) AWARD BASIS; PRIORITY.—
‘‘(A) AWARD BASIS.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), loan repayment under this section
shall be on a first-come, first-served basis and
subject to the availability of appropriations.
‘‘(B) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall give
priority in providing loan repayment under this
section for a fiscal year to student borrowers
who received loan repayment under this section
for the preceding fiscal year.
‘‘(3) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary is author-
ized to prescribe such regulations as may be nec-
essary to carry out the provisions of this section.
‘‘(c) LOAN REPAYMENT.—
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE AMOUNT.—The amount of the
Secretary may repay on behalf of any individual
under this section shall not exceed—
‘‘(A) 80 percent of the sum of the principal
amounts outstanding of the individual’s quali-
fying loans at the end of 3 consecutive complete
school years of service described in subsection
(b)(1)(A);
‘‘(B) an additional 10 percent of such sum
at the end of each of the next 2 consecutive
complete school years of such service; and
‘‘(C) a total of more than $10,000.
‘‘(2) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section
shall be construed to authorize the refunding of any
repayment of a loan made under this part or part
D.
‘‘(3) INTEREST.—If a portion of a loan is re-
paid by the Secretary under this section for any
year, the proportionate amount of interest on such
loan which accrues for such year shall be repaid by
the Secretary.
‘‘(4) DOUBLE BENEFITS PROHIBITED.—No bor-
rower may, for the same service, receive a benefit
under both this section and subtitle D of title I of
the National and Community Service Act of 1990
(42 U.S.C. 12601 et seq.). No borrower may receive
a reduction of loan obligations under both this sec-
tion and section 428J or 460.
‘‘(d) REPAYMENT TO ELIGIBLE LENDERS.—The Sec-
retary shall pay to each eligible lender or holder for each
fiscal year an amount equal to the aggregate amount of
loans which are subject to repayment pursuant to this sec-
tion for such year.
‘‘(e) APPLICATION FOR REPAYMENT.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each eligible individual de-
siring loan repayment under this section shall sub-
mit a complete and accurate application to the Sec-
retary at such time, in such manner, and containing
such information as the Secretary may require.
‘‘(2) CONDITIONS.—An eligible individual may
apply for loan repayment under this section after
completing the required number of years of quali-
fying employment.
‘‘(3) FULLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS.—An appli-
cation for loan repayment under this section shall
include such information as is necessary to dem-
onstrate that the applicant—
‘‘(A) if teaching in a public elementary or
secondary school (other than as a teacher in a
public charter school), has obtained State cer-
tification as a teacher (including certification
obtained through alternative routes to certifi-
cation) or passed the State teacher licensing
exam and holds a license to teach in such State;
and
‘‘(B) if teaching in—
‘‘(i) an elementary school, holds a
bachelor’s degree and demonstrates knowl-
edge and teaching skills in reading, writ-
ing, mathematics, science, and other areas
of the elementary school curriculum; or
‘‘(ii) a middle or secondary school,
holds a bachelor’s degree and demonstrates
a high level of competency in all subject
areas in which he or she teaches through—
‘‘(I) a high level of performance
on a rigorous State or local academic
subject areas test; or
‘‘(II) completion of an academic
major in each of the subject areas in
which he or she provides instruction.
‘‘(f) EVALUATION.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall con-
duct, by grant or contract, an independent national
evaluation of the impact of the program assisted
under this section.
‘‘(2) COMPETITIVE BASIS.—The grant or con-
tract described in subsection (b) shall be awarded on
a competitive basis.
‘‘(3) CONTENTS.—The evaluation described in
this subsection shall—
‘‘(A) determine the number of individuals
who were encouraged by the program assisted
under this section to pursue teaching careers;
‘‘(B) determine the number of individuals
who remain employed in a teaching mathe-
matics, science, or related fields as a result of
participation in the program;
‘‘(C) identify the barriers to the effective-
ness of the program;
‘‘(D) assess the cost-effectiveness of the
program; and
‘‘(E) identify the number of years each in-
dividual participates in the program.
‘‘(4) INTERIM
AND
FINAL
EVALUATION
RE-
PORTS.—The Secretary shall prepare and submit to
the President and the Congress such interim reports
regarding the evaluation described in this subsection
as the Secretary deems appropriate, and shall pre-
pare and so submit a final report regarding the eval-
uation by January 1, 2004.
‘‘(g) FUNDS FOR PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall
carry out this section only with funds made available
under section 286(s)(2) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act.’’.
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 414 of the
American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement
Act of 1998 (as contained in title IV of division C of the
Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Ap-
propriations Act, 1999; Public Law 105–277) is amended
by striking subsection (c) and redesignating subsection (d)
as subsection (c).
SEC. 303. USE OF FEES FOR UPWARD BOUND.
Section 286(s)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1356(s)(4)) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(4) USE OF FEES FOR UPWARD BOUND.—17
percent of the amounts deposited into the H–1B
Nonimmigrant Petitioner Account on and after Oc-
tober 1, 2000, shall remain available to the Sec-
retary of Education until expended to carry out sec-
tion 402C of the Higher Education Act of 1965, ex-
clusively for the benefit of mathematics and science
education projects.
SEC. 304. USE OF FEES FOR LOW INCOME SCHOLARSHIP
PROGRAM.
(a) CHANGE IN PERCENTAGE ALLOCATED.—Section
286(s)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1356(s)(3)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘28.2 percent’’ and inserting
‘‘15 percent’’; and
(2) by inserting ‘‘on and after October 1,
2000,’’ after ‘‘Account’’.
(b) PROGRAMMATIC CHANGES.—Section 414(c) of
the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improve-
ment Act of 1998 (as redesignated by section 302(c) of
this Act) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ‘‘Awards’’
and inserting ‘‘Subject to paragraph (3), awards’’;
and
(2) by amending paragraph (3) to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(3) SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The amount of a
scholarship awarded under this subsection shall
be determined by the Director.
‘‘(B) GENERAL
LIMITATION.—Subject to
subparagraph (C), the amount of such scholar-
ship may not exceed $2,500 per year.
‘‘(C) INCREASE IN CASE OF PUBLIC SEC-
TOR EMPLOYMENT.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a
scholarship recipient who enters into an
agreement described in clause (ii) the
amount of such scholarship may be up to
$5,000 per year.
‘‘(ii) AGREEMENT.—The agreement
described in this clause is an agreement
between the Director and the scholarship
recipient 
under 
which 
the 
recipient
agrees—
‘‘(I) to work in a public sector
position (as defined by the Director)
for at least 3 years after the date of
completion of the degree program for
which the scholarship is awarded; or
‘‘(II) to repay the amount of the
scholarship.’’.
SEC. 305. USE OF FEES FOR REGIONAL SKILLS TRAINING
ALLIANCES.
(a) AUTHORITY TO USE DEPOSITS.—Section 286(s)
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1356(s)) is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (6) as
paragraphs (6) and (7); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the fol-
lowing new paragraph:
‘‘(5) USE
OF
FEES
FOR
REGIONAL
SKILLS
TRAINING ALLIANCES.—25 percent of the amounts
deposited into the H–1B Nonimmigrant Petitioner
Account on and after October 1, 2000, shall remain
available to the Secretary of Commerce until ex-
pended to carry out subsections (d) and (e) of sec-
tion 414 of the American Competitiveness and
Workforce Improvement Act of 1998.’’.
(b) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—Section 414 of the
American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement
Act of 1998 (as amended by section 304 of this Act) is
amended—
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘AND
JOB TRAINING OF UNITED STATES WORKERS.’’
and inserting ‘‘, LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR MATH-
EMATICS
AND
SCIENCE
TEACHERS, UPWARD
BOUND
PROGRAM, 
AND
REGIONAL
SKILLS
TRAINING ALLIANCES.’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
sections:
‘‘(d) SKILL GRANTS.—
‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of
Commerce (in this subsection referred to as the
‘Secretary’), acting through the Director of the
National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology, and in consultation with the Secretary
of Labor, shall provide grants to eligible entities
described in subparagraph (B) to assist such
entities to improve the job skills necessary for
employment in specific industries.
‘‘(B) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES DESCRIBED.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity
described in this subparagraph is a consor-
tium that—
‘‘(I) shall consist of representa-
tives from not less than 10 businesses
(or a nonprofit organization that rep-
resents not less than 10 businesses);
and
‘‘(II) may consist of representa-
tives from labor organizations, State
and local government, and educational
institutions.
‘‘(ii) MAJORITY
OF
REPRESENTA-
TIVES.—A majority of the representatives
comprising the consortium shall be rep-
resentatives described in clause (i)(I).
‘‘(iii) ADDITIONAL
REQUIREMENT.—
To the maximum extent practicable, each
business, organization, or government that
forms an eligible entity under clause (i)—
‘‘(I) shall be located in the same
geographic region of the United
States; and
‘‘(II) shall coordinate their pro-
grams with existing State, local, and
regional training plans and economic
development strategies to the max-
imum extent practicable.
‘‘(C) PRIORITY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.—
In providing grants under subparagraph (A),
the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible
entity if a majority of representatives forming
the entity represent small-business concerns, as
described in section 3(a) of the Small Business
Act (15 U.S.C. 632(a)).
‘‘(D) MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF GRANT.—The
amount of a grant provided to an eligible entity
under subparagraph (A) may not exceed
$1,000,000 for any fiscal year.
‘‘(2) APPLICATION.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may
not provide a grant under this subsection to the
eligible entity unless such entity submits to the
Secretary an application at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may reasonably require.
‘‘(B) CERTAIN
STATES
WITH
MULTIPLE
CONSORTIA.—In a State in which 2 or more eli-
gible entities seek grants under this subsection
for a fiscal year, as determined by the Governor
of the State, the Governor may solicit proposals
from the entities concerning the activities to be
carried out under the grants. If the Governor
solicits such proposals, based on the proposals
received, the Governor shall submit an applica-
tion on behalf of 1 or more of the entities to
the Secretary at such time, in such manner,
and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may reasonably require. The provisions
of this subsection relating to eligible entities
shall apply to each of the entities for which the
Governor applies.
‘‘(3) USE OF AMOUNTS.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may
not provide a grant under this subsection to an
eligible entity unless such entity agrees to use
amounts received from such grant to improve
the job skills necessary for employment by busi-