I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1817 
To direct the Secretary of Labor to establish a renewable energy transition 
grant program and to establish a National Employment Corps, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 11, 2021 
Mr. DESAULNIER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and Labor 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Labor to establish a renewable 
energy transition grant program and to establish a Na-
tional Employment Corps, 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 ‘‘Protecting Workers 
for a Clean Future Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The fossil fuel and fossil fuel-dependent in-
dustries have been major drivers of employment and 
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economic growth in regions throughout California. 
Yet, despite the success of these industries, many 
local residents are unemployed or live in poverty. In 
addition, nearby communities often suffer from pol-
lution, poor air and water quality, and other health 
hazards. The goal of community transition grants is 
to develop a vision for a future economy based on 
equity, sustainability, and shared prosperity. A re-
gional approach requires bringing together a diverse 
set of stakeholders that represent the whole commu-
nity. This coalition must be capable of developing 
and implementing strategies to support workers and 
communities that will be affected by the transition 
away from fossil fuels. To be effective, coalitions 
should work closely with high road employers and in-
dustry leaders to identify in-demand skills and work-
force strategies that promote emerging and expand-
ing sectors of the regional economy. 
(2) These strategies should provide pathways 
for impacted workers to transition to other sustain-
able jobs and careers. They should also include the 
frontline communities who have historically been ex-
cluded from the economic benefits of the fossil fuel 
industry, while bearing the greatest costs of pollu-
tion and ecological damage. 
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(3) Partnerships should include organizations 
representing workers and communities impacted by 
the fossil fuel industry and the transition to a car-
bon-constrained economy. Workers, residents, and 
community leaders have inherent knowledge of re-
gional dynamics, issues, and needs, and should func-
tion at the center of developing regional solutions. 
(4) In addition, coalitions should be diverse and 
represent a wide range of regional interests and 
stakeholders, including organizations representing 
labor, environmental justice, industry, economic de-
velopment, local tribal and municipal government, 
and educational institutions. 
(5) As the United States and global economies 
shift from fossil fuels to more sustainable sources of 
energy, the fossil fuel workforce cannot be left be-
hind. They must be part of the conversation and 
have a role in shaping the transition. 
SEC. 3. RENEWABLE ENERGY TRANSITION GRANT PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Labor, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall establish a 
grant program for local governments for the purpose of 
developing a plan to transition workers from employment 
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in fossil fuel industries to employment in sustainable in-
dustries. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—The Secretary of Labor may 
award grants under subsection (a) to a local or Tribal gov-
ernment that— 
(1) establishes industry or sector partnerships 
(as defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation 
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102)); 
(2) is in a locality that the Secretary of Energy 
determines to have a percentage of traditional en-
ergy sector jobs that is average or above average rel-
ative to the United States; and 
(3) certifies that such local or Tribal govern-
ment will develop the transition plan described in 
subsection (a) in consultation with relevant State 
and other experts, including experts in energy labor, 
green economy policies, and energy policy, and with 
relevant State officials, if applicable. 
(c) DETERMINATION
OF PERCENTAGE
OF TRADI-
TIONAL ENERGY SECTOR JOBS.—In making the deter-
mination under subsection (b)(2), the Secretary of Labor 
shall take into consideration information from the report 
entitled ‘‘U.S. Energy and Employment Report’’ issued by 
the Secretary in January, 2017. 
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(d) USE OF FUNDS.—Funds under subsection (a) 
may be used for the following purposes: 
(1) To develop a transition plan described in 
subsection (a). 
(2) To support an existing apprenticeship pro-
gram for apprenticeable occupation or, if in a non- 
traditional industry, to develop an apprenticeship 
program. 
(3) To train individuals who are new to the 
workforce for jobs in sustainable industries, includ-
ing but not limited to, manufacturing, autonomous 
vehicles, 
electric 
vehicles, 
renewable 
energy, 
CERCLA remediation, and may include a partner-
ship or agreements with employers to provide jobs 
for trainees. 
(e) TRANSITION PLAN REQUIREMENTS.—A transi-
tion plan funded under subsection (a)— 
(1) shall include assistance for accessing all ex-
isting applicable Federal and State aid for displaced 
workers, including unemployment insurance, job 
transition training, and community services for the 
affected community as well as trade adjustment as-
sistance and other programs, if applicable; and 
(2) may also include assistance to supplement 
existing Federal and State aid, including funds for 
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bridges to retirement for older workers, wage insur-
ance for workers who find employment in lower wage 
jobs, and funding for significant career change train-
ing for workers who wish to change careers, includ-
ing case management and career path counseling. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION.—There are authorized to be ap-
propriated such sums as necessary to carry out this sec-
tion. 
SEC. 4. NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT CORPS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within 
the Department of Labor a National Employment Corps. 
(b) JOB GUARANTEE GRANTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—If local government or Tribe 
described in section 3(b) executes a plan under sec-
tion 2 in good faith, but all workers described in sec-
tion 3(a) are not successfully transitioned, the Sec-
retary of Labor, acting through the National Em-
ployment Corps, shall establish a program (herein-
after referred to as the ‘‘program’’) to provide 
grants to local and Tribal governments to provide di-
rect employment projects for the purpose of guaran-
teeing a job and job training to any eligible worker 
not successfully transitioned under such plan. 
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(2) USE OF FUNDS.—The grants under para-
graph (1) shall cover wage, benefits, and material 
expenses of eligible workers. 
(3) ELIGIBLE
WORKER.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘eligible worker’’ means any individual who 
loses a job or reasonably anticipates losing a job due 
to a transition from traditional energy sources to 
sustainable energy sources. 
(c) COORDINATION
OF FEDERAL EFFORTS.—The 
Corps shall work with Federal agencies to identify areas 
of needed investment in the United States economy, in-
cluding infrastructure, energy efficiency, retrofitting, elder 
care, child care, job training, education, and health serv-
ices. 
(d) FEDERAL COMPONENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—If projects funded under the 
program under subsection (b) are inadequate to 
maintain full employment in the locality or Tribe, 
the Secretary shall intervene in the locality or Tribe 
to provide adequate employment opportunities to 
guarantee employment to workers described in such 
subsection. 
(2) ADDITIONAL
SERVICES.—The Corps shall 
also offer the following services to eligible workers: 
(A) Supportive services. 
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(B) Wrap-around services, including: 
(i) Transportation. 
(ii) Childcare. 
(iii) Job preparation services. 
(iv) Counseling. 
(C) Adult edcation and literacy activities. 
(D) Activities to assist justice-involved in-
dividuals. 
(3) WEBSITE AND DATABASE.—To assist with 
an individual’s move from the job guarantee to other 
employment opportunities under a National Employ-
ment Corps, the Secretary shall establish a website 
and database listing individuals employed under the 
program as available for, and seeking, employment. 
Individuals shall be allowed up to one day (8 hours) 
per employed month to seek alternative employment 
and for professional development. 
(e) COORDINATION OF LOCAL EFFORTS.—Any local 
or Tribal government that receives a grant shall develop 
employment proposals in coordination with community 
leaders, labor organizations, and local residents to ensure 
the proposals will serve the needs of the constituents and 
available pool of labor. The employment proposals may not 
be used to employ individuals who will replace or speed 
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