I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 156 
To amend title II of the Department of Energy Organization Act to reauthor-
ize an office within the Department of Energy, to direct the Secretary 
of Energy to establish and carry out a comprehensive, nationwide energy- 
related industries jobs program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 4, 2021 
Mr. RUSH introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speak-
er, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the ju-
risdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title II of the Department of Energy Organization 
Act to reauthorize an office within the Department of 
Energy, to direct the Secretary of Energy to establish 
and carry out a comprehensive, nationwide energy-related 
industries jobs program, 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 
‘‘Blue Collar to Green Collar Jobs Development Act of 
2021’’. 
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(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—OFFICE OF ECONOMIC IMPACT, DIVERSITY, AND 
EMPLOYMENT 
Sec. 101. Name of office. 
Sec. 102. Energy workforce development programs. 
Sec. 103. Authorization. 
TITLE II—ENERGY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT 
Sec. 201. Energy workforce development. 
Sec. 202. Energy workforce grant program. 
Sec. 203. Definitions. 
TITLE I—OFFICE OF ECONOMIC 
IMPACT, DIVERSITY, AND EM-
PLOYMENT 
SEC. 101. NAME OF OFFICE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 211 of the Department of 
Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7141) is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘MINOR-
ITY ECONOMIC IMPACT’’ and inserting ‘‘ECONOMIC 
IMPACT, DIVERSITY, AND EMPLOYMENT’’; and 
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘Office of Mi-
nority Economic Impact’’ and inserting ‘‘Office of 
Economic Impact, Diversity, and Employment’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents for the Department of Energy Organization Act is 
amended by amending the item relating to section 211 to 
read as follows: 
‘‘Sec. 211. Office of Economic Impact, Diversity, and Employment.’’. 
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SEC. 
102. 
ENERGY 
WORKFORCE 
DEVELOPMENT 
PRO-
GRAMS. 
Section 211 of the Department of Energy Organiza-
tion Act (42 U.S.C. 7141) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as 
subsections (g) and (h), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(f) The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall 
establish and carry out the programs described in sections 
201 and 202 of the Blue Collar to Green Collar Jobs De-
velopment Act of 2021.’’. 
SEC. 103. AUTHORIZATION. 
Subsection (h) of section 211 of the Department of 
Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7141), as redesig-
nated by section 102 of this Act, is amended by striking 
‘‘not to exceed $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1979, not to ex-
ceed $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1980, and not to exceed 
$6,000,000 for fiscal year 1981. Of the amounts so appro-
priated each fiscal year, not less than 50 percent shall be 
available for purposes of financial assistance under sub-
section (e).’’ and inserting ‘‘$100,000,000 for each of fis-
cal years 2021 through 2025.’’. 
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TITLE II—ENERGY WORKFORCE 
DEVELOPMENT 
SEC. 201. ENERGY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of ap-
propriations for such purpose, the Secretary, acting 
through the Director of the Office of Economic Impact, 
Diversity, and Employment, shall establish and carry out 
a comprehensive, nationwide program to improve edu-
cation and training for jobs in energy-related industries 
in order to increase the number of skilled workers trained 
for such jobs. 
(b) DIRECT ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the program 
established under subsection (a), the Secretary may 
provide— 
(A) financial assistance awards, technical 
assistance, and other assistance the Secretary 
determines appropriate, to educational institu-
tions and covered organizations and programs, 
including those serving unemployed energy 
workers; and 
(B) internships, fellowships, traineeships, 
and apprenticeships at the Department of En-
ergy, including at the Department of Energy 
national laboratories. 
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(2) DISTRIBUTION.—Subject to subsection (c), 
the Secretary shall distribute assistance described in 
paragraph (1) in a manner proportional to the needs 
of energy-related industries and demand for jobs in 
energy-related industries, consistent with informa-
tion developed under subsection (e). 
(c) PRIORITY.—In carrying out the program estab-
lished under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— 
(1) prioritize the education and training of indi-
viduals from underrepresented communities for jobs 
in energy-related industries, including in providing 
internships, fellowships, traineeships, apprentice-
ships, and employment at the Department of En-
ergy, including at the Department of Energy na-
tional laboratories; and 
(2) in providing research grants and technical 
assistance to educational institutions, give priority to 
minority-serving institutions. 
(d) COLLABORATION AND OUTREACH.—In carrying 
out the program established under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary shall— 
(1) collaborate with— 
(A) to the maximum extent possible, State 
workforce development boards, to maximize pro-
gram efficiency; 
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(B) educational institutions and covered 
organizations and programs; 
(C) energy-related industries and covered 
organizations and programs to increase the op-
portunities for, and enrollment of, students and 
other candidates, including students of minor-
ity-serving institutions and unemployed energy 
workers, to participate in industry internships, 
fellowships, traineeships, and apprenticeships; 
and 
(D) Federal-State Regional Commissions, 
including the Appalachia Regional Commission, 
the Delta Regional Authority, the Denali Com-
mission, the Northern Border Regional Com-
mission, the Northern Great Plains Regional 
Commission, and the Southeast Crescent Re-
gional Commission; and 
(2) conduct outreach activities to— 
(A) encourage individuals from underrep-
resented communities and unemployed energy 
workers to enter into the STEM fields; and 
(B) encourage and foster collaboration, 
mentorships, and partnerships among energy- 
related industries, and covered organizations 
and programs, that provide effective training 
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