Transportation Workforce Centers of Excellence Act
Bill: H.R.2696 | Sponsor: Rep. Langevin, James R. (D-RI)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Transportation Workforce Centers of Excellence Act
This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to designate certain two-year institutions of higher education as Community and Technical College Centers of Excellence in Transportation Workforce Training.
Additionally, DOT must establish a program to award competitive grants to the centers to address education and training related to careers in transportation sectors.
Grants under the program may not exceed $2 million, and the federal share of project costs may not exceed 50%.

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to designate certain 
 consortia as Community and Technical College Centers of Excellence in 
       Transportation Workforce Training, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Transportation Workforce Centers of 
Excellence Act''.

SEC. 2. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN TRANSPORTATION WORKFORCE TRAINING.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation 
with the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Labor, shall 
designate in accordance with subsection (b) certain consortia of 2-year 
institutions of higher education as Community and Technical College 
Centers of Excellence in Transportation Workforce Training (in this 
section referred to as ``Centers of Excellence'').
    (b) Criteria for Designation.--The Secretary of Transportation 
shall designate as a Center of Excellence under subsection (a) a 
consortium the Secretary determines has a demonstrated ability to--
            (1) address education and training related to careers in 
        transportation sectors; and
            (2) carry out the following activities:
                    (A) Developing and implementing career pathways and 
                programs of study that lead to recognized postsecondary 
                credentials in transportation sectors.
                    (B) Providing on-the-job training or work-based 
                learning opportunities in transportation sectors.
                    (C) Developing dual or concurrent enrollment 
                programs to provide education and training 
                opportunities to secondary school students.
                    (D) Providing education and training related to 
                emerging technologies in transportation sectors.
                    (E) Partnering with employers, labor organizations, 
                local workforce development boards, State workforce 
                development boards, State educational agencies, and 
                eligible agencies to address education and training 
                related to careers in transportation sectors.
                    (F) Providing outreach and career counseling to 
                increase participation in transportation sectors.
    (c) Collaboration.--To address education and training related to 
careers in transportation sectors, Centers of Excellence may seek to 
collaborate with institutions receiving grants under section 5505 of 
title 49, United States Code.
    (d) Grants to Centers of Excellence.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program 
        (in this subsection referred to as the ``Program'') to award 
        grants on a competitive basis, as determined by the Secretary, 
        to Centers of Excellence to address education and training 
        related to careers in transportation sectors.
            (2) Eligible projects.--Grant funds awarded under the 
        Program may only be used for a project that facilitates an 
        activity specified in subsection (b).
            (3) Applications.--To be eligible for a grant under the 
        Program, a Center of Excellence designated under subsection (a) 
        shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at 
        such time, and containing such information as the Secretary 
        determines appropriate.
            (4) Limitations on grants.--
                    (A) Limitation on amount.--The amount of a grant 
                under the Program may not exceed $2,000,000.
                    (B) Limitation on federal share.--The Federal share 
                of the cost of a project carried out by a grant under 
                the Program may not exceed 50 percent.
            (5) Report.--Each recipient of a grant under the Program 
        shall submit to the Secretary a report in such form, at such 
        time, and containing such information as the Secretary 
        determines appropriate to evaluate the grant, including the 
        following:
                    (A) Information relating to the use of grant funds 
                awarded to the recipient under the Program.
                    (B) An evaluation of each project carried out with 
                such grant funds, including the following:
                            (i) The percentage, and median earnings, of 
                        individuals participating in or benefitting 
                        from the project (in this section referred to 
                        as ``participants'') who are in unsubsidized 
                        employment 90 days after exit from the project.
                            (ii) The percentage of participants who are 
                        in unsubsidized employment 180 days after exit 
                        from the project.
                            (iii) The percentage of participants who 
                        obtain a recognized postsecondary credential, 
                        or a secondary school diploma or recognized 
                        equivalent, during the project or within 1 year 
                        after exit from the project.
                            (iv) The percentage of participants who, 
                        during the project--
                                    (I) enrolled in an education or 
                                training program that leads to a 
                                recognized postsecondary credential or 
                                employment; or
                                    (II) developed skills necessary to 
                                receive such credential or employment.
            (6) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $10,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Career pathway.--The term ``career pathway'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation 
        and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
            (2) Dual or concurrent enrollment program.--The term ``dual 
        or concurrent enrollment program'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (3) Eligible agency.--The term ``eligible agency'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins 
        Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
            (4) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).
            (5) Local workforce development board.--The term ``local 
        workforce development board'' means a local workforce 
        development board established under section 107 of the 
        Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3122).
            (6) On-the-job training.--The term ``on-the-job training'' 
        has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Workforce 
        Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
            (7) Program of study.--The term ``program of study'' has 
        the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins 
        Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
            (8) Recognized postsecondary credential.--The term 
        ``recognized postsecondary credential'' has the meaning given 
        the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
            (9) State educational agency.--The term ``State educational 
        agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        7801).
            (10) State workforce development board.--The term ``State 
        workforce development board'' means a State workforce 
        development board established under section 101 of the 
        Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3111).
            (11) Transportation sector.--The term ``transportation 
        sector'' means an industry sector that is involved in the 
        manufacturing, operation, inspection, logistics, design, or 
        engineering of equipment, materials, technologies, or 
        infrastructure related to transportation (including surface, 
        transit, railway, aviation, and maritime transportation).
            (12) Work-based learning.--The term ``work-based learning'' 
        has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Carl D. 
        Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 
        2302).
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