Onward to Opportunity Act
Bill: S.3161 | Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha (R-TN)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Onward to Opportunity Act
This bill requires the Department of Defense to implement a pilot program to provide grants for eligible entities to supplement the Transition Assistance Program by providing job opportunities for industry-recognized certifications, job placement assistance, and related employment services.
Eligible entities are those that (1) follow a job training and placement model; (2) have a well-developed and rigorous practice of program measurement and evaluation; (3) have established partnerships with entities to provide the necessary services; and (4) have online training capability to reach rural veterans, reduce costs, and comply with new conditions forced by COVID-19.
The program must be implemented at five military installations in the United States with successful economic opportunity program models.

To require the Secretary of Defense to carry out a pilot program to 
   supplement the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of 
                                Defense.

    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 ``Onward to Opportunity Act''.

SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM TO SUPPLEMENT THE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 
              OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE THROUGH GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall carry out a pilot program under 
which the Secretary of Defense provides, through grants, enhanced 
support and funding to eligible entities to supplement the Transition 
Assistance Program by providing job opportunities for industry-
recognized certifications, job placement assistance, and related 
employment services directly to covered individuals.
    (b) Services.--In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary of 
Defense shall award grants to eligible entities to provide to covered 
individuals the following services:
            (1) Using an industry-validated screening tool, assessments 
        of prior education, work history, and employment aspirations of 
        covered individuals in order to tailor appropriate employment 
        services.
            (2) Preparation for civilian employment through services 
        such as mock interviews and salary negotiations, training on 
        professional networking platforms, and company research.
            (3) Several industry-specific learning pathways--
                    (A) with entry-level, mid-level and senior 
                versions;
                    (B) in fields such as project management, 
                cybersecurity, and information technology;
                    (C) in which each covered individual works with an 
                academic advisor to choose a career pathway and 
                navigate coursework during the training process; and
                    (D) in which each covered individual can earn 
                industry-recognized credentials and certifications, at 
                no charge to the covered individual.
            (4) Job placement services.
    (c) Program Organization and Implementation Model.--The Secretary 
of Defense shall ensure that the pilot program follows economic 
opportunity program models in use as of the date of the enactment of 
this Act that combine industry-recognized certification training, 
furnished by professionals, with online learning staff.
    (d) Consultation.--The Secretary of Defense shall seek to consult 
with private entities to identify the best economic opportunity program 
models for the pilot program to follow, including economic opportunity 
models in use as of the date of the enactment of this Act that are 
furnished through public-private partnerships.
    (e) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under the pilot 
program, an entity shall--
            (1) follow a job training and placement model;
            (2) have a well-developed and rigorous practice of program 
        measurement and evaluation that indicates program performance 
        and efficiency, with data that is high quality and shareable 
        with partner entities;
            (3) have established partnerships with entities (such as 
        employers, governmental agencies, and non-profit entities) to 
        provide services described in subsection (b); and
            (4) have online training capability to reach rural 
        veterans, reduce costs, and comply with new conditions forced 
        by COVID-19.
    (f) Coordination With Federal Entities.--Each grantee under the 
pilot program shall coordinate with Federal entities, including--
            (1) the Office of Transition and Economic Development of 
        the Department of Veterans Affairs; and
            (2) the Veterans' Employment and Training Service of the 
        Department of Labor.
    (g) Performance Metrics.--The Secretary of Defense shall ensure 
that performance outcomes of the pilot program--
            (1) are able to be verified using a third-party auditing 
        method; and
            (2) include--
                    (A) the number of covered individuals who receive 
                and complete skills training through the pilot program;
                    (B) the number of covered individuals who secure 
                employment through the pilot program;
                    (C) the retention rate for covered individuals 
                described in subparagraph (B); and
                    (D) the median salary of covered individuals 
                described in subparagraph (B).
    (h) Site Locations.--The Secretary of Defense shall carry out the 
pilot program at five military installations in the United States where 
existing economic opportunity program models are successful.
    (i) Assessment of Possible Expansion.--
            (1) In general.--Each grantee under the pilot program shall 
        assess the feasibility of expanding the virtual training and 
        career placement services offered under the pilot program to--
                    (A) members of the reserve components of the Armed 
                Forces; and
                    (B) covered individuals outside the United States.
            (2) Submittal to secretary of defense.--Each grantee under 
        the pilot program shall submit to the Secretary of Defense the 
        assessment of the grantee conducted under paragraph (1).
    (j) Duration.--The pilot program shall terminate on September 30, 
2025.
    (k) Report.--Not later than March 30, 2026, the Secretary of 
Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report 
that includes--
            (1) a description of the pilot program, including a 
        description of specific activities carried out under this 
        section;
            (2) the metrics and evaluations used to assess the 
        effectiveness of the pilot program; and
            (3) the assessments submitted to the Secretary under 
        subsection (i)(2).
    (l) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Covered individual.--The term ``covered individual'' 
        means--
                    (A) a member of the Armed Forces participating in 
                the Transition Assistance Program; or
                    (B) a spouse of a member described in subparagraph 
                (A).
            (2) Economic opportunity program model.--The term 
        ``economic opportunity program model'' means a model of 
        programmatic service delivery that expands economic opportunity 
        and improves employment outcomes for members of the Armed 
        Forces transitioning to civilian life and military spouses 
        through career exploration, job training, and credentialing.
            (3) Military installation.--The term ``military 
        installation'' has the meaning given such term in section 
        2801(c) of title 10, United States Code.
            (4) Transition assistance program.--The term ``Transition 
        Assistance Program'' means the program of the Department of 
        Defense for preseparation counseling, employment assistance, 
        and other transitional services provided under sections 1142 
        and 1144 of title 10, United States Code.
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