Title: Transportation Workforce Investment Act of 2020
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Transportation Workforce Investment Act of 2020
This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a program to provide competitive grants to institutions of higher education, states, and other partnerships to support transportation sector education and workforce development projects.
The bill expands authority for DOT to provide grants for surface transportation workforce development, training, and education to include (1) on-the-job training or work-based learning opportunities, including pre-apprenticeships and registered apprenticeships; (2) activities to support the establishment of industry or sector partnerships; (3) activities to increase the number of underrepresented individuals in such workforce; and (4) activities to update facilities and equipment used in career and technical education programs of study.
DOT must also establish a task force to (1) conduct an assessment of the current and projected state of the transportation workforce, including any existing barriers to attracting, developing, training, or retaining a skilled transportation workforce; and (2) develop recommendations and strategies for DOT and states to improve the transportation workforce based on such assessment.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6156 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6156

  To develop and improve the transportation workforce, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 9, 2020

Mr. Langevin (for himself, Mr. Balderson, Ms. Craig, and Mr. McKinley) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                   Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To develop and improve the transportation workforce, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Transportation 
Workforce Investment Act of 2020''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Transportation education and training program.
Sec. 3. Surface transportation workforce grants.
Sec. 4. Research and development strategic plan.
Sec. 5. Task force on future of transportation workforce.

SEC. 2. TRANSPORTATION EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM.

    Section 504(f) of title 23, United States Code, is amended to read 
as follows:
    ``(f) Transportation Education and Training Program.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary, in consultation with 
        the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Labor, shall 
        establish a program (in this subsection referred to as the 
        `Program') to provide grants to support transportation sector 
        education and workforce development projects.
            ``(2) Grant authority.--In carrying out the Program, the 
        Secretary may award a grant on a competitive basis in 
        accordance with this subsection.
            ``(3) Eligible recipients.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may award a grant 
                under the Program to any partnership that includes, at 
                a minimum, the following entities:
                            ``(i) An institution of higher education.
                            ``(ii) A State department of 
                        transportation.
                            ``(iii) Not fewer than 2 transportation 
                        sector employers.
                    ``(B) Labor and joint labor-management 
                organizations.--A partnership eligible for a grant 
                under the Program may include a labor or joint labor-
                management organization.
            ``(4) Eligible projects.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), grant funds awarded under the Program 
                may only be used to assist a project that includes, at 
                a minimum, two of the following activities:
                            ``(i) Developing, implementing, and 
                        assessing innovative programs of study with 
                        respect to a transportation sector.
                            ``(ii) Training educators to teach 
                        secondary or postsecondary career and technical 
                        education courses with respect to a 
                        transportation sector.
                            ``(iii) Increasing career recruitment and 
                        outreach to youth, including through career 
                        counseling and career exploration 
                        opportunities, to encourage participation in 
                        transportation sectors.
                            ``(iv) Developing on-the-job training and 
                        work-based learning opportunities, including 
                        pre-apprenticeships and registered 
                        apprenticeships, with respect to a 
                        transportation sector.
                            ``(v) Increasing participation of 
                        underrepresented individuals, including women, 
                        in the transportation workforce.
                            ``(vi) Any other activity the Secretary 
                        determines appropriate for education or 
                        workforce development in a transportation 
                        sector.
                    ``(B) Exception.--If a project is in the 
                construction or maintenance sector, grant funds awarded 
                under the Program may only be used to develop pre-
                apprenticeships that prepare individuals for acceptance 
                into registered apprenticeships in such sector.
            ``(5) Applications.--To be eligible for a grant under this 
        subsection, a partnership referred to in paragraph (3) shall 
        submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such 
        time, and containing such information as the Secretary 
        determines to be appropriate, which shall include, at a 
        minimum, a description of the following:
                    ``(A) How the partnership will use grant funds to 
                assist an eligible project.
                    ``(B) The roles and responsibilities of each 
                partner in assisting the project.
                    ``(C) Any prior experience or demonstrated success 
                in workforce development of a partner.
                    ``(D) The current and projected workforce 
                shortages, if any, in the relevant transportation 
                sector and how the project will address those 
                shortages.
                    ``(E) Any promotion of the increased participation 
                of underrepresented individuals, including women, in 
                the transportation workforce that the project will 
                provide.
                    ``(F) Any recognized postsecondary credentials that 
                participants in the project will be prepared for.
                    ``(G) Any registered apprenticeships, pre-
                apprenticeships, or other on-the-job training or work-
                based learning opportunities the project will provide.
            ``(6) Considerations.--In making a grant under the Program, 
        the Secretary shall consider--
                    ``(A) regional diversity;
                    ``(B) the degree to which an eligible project may 
                address current or projected transportation workforce 
                shortages; and
                    ``(C) if applicable, the quality of any proposed 
                on-the-job training or work-based learning 
                opportunities to be provided.
            ``(7) Limitations on grants.--
                    ``(A) Limitation on amounts.--The amount of a grant 
                under this subsection may not exceed $300,000.
                    ``(B) Limitation on federal share.--After a 
                recipient has received 2 grants under this subsection, 
                subsequent grants to the recipient may not be in an 
                amount that exceeds 75 percent of the cost of the 
                project to be assisted with the grant.
            ``(8) Report.--A recipient of a grant under this subsection 
        shall submit to the Secretary, at such time as the Secretary 
        determines appropriate, a report that includes a description of 
        the following:
                    ``(A) How grant funds were used.
                    ``(B) The education and employment outcomes for 
                individuals participating in or benefitting from the 
                project assisted with grant funds under the Program (in 
                this paragraph referred to as `participants'), 
                disaggregated by special populations, which shall 
                include at a minimum the following:
                            ``(i) The percentage, and median earnings, 
                        of 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; and
                                    ``(II) developed skills necessary 
                                to receive such a credential or 
                                employment through such program.
            ``(9) Definitions.--In this subsection, the following 
        definitions apply:
                    ``(A) Career and technical education.--The term 
                `career and technical education' 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).
                    ``(B) Individual with a barrier to employment.--The 
                term `individual with a barrier to employment' has the 
                meaning given the term in section 3 of the Workforce 
                Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3012).
                    ``(C) 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).
                    ``(D) 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).
                    ``(E) Pre-apprenticeship.--The term `pre-
                apprenticeship' means a training model or program that 
                prepares individuals for acceptance into a registered 
                apprenticeship and has a demonstrated partnership with 
                one or more registered apprenticeships.
                    ``(F) 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).
                    ``(G) 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).
                    ``(H) Registered apprenticeship.--The term 
                `registered apprenticeship' means an apprenticeship 
                program registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (29 
                U.S.C. 50 et seq.; commonly known as the `National 
                Apprenticeship Act'), that satisfies the requirements 
                of parts 29 and 30 of title 29, Code of Federal 
                Regulations (as in effect on January 1, 2020).
                    ``(I) Special populations.--The term `special 
                populations' 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).
                    ``(J) Transportation sector.--The term 
                `transportation sector' means an industry sector that 
                is involved in construction, manufacturing, 
                maintenance, operation, inspection, logistics, design, 
                or engineering with respect to transportation 
                equipment, materials, technologies, or infrastructure 
                (including relating to surface, transit, railway, 
                aviation, and maritime transportation).
                    ``(K) Underrepresented individual.--The term 
                `underrepresented individual' means--
                            ``(i) an individual who belongs to a 
                        special population;
                            ``(ii) an individual with a barrier to 
                        employment; or
                            ``(iii) an individual otherwise determined 
                        by the Secretary to be underrepresented in the 
                        transportation workforce.
                    ``(L) 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).''.

SEC. 3. SURFACE TRANSPORTATION WORKFORCE GRANTS.

     Section 504(e) of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``, including 
                development of the skills necessary to utilize emerging 
                technologies'' after ``development'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (C) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period and 
                inserting a semicolon; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraphs:
                    ``(H) on-the-job training or work-based learning 
                opportunities, including pre-apprenticeships and 
                registered apprenticeships;
                    ``(I) activities to support the establishment of 
                industry or sector partnerships;
                    ``(J) activities to increase the number of 
                underrepresented individuals in such workforce; and
                    ``(K) activities to update facilities and equipment 
                used in career and technical education programs of 
                study.''; and
            (2) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
            ``(3) Definitions.--In this subsection, the following 
        definitions apply:
                    ``(A) Career and technical education.--The term 
                `career and technical education' 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).
                    ``(B) Individual with a barrier to employment.--The 
                term `individual with a barrier to employment' has the 
                meaning given the term in section 3 of the Workforce 
                Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3012).
                    ``(C) Industry or sector partnership.--The term 
                `industry or sector partnership' has the meaning given 
                the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
                Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
                    ``(D) 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).
                    ``(E) Pre-apprenticeship.--The term `pre-
                apprenticeship' means a training model or program that 
                prepares individuals for acceptance into a registered 
                apprenticeship and has a demonstrated partnership with 
                one or more registered apprenticeships.
                    ``(F) 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).
                    ``(G) Registered apprenticeship.--The term 
                `registered apprenticeship' means an apprenticeship 
                program registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (29 
                U.S.C. 50 et seq.; commonly known as the `National 
                Apprenticeship Act'), that satisfies the requirements 
                of parts 29 and 30 of title 29, Code of Federal 
                Regulations (as in effect on January 1, 2020).
                    ``(H) Special populations.--The term `special 
                populations' 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).
                    ``(I) Surface transportation workforce development, 
                training, and education.--The term `surface 
                transportation workforce development, training, and 
                education' means activities associated with surface 
                transportation career awareness, student transportation 
                career preparation, and training and professional 
                development for surface transportation workers, 
                including activities for women and minorities.
                    ``(J) Underrepresented individual.--The term 
                `underrepresented individual' means--
                            ``(i) an individual who belongs to a 
                        special population;
                            ``(ii) an individual with a barrier to 
                        employment; or
                            ``(iii) an individual otherwise determined 
                        by the Secretary to be underrepresented in the 
                        transportation workforce.
                    ``(K) 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).''.

SEC. 4. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN.

    Section 6503 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)(1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (F), by striking the semicolon 
                and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
                    ``(G) developing and maintaining a diverse 
                workforce in transportation sectors.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(f) Transportation Sector Defined.--In this section, the term 
`transportation sector' means an industry sector that is involved in 
construction, manufacturing, maintenance, operation, inspection, 
logistics, design, or engineering with respect to transportation 
equipment, materials, technologies, or infrastructure (including 
relating to surface, transit, railway, aviation, and maritime 
transportation).''.

SEC. 5. TASK FORCE ON FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION WORKFORCE.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation (in this section 
referred to as the ``Secretary''), in consultation with the Secretary 
of Education and the Secretary of Labor, shall establish a task force 
on the future of the transportation workforce (in this section referred 
to as the ``Task Force'').
    (b) Duties of Task Force.--The duties of the Task Force shall be to 
carry out the following activities:
            (1) Conduct an assessment of--
                    (A) the current and projected state of the 
                transportation workforce, including current and 
                projected workforce shortages;
                    (B) any existing barriers to attracting, 
                developing, training, or retaining a skilled 
                transportation workforce; and
                    (C) the projected impact of emerging technologies, 
                including automation, on the transportation workforce.
            (2) Develop recommendations and strategies for the 
        Secretary and States to develop and improve the transportation 
        workforce based on the assessment conducted pursuant to 
        paragraph (1), including recommendations and strategies on the 
        following:
                    (A) Improving youth outreach, mentorship programs, 
                and career guidance and academic counseling.
                    (B) Improving career pathways, including through 
                secondary and post-secondary career and technical 
                education programs of study.
                    (C) Providing on-the-job training or work-based 
                learning opportunities, including pre-apprenticeships 
                and registered apprenticeships.
                    (D) Providing recognized postsecondary credentials, 
                including credentials related to emerging technologies.
                    (E) Supporting targeted outreach to underrpresented 
                individuals, including women.
                    (F) Providing new skills to public transportation 
                workers employed in positions that may be impacted by 
                emerging technologies.
    (c) Consideration.--In developing recommendations and strategies 
pursuant to subsection (b)(2), the Task Force shall consider how 
businesses, educators, the Secretary, State and local government 
agencies, and other relevant stakeholders can coordinate efforts to 
support workforce development in transportation sectors.
    (d) Membership.--
            (1) Appointment.--The Task Force shall be composed of 
        members appointed by the Secretary, including representatives 
        of the following:
                    (A) Regionally diverse businesses operating in 
                transportation sectors.
                    (B) Labor organizations.
                    (C) Local educational agencies.
                    (D) Institutions of higher education, including 
                community colleges and area career and technical 
                education schools.
                    (E) Eligible agencies.
                    (F) Other experts and stakeholders in 
                transportation sectors that the Secretary determines 
                appropriate.
            (2) Terms.--Each member shall be appointed for the life of 
        the Task Force.
    (e) Initial Report.--
            (1) Submission to secretary.--Not later than 1 year after 
        the date on which the Task Force is established, the Task Force 
        shall submit to the Secretary a report containing--
                    (A) the findings of the assessment conducted 
                pursuant to subsection (b)(1); and
                    (B) the recommendations and strategies developed 
                pursuant to subsection (b)(2).
            (2) Submission to congress.--Not later than 30 days after 
        the date on which the Secretary receives the report submitted 
        under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
                    (A) provide written comments on the report; and
                    (B) submit the report and written comments to the 
                appropriate committees of Congress.
    (f) Termination.--Except as provided in subsection (g), the Task 
Force shall terminate on the date that is 30 days after the date on 
which the Task Force submits the initial report to the Secretary under 
subsection (e)(1).
    (g) Updated Reports.--
            (1) In general.--On the date that is five years after the 
        date of termination under subsection (f), and every five years 
        thereafter, the Task Force shall reconvene for purposes of the 
        update required under paragraph (2) of this subsection.
            (2) Submission to secretary.--Not later than 180 days after 
        a date on which the Task Force reconvenes under paragraph (1), 
        the Task Force shall submit to the Secretary an update of the 
        report most recently submitted to the Secretary under this 
        section by the Task Force.
            (3) Submission to congress.--Not later than 30 days after a 
        date on which the Secretary receives an updated report under 
        paragraph (2), the Secretary shall--
                    (A) provide written comments on the updated report; 
                and
                    (B) submit the updated report and written comments 
                to the appropriate committees of Congress.
    (h) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
        ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public 
        Works of the Senate.
            (2) Area career and technical education school.--The term 
        ``area career and technical education school'' 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).
            (3) Career and technical education.--The term ``career and 
        technical education'' 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) Career guidance and academic counseling.--The term 
        ``career guidance and academic counseling'' 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).
            (5) 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).
            (6) 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).
            (7) Individual with a barrier to employment.--The term 
        ``individual with a barrier to employment'' has the meaning 
        given the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3012).
            (8) 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).
            (9) Local educational agency.--The term ``local 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) On-the-job training.--The term ``on-the-job training'' 
        has the meaning given the term in section in section 3 of the 
        Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
            (11) Pre-apprenticeship.--The term ``pre-apprenticeship'' 
        means a training model or program that prepares individuals for 
        acceptance into a registered apprenticeship and has a 
        demonstrated partnership with one or more registered 
        apprenticeships.
            (12) 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).
            (13) 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).
            (14) Registered apprenticeship.--The term ``registered 
        apprenticeship'' means an apprenticeship program registered 
        under the Act of August 16, 1937 (29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.; 
        commonly known as the ``National Apprenticeship Act''), that 
        satisfies the requirements of parts 29 and 30 of title 29, Code 
        of Federal Regulations (as in effect on January 1, 2020).
            (15) Special populations.--The term ``special populations'' 
        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).
            (16) State.--The term ``State'' means each State of the 
        United States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth, 
        territory, or possession of the United States, and each 
        federally recognized Indian Tribe.
            (17) Transportation sector.--The term ``transportation 
        sector'' means an industry sector that is involved in 
        construction, manufacturing, maintenance, operation, 
        inspection, logistics, design, or engineering with respect to 
        transportation equipment, materials, technologies, or 
        infrastructure (including relating to surface, transit, 
        railway, aviation, and maritime transportation).
            (18) Underrepresented individual.--The term 
        ``underrepresented individual'' means--
                    (A) an individual who belongs to a special 
                population;
                    (B) an individual with a barrier to employment; or
                    (C) an individual otherwise determined by the 
                Secretary to be underrepresented in the transportation 
                workforce.
            (19) 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).
                                 <all>