Title: Blue Collar to Green Collar Jobs Development Act of 2019
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
Blue Collar to Green Collar Jobs Development Act of 2019
This bill reauthorizes and modifies the Department of Energy's Office of Minority Economic Impact.
The bill (1) renames the office as the Office of Economic Impact, Diversity, and Employment; and (2) directs the office to establish a comprehensive program to improve education and training for jobs in energy-related industries, with emphasis on increasing the number of skilled individuals from underrepresented groups trained to work in those jobs.
The office must provide grants to certain businesses to pay the wages of employees when they are receiving training for jobs in the renewable energy, energy efficiency, or grid modernization sectors.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1315 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1315

   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.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 22, 2019

   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 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction 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 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 ``Blue Collar to 
Green Collar Jobs Development Act of 2019''.
    (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 EMPLOYMENT

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 ``minority economic 
        impact'' and inserting ``economic impact, diversity, and 
        employment''; and
            (2) in subsection (a), by striking ``Office of Minority 
        Economic Impact'' and inserting ``Office of Economic Impact, 
        Diversity, and Employment''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents 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.''.

SEC. 102. ENERGY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.

    Section 211 of the Department of Energy Organization 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 following:
    ``(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 Development Act of 2019.''.

SEC. 103. AUTHORIZATION.

    Subsection (h) of section 211 of the Department of Energy 
Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7141), as redesignated by section 102 of 
this Act, is amended by striking ``not to exceed $3,000,000 for fiscal 
year 1979, not to exceed $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1980, and not to 
exceed $6,000,000 for fiscal year 1981. Of the amounts so appropriated 
each fiscal year, not less than 50 percent shall be available for 
purposes of financial assistance under subsection (e).'' and inserting 
``$100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024.''.

                 TITLE II--ENERGY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

SEC. 201. ENERGY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, 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 education and training for 
jobs in energy-related industries, including manufacturing, 
engineering, construction, and retrofitting jobs in such energy-related 
industries, in order to increase the number of skilled workers trained 
to work in such energy-related industries, including by--
            (1) encouraging underrepresented groups, including 
        religious and ethnic minorities, women, veterans, individuals 
        with disabilities, unemployed energy workers, and 
        socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals to enter into the 
        science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (in this 
        section referred to as ``STEM'') fields;
            (2) encouraging the Nation's educational institutions to 
        equip students with the skills, mentorships, training, and 
        technical expertise necessary to fill the employment 
        opportunities vital to managing and operating the Nation's 
        energy-related industries;
            (3) providing students and other candidates for employment 
        with the necessary skills and certifications for skilled, 
        semiskilled, and highly skilled jobs in such energy-related 
        industries;
            (4) strengthening and more fully engaging Department of 
        Energy programs and laboratories in carrying out the 
        Department's Minorities in Energy Initiative; and
            (5) to the greatest extent possible, collaborating with and 
        supporting existing State workforce development programs to 
        maximize program efficiency.
    (b) Priority.--In carrying out the program established under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall prioritize the education and 
training of underrepresented groups for jobs in energy-related 
industries.
    (c) Direct Assistance.--In carrying out the program established 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide direct assistance 
(including financial assistance awards, technical expertise, and 
internships) to educational institutions, local workforce development 
boards, State workforce development boards, nonprofit organizations, 
labor organizations, and apprenticeship programs. The Secretary shall 
distribute such direct assistance in a manner proportional to the needs 
of, and demand for jobs in, energy-related industries, consistent with 
information obtained under subsections (e)(3) and (i).
    (d) Clearinghouse.--In carrying out the program established under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall establish a clearinghouse to--
            (1) maintain and update information and resources on 
        training programs for jobs in energy-related industries, 
        including manufacturing, engineering, construction, and 
        retrofitting jobs in such energy-related industries; and
            (2) act as a resource for educational institutions, local 
        workforce development boards, State workforce development 
        boards, nonprofit organizations, labor organizations, and 
        apprenticeship programs that would like to develop and 
        implement training programs for such jobs.
    (e) Collaboration and Report.--In carrying out the program 
established under subsection (a), the Secretary--
            (1) shall collaborate with educational institutions, local 
        workforce development boards, State workforce development 
        boards, nonprofit organizations, labor organizations, 
        apprenticeship programs, and energy-related industries;
            (2) shall encourage and foster collaboration, mentorships, 
        and partnerships among industry, local workforce development 
        boards, State workforce development boards, nonprofit 
        organizations, labor organizations, and apprenticeship programs 
        that currently provide effective training programs for jobs in 
        energy-related industries and educational institutions that 
        seek to establish these types of programs in order to share 
        best practices and approaches that best suit local, State, and 
        national needs; and
            (3) shall collaborate with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 
        the Department of Commerce, the Bureau of the Census, and 
        energy-related industries to--
                    (A) develop a comprehensive and detailed 
                understanding of the workforce needs of such energy-
                related industries, and job opportunities in such 
                energy-related industries, by State and by region; and
                    (B) publish an annual report on job creation in the 
                energy-related industries described in subsection 
                (i)(2).
    (f) Guidelines for Educational Institutions.--
            (1) In general.--In carrying out the program established 
        under subsection (a), the Secretary, in collaboration with the 
        Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Commerce, the 
        Secretary of Labor, and the National Science Foundation, shall 
        develop voluntary guidelines or best practices for educational 
        institutions to help provide graduates with the skills 
        necessary for jobs in energy-related industries, including 
        manufacturing, engineering, construction, and retrofitting jobs 
        in such energy-related industries.
            (2) Input.--The Secretary shall solicit input from energy-
        related industries in developing guidelines or best practices 
        under paragraph (1).
            (3) Energy efficiency and conservation initiatives.--The 
        guidelines or best practices developed under paragraph (1) 
        shall include grade-specific guidelines for teaching energy 
        efficiency technology, manufacturing efficiency technology, 
        community energy resiliency, and conservation initiatives to 
        educate students and families.
            (4) STEM education.--The guidelines or best practices 
        developed under paragraph (1) shall promote STEM education in 
        educational institutions as it relates to job opportunities in 
        energy-related industries.
    (g) Outreach to Minority-Serving Institutions.--In carrying out the 
program established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
            (1) give special consideration to increasing outreach to 
        minority-serving institutions;
            (2) make resources available to minority-serving 
        institutions with the objective of increasing the number of 
        skilled minorities and women trained for jobs in energy-related 
        industries, including manufacturing, engineering, construction, 
        and retrofitting jobs in such energy-related industries;
            (3) encourage energy-related industries to improve the 
        opportunities for students of minority-serving institutions to 
        participate in industry internships and cooperative work-study 
        programs; and
            (4) partner with the Department of Energy laboratories to 
        increase underrepresented groups' participation in internships, 
        fellowships, traineeships, and employment at all Department of 
        Energy laboratories.
    (h) Outreach to Displaced and Unemployed Energy Workers.--In 
carrying out the program established under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall--
            (1) give special consideration to increasing outreach to 
        employers and job trainers preparing displaced and unemployed 
        energy workers for emerging jobs in energy-related industries, 
        including manufacturing, engineering, construction, and 
        retrofitting jobs in such energy-related industries;
            (2) make resources available to institutions serving 
        displaced and unemployed energy workers with the objective of 
        increasing the number of individuals trained for jobs in 
        energy-related industries, including manufacturing, 
        engineering, construction, and retrofitting jobs in such 
        energy-related industries; and
            (3) encourage energy-related industries to improve 
        opportunities for displaced and unemployed energy workers to 
        participate in industry internships and cooperative work-study 
        programs.
    (i) Guidelines To Develop Skills for an Energy Industry 
Workforce.--In carrying out the program established under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall, in collaboration with energy-related 
industries--
            (1) identify the areas with the greatest demand for workers 
        in each such industry; and
            (2) develop guidelines for the skills necessary for work in 
        the following energy-related industries:
                    (A) Energy efficiency industry, including work in 
                energy efficiency, conservation, weatherization, 
                retrofitting, or as inspectors or auditors.
                    (B) Renewable energy industry, including work in 
                the development, engineering, manufacturing, and 
                production of renewable energy from renewable energy 
                sources (such as solar, hydropower, wind, or geothermal 
                energy).
                    (C) Community energy resiliency industry, including 
                work in the installation of rooftop solar, in battery 
                storage, and in microgrid technologies.
                    (D) Fuel cell and hydrogen energy industry.
                    (E) Manufacturing industry, including work as 
                operations technicians, in operations and design in 
                additive manufacturing, 3-D printing, and advanced 
                composites and advanced aluminum and other metal 
                alloys, industrial energy efficiency management 
                systems, including power electronics, and other 
                innovative technologies.
                    (F) Chemical manufacturing industry, including work 
                in construction (such as welders, pipefitters, and tool 
                and die makers) or as instrument and electrical 
                technicians, machinists, chemical process operators, 
                engineers, quality and safety professionals, and 
                reliability engineers.
                    (G) Utility industry, including work in the 
                generation, transmission, and distribution of 
                electricity and natural gas, such as utility 
                technicians, operators, lineworkers, engineers, 
                scientists, and information technology specialists.
                    (H) Alternative fuels industry, including work in 
                biofuel development and production.
                    (I) Pipeline industry, including work in pipeline 
                construction and maintenance or work as engineers or 
                technical advisors.
                    (J) Nuclear industry, including work as scientists, 
                engineers, technicians, mathematicians, or security 
                personnel.
                    (K) Oil and gas industry, including work as 
                scientists, engineers, technicians, mathematicians, 
                petrochemical engineers, or geologists.
                    (L) Coal industry, including work as coal miners, 
                engineers, developers and manufacturers of state-of-
                the-art coal facilities, technology vendors, coal 
                transportation workers and operators, or mining 
                equipment vendors.
    (j) Enrollment in Training and Apprenticeship Programs.--In 
carrying out the program established under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall work with industry, local workforce development boards, 
State workforce development boards, nonprofit organizations, labor 
organizations, and apprenticeship programs to help identify students 
and other candidates, including from underrepresented communities such 
as minorities, women, and veterans, to enroll into training and 
apprenticeship programs for jobs in energy-related industries.
    (k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2020 through 2024.

SEC. 202. ENERGY WORKFORCE GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Program.--
            (1) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of 
        appropriations, the Secretary, acting through the Director of 
        the Office of Economic Impact, Diversity, and Employment, shall 
        establish and carry out a program to provide grants to eligible 
        businesses to pay the wages of new and existing employees 
        during the time period that such employees are receiving 
        training to work in the renewable energy sector, energy 
        efficiency sector, or grid modernization sector.
            (2) Guidelines.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with 
        stakeholders, contractors, and organizations that work to 
        advance existing residential energy efficiency, shall establish 
        guidelines to identify training that is eligible for purposes 
        of the program established pursuant to paragraph (1).
    (b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under the 
program established under subsection (a) or a business or labor 
management organization that is directly involved with energy 
efficiency or renewable energy technology, or working on behalf of any 
such business, shall provide services related to--
            (1) renewable electric energy generation, including solar, 
        wind, geothermal, hydropower, and other renewable electric 
        energy generation technologies;
            (2) energy efficiency, including energy-efficient lighting, 
        heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, air source heat 
        pumps, advanced building materials, insulation and air sealing, 
        and other high-efficiency products and services, including 
        auditing and inspection;
            (3) grid modernization or energy storage, including smart 
        grid, microgrid and other distributed energy solutions, demand 
        response management, and home energy management technology; or
            (4) fuel cell and hybrid fuel cell generation.
    (c) Use of Grants.--An eligible business with--
            (1) 20 or fewer employees may use a grant provided under 
        the program established under subsection (a) to pay up to--
                    (A) 45 percent of an employee's wages for the 
                duration of the training, if the training is provided 
                by the eligible business; and
                    (B) 90 percent of an employee's wages for the 
                duration of the training, if the training is provided 
                by an entity other than the eligible business;
            (2) 21 to 99 employees may use a grant provided under the 
        program established under subsection (a) to pay up to--
                    (A) 37.5 percent of an employee's wages for the 
                duration of the training, if the training is provided 
                by the eligible business; and
                    (B) 75 percent of an employee's wages for the 
                duration of the training, if the training is provided 
                by an entity other than the eligible business; and
            (3) 100 employees or more may use a grant provided under 
        the program established under subsection (a) to pay up to--
                    (A) 25 percent of an employee's wages for the 
                duration of the training, if the training is provided 
                by the eligible business; and
                    (B) 50 percent of an employee's wages for the 
                duration of the training, if the training is provided 
                by an entity other than the eligible business.
    (d) Priority for Targeted Communities.--In providing grants under 
the program established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give 
priority to eligible businesses that--
            (1) recruit employees--
                    (A) from the communities that the businesses serve; 
                and
                    (B) that are minorities, women, persons who are or 
                were foster children, persons who are transitioning 
                from fossil energy sector jobs, or veterans; and
            (2) provide trainees with the opportunity to obtain real-
        world experience.
    (e) Limit.--An eligible business may not receive more than $100,000 
under the program established under subsection (a) per fiscal year.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $70,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2020 through 2024.

SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Apprenticeship.--The term ``apprenticeship'' means an 
        apprenticeship registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 
        (commonly known as the ``National Apprenticeship Act''; 50 
        Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.).
            (2) Educational institution.--The term ``educational 
        institution'' means an elementary school, secondary school, or 
        institution of higher education.
            (3) Elementary school and secondary school.--The terms 
        ``elementary school'' and ``secondary school'' have the 
        meanings given such terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (4) Energy-related industry.--The term ``energy-related 
        industry'' includes each of the energy efficiency, renewable 
        energy, chemical manufacturing, utility, alternative fuels, 
        pipeline, nuclear energy, oil, gas, and coal industries.
            (5) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1002).
            (6) Labor organization.--The term ``labor organization'' 
        has the meaning given such term in section 2 of the National 
        Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 152).
            (7) Local workforce development board.--The term ``local 
        workforce development board'' means a local board, as defined 
        in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
        (29 U.S.C. 3102).
            (8) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
        serving institution'' means an institution of higher education 
        that is of one of the following:
                    (A) Hispanic-serving institution (as defined in 
                section 502(a)(5) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
                (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)(5))).
                    (B) Tribal College or University (as defined in 
                section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 1059c(b))).
                    (C) Alaska Native-serving institution (as defined 
                in section 317(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
                (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b))).
                    (D) Native Hawaiian-serving institution (as defined 
                in section 317(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
                (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b))).
                    (E) Predominantly Black Institution (as defined in 
                section 318(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 1059e(b))).
                    (F) Native American-serving nontribal institution 
                (as defined in section 319(b) of the Higher Education 
                Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059f(b))).
                    (G) Asian American and Native American Pacific 
                Islander-serving institution (as defined in section 
                320(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                1059g(b))).
            (9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.
            (10) State workforce development board.--The term ``State 
        workforce development board'' means a State board, as defined 
        in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
        (29 U.S.C. 3102).
                                 <all>