Title: Emergency Economic and Workforce System Resiliency Act
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
Emergency Economic and Workforce System Resiliency Act
This bill requires the Department of Labor to award to states (1) temporary five-year supplemental formula grants for emergency layoff aversion, workforce training, and other assistance to reduce and prevent unemployment and limit the impact of disruptions on labor markets; and (2) planning and implementation grants for innovative layoff aversion models. A state receiving a grant under the bill must establish an advisory council to oversee and assess the performance of activities carried out under such grants.
The bill also requires the Departments of Commerce and Labor to jointly establish a federal interagency task force to (1) identify any challenges that a state or local area receiving funds under this bill has had to overcome; (2) collect and disseminate best practices and develop and recommend policies at the federal level to support ongoing efforts to limit the impact of market disruptions on workers, employers, and industry sectors or occupations; (3) establish a framework for a state receiving a grant under the bill to measure employer satisfaction for activities funded under it; and (4) establish the minimum standards of job quality that an employer is required to meet as a condition of receiving assistance under the bill.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4490 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4490

   To direct the Secretary of Labor to award formula and competitive 
     grants for layoff aversion activities, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 16, 2021

   Mr. Smith of Washington introduced the following bill; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To direct the Secretary of Labor to award formula and competitive 
     grants for layoff aversion activities, 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 ``Emergency Economic and Workforce 
System Resiliency Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    (a) In General.--Except as otherwise provided, the terms used in 
this Act have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the 
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
    (b) Employee Ownership Trust.--The term ``employee ownership 
trust'' is an indirect form of employee ownership in which a trust 
holds a controlling stake in a company on behalf of all its employees 
and provides an incentive for owners to sell a controlling stake in 
their business.
    (c) Employee Stock Ownership Plan.--The term ``employee stock 
ownership plan'' has the meaning given the term in section 4975(e)(7) 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
    (d) Justice Impacted.--The term ``justice impacted'' means an 
individual that has been arrested or convicted of a crime, including an 
individual who is currently or formerly incarcerated.
    (e) Worker Cooperative.--The term ``worker cooperative'' means a 
values-driven business that puts worker and community benefit at the 
core of its purpose, and in which--
            (1) workers own the business and they participate in its 
        financial success on the basis of their labor contribution to 
        the cooperative; and
            (2) workers have representation on and vote for the board 
        of directors, adhering to the principle of one worker, one 
        vote.

TITLE I--SUPPLEMENTAL FORMULA GRANTS FOR EMERGENCY LAYOFF AVERSION AND 
                     WORKFORCE TRAINING ACTIVITIES

SEC. 101. FORMULA GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall award 5-year grants 
in accordance with subsection (b), to States to support efforts to--
            (1) reduce and prevent unemployment; and
            (2) limit the impact of disruptions (economic, pandemic-
        related, transitions of retiring business owners, automation-
        related, trade-related, or other forces) on labor markets.
    (b) State Allotments.--
            (1) In general.--From the amount appropriated under section 
        105, the Secretary shall--
                    (A) reserve not more than \1/4\ of 1 percent of 
                such amount to provide assistance to the outlying 
                areas; and
                    (B) make allotments to the States under paragraph 
                (2) to--
                            (i) make allocations under subsection (c); 
                        or
                            (ii) carry out the State activities 
                        described in subsection (d).
            (2) Allotments.--The Secretary shall make an allotment in 
        accordance with section 132(b)(1)(B)(ii) of the Workforce 
        Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3172(b)(1)(B)(ii)) to 
        each State that submits an State plan under section 103.
    (c) Within State Allocations.--The Governor of a State shall use 
not less than 60 percent of the allotment received under subsection 
(b)(2)--
            (1) to allocate funds to each local area in the State in 
        accordance with section 133(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Workforce 
        Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3173(b)(2)(A)(i)) to 
        carry out the activities under section 103, in accordance with 
        the State plan under section 102, and in consultation with the 
        State board; and
            (2) of which not more than 10 percent may be used for 
        administrative purposes.
    (d) State Activities.--The Governor of a State shall use the 
remaining amount of the allotment received under subsection (b)(2)--
            (1) to carry out the activities under section 103 in 
        accordance with the State plan under section 102, and in 
        consultation with the State board; and
            (2) of which not more than 10 percent may be used for 
        administrative purposes.

SEC. 102. STATE APPLICATIONS.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Submission by states.--To receive an allocation under 
        section 101, a State shall submit a State Workforce Economic 
        Recovery plan (in this Act referred to as a ``State plan''), 
        developed by or in consultation with the State board and 
        approved by the Governor, to the Secretary at such time and in 
        such manner as the Secretary may reasonably require, and 
        containing the information described in subsection (b).
            (2) Secretarial response.--Upon receipt of a State plan, 
        the Secretary shall--
                    (A) approve the State plan; or
                    (B) provide the State--
                            (i) with an explanation as to how the State 
                        plan does not meet the goals and requirements 
                        of the grant program under this title; and
                            (ii) with an opportunity to submit an 
                        updated State plan or to appeal the decision of 
                        the Secretary.
            (3) Resubmission.--
                    (A) Required state plan updates.--At the end of the 
                first 2-year period of the grant, a State shall--
                            (i) update the State plan to reflect 
                        changes in the labor market and other economic 
                        conditions affecting the implementation of the 
                        activities funded under the grant; and
                            (ii) submit to the Secretary such updated 
                        State plan modifications to the State plan.
                    (B) Authorized state plan updates.--A State may 
                submit to the Secretary any necessary updates to the 
                State plan at any point during the grant period.
    (b) Contents.--A State plan shall include the following:
            (1) A description of how the State plan is aligned with, 
        enhances, expands, or fills service gaps to the plan submitted 
        by the State under section 102 or 103 of the Workforce 
        Innovation and Opportunity Act 29 U.S.C. 3112, 313).
            (2) A State strategic vision, including --
                    (A) a summary of the State's goals--
                            (i) for preparing an educated and skilled 
                        workforce for meeting the skilled workforce 
                        needs of employers (particularly in existing 
                        and emerging in-demand industry sectors and 
                        occupations), an identification of the median 
                        income for in-demand sectors and occupations, 
                        and how the State will work to ensure worker 
                        access to jobs and industries with higher 
                        median wages, opportunities for workers to 
                        share in the ownership or profits of their 
                        companies, and high quality work environments;
                            (ii) for ensuring equitable access to 
                        quality jobs for all segments of the State's 
                        population, and the plan for promoting quality 
                        career pathways that lead to high quality jobs 
                        for displaced or incumbent workers; and
                            (iii) for offering retiring business owners 
                        or business owners planning to close their 
                        businesses opportunities to plan that 
                        transition in order to ensure the continuity of 
                        high quality jobs in the local economy; and
                    (B) the primary strategies that will be used to 
                achieve the State vision and goals, the proposed 
                service delivery infrastructure, and the timeline for 
                achieving such goals.
            (3) A description of the problems the State's proposed 
        activities aim to solve, and the reason for prioritizing 
        selected problem areas.
            (4) A description of how the State will build capacity 
        within the State's public higher education system (including 2-
        year and 4-year institutions) to support layoff aversion 
        activities, including by demonstrating how such system will be 
        utilized and expanded or enhanced to support new labor force 
        needs.
            (5) A description of how the State will collaborate with 
        other relevant State and local government entities, non-profit 
        entities, and other relevant groups identified by the State to 
        carry out activities under section 103, including the roles and 
        responsibilities of each entity that will participate in the 
        development, implementation, evaluation, and oversight of each 
        component of the State plan.
            (6) An employer engagement strategy that describes how 
        employers will be targeted and recruited to participate, and 
        any expectations for employer participation, such as cash or 
        in-kind contributions, wage release time for employees, 
        provision of on-site child care or financial support for child 
        care, employee participation incentives, work-based learning 
        opportunities, or loaned instructors.
            (7) A description of the data sources (commercial or 
        public) the State will use to identify growing, stable, and 
        declining businesses and industry sectors or occupations.
            (8) A description of how the State will prioritize 
        individuals with barriers to employment, people of color, 
        youth, immigrants, justice impacted adults, and individuals 
        experiencing pandemic-related job displacement.
            (9) A description of how the State will prioritize access 
        to high-quality jobs by establishing the standards of job 
        quality that an employer is required to meet as a condition of 
        receiving funds under this title, which--
                    (A) are consistent with the minimum standards 
                established by the Interagency Task Force under section 
                304, and a description of such standards; and
                    (B) include a defined livable wage for the State or 
                by subregion of the State.
            (10) Any other requirements as determined by the Secretary.

SEC. 103. USES OF FUNDS.

    (a) In General.--A State may use, or ensure that a local area uses, 
the funds awarded under this title for any of the following purposes:
            (1) Training and education opportunities.
            (2) Adult basic education.
            (3) Incumbent worker training.
            (4) Dislocated worker training.
            (5) On-the-job training.
            (6) Job seeking assistance.
            (7) Layoff aversion, in advance of the notice required 
        under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (29 
        U.S.C. 2101 et seq.), which may include assisting employers 
        with product diversification, market expansion, and improving 
        productivity.
            (8) Partnering with a community development financial 
        institution or other similar entity to provide entrepreneurial 
        development and coaching, low-interest loans with affordable 
        loan terms, or other assistance with starting up a new business 
        or preserving a business in financial distress.
            (9) Developing career pathway opportunities (including 
        through industry or sector partnerships) to in-demand high 
        quality jobs in coordination with employers, community-based 
        organizations, and State higher education systems, including 
        the State registered apprenticeship system.
            (10) Related instruction for pre-apprenticeship, registered 
        apprenticeship, or other work-based training in an occupational 
        pathway.
            (11) Funding existing or establishing new State or 
        nonprofit employee ownership resource centers or cooperative 
        development centers that offer educational and technical 
        assistance to retiring business owners, new entrepreneurs, or 
        worker groups for the purpose of using broad-based employee 
        share ownership in the form of employee stock ownership plans, 
        worker cooperatives, or employee ownership trusts, to allow 
        worker groups to buy out retiring business owners.
            (12) Capital for revolving loan funds managed by State or 
        non-profit entities that offer loans to allow worker groups to 
        buy out retiring business owners, worker groups, or 
        entrepreneurs looking to save a declining firm through 
        employee-ownership, or workers or using broad-based employee 
        share ownership in the form of employee stock ownership plans, 
        worker cooperatives, or employee ownership trusts.
            (13) Providing financial or other assistance to 
        participants, which will not reduce unemployment benefits, or 
        count towards income limits for other Federal or State means-
        tested programs.
    (b) Limitations.--No State or local area may use funds awarded 
under this title to--
            (1) recruit businesses, employees, or customers from 
        another State;
            (2) assist employers that do not meet the standards of job 
        quality under section 102(b)(9); or
            (3) assist proprietary institutions of higher education (as 
        defined in section 102(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
        (20 U.S.C. 1002(b)).

SEC. 104. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; NATIONAL REPOSITORY.

    (a) Reporting Requirements.--
            (1) States.--Each State that receives a grant under this 
        title shall submit to the Secretary an annual report that, to 
        the extent practicable integrates reporting requirements under 
        the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et 
        seq.) and includes--
                    (A) an evaluation--
                            (i) of the performance of the activities 
                        funded under the grant--
                                    (I) with respect to indicators of 
                                performance under section 116(b)(2)(A) 
                                of the Workforce Innovation and 
                                Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
                                3141(b)(2)(A)); and
                                    (II) with respect to meeting the 
                                goals of the State plan;
                            (ii) of the satisfaction of each employer 
                        receiving assistance under this title, on the 
                        basis of the satisfaction measurement framework 
                        as determined by the Interagency Task Force 
                        under section 301; and
                    (B) information on whether an employer that 
                received assistance under the grant provided health 
                benefits, paid sick leave, and paid family and medical 
                leave to their employees.
            (2) Secretary.--The Secretary shall submit a report to 
        Congress on an annual basis containing a summary of the reports 
        received under paragraph (1), including promising emerging 
        practices with respect to layoff aversion and job creation.
    (b) National Repository.--The Secretary shall, jointly with the 
Interagency Task Force established under title III, establish on a 
publicly accessible website, a national repository--
            (1) of data-driven, promising practices with respect to 
        layoff aversion and job creation based on the evaluations 
        described in subsection (a)(1); and
            (2) of recommendations for replicating and scaling up such 
        practices.

SEC. 105. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated $250,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2022 and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.

   TITLE II--COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR INNOVATIVE LAYOFF AVERSION MODELS

SEC. 201. COMPETITIVE GRANTS.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall award planning grants 
        and implementation grants, on a competitive basis and in 
        accordance with paragraph (2), to States for innovative layoff 
        aversion models.
            (2) Grant cycles.--In awarding grants under this title, the 
        Secretary shall award--
                    (A) a first cycle of grants that shall include--
                            (i) planning grants, which shall be used 
                        during the 18-month period beginning on the 
                        date on which the grants are awarded; and
                            (ii) implementation grants, which shall be 
                        used during the 5-year period beginning on the 
                        date on which the grants are awarded; and
                    (B) a second cycle of grants that shall be new 
                implementation grants--
                            (i) to States that used planning grants in 
                        accordance with subparagraph (A)(i); and
                            (ii) that shall be used during the 3.5-year 
                        period beginning on the date on which the 
                        grants are awarded.
    (b) Planning Grants.--
            (1) Applications.--
                    (A) In general.--To receive a planning grant under 
                this title, a State shall submit an application to the 
                Secretary, at such time and in such manner as the 
                Secretary may require, which shall include the 
                information described in subparagraph (B).
                    (B) Contents.--Each application shall include the 
                following:
                            (i) The need for a planning grant, and 
                        whether the State plans to submit an 
                        application for an implementation grant.
                            (ii) A description of the planning 
                        activities the State will carry out with the 
                        grant.
                            (iii) A description of each entity with 
                        which the State will coordinate to carry out 
                        such activities.
                            (iv) A description of the data sources 
                        (commercial or public) that the State plans to 
                        use to--
                                    (I) investigate in-demand, 
                                stagnant, and declining industry 
                                sectors or occupations and employers in 
                                the State;
                                    (II) determine the needs of 
                                underserved and underrepresented 
                                populations to obtain and retain high 
                                quality jobs; and
                                    (III) identify strategies and 
                                approaches to job creation and lay-off 
                                aversion.
                            (v) A list of individuals and 
                        organizations, including roles and 
                        responsibilities, of each member of the State 
                        grantee advisory council under title III.
                            (vi) Potential State administrative 
                        policies or other conditions that may support 
                        or impede implementation of new approaches to 
                        job creation and lay-off aversion.
            (2) Grant amount.--A planning grant under this title may 
        not be less than $75,000, and may not exceed $350,000 for a 
        State.
            (3) Uses of funds.--For a period that may not exceed 18 
        months after receipt of such grant, a State receiving a 
        planning grant shall use such grant to carry out at least one 
        of the following:
                    (A) To research, develop a proof of concept, or 
                pilot lay-off aversion and job creation strategies 
                prior to submission of an implementation grant 
                application under subsection (c), if the State plans to 
                apply for such a grant.
                    (B) To help support the modification or removal of 
                State administrative policy barriers to implementation 
                of job creation and lay-off aversion interventions.
    (c) Implementation Grants.--
            (1) Application process.--
                    (A) In general.--To receive an implementation grant 
                under this title, a State shall submit an application 
                to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
                containing the information described in subparagraph 
                (B).
                    (B) Contents.--Subject to subparagraph (C), each 
                application shall include the following:
                            (i) A description of the interventions that 
                        will be carried out including a minimum of one 
                        layoff aversion intervention aimed at a 
                        particular industry sector or occupation or 
                        segment of the workforce, or that is workforce 
                        system-wide, and the plan for deploying such 
                        interventions.
                            (ii) Projected performance goals for such 
                        interventions, and a timeline for achieving 
                        such goals.
                            (iii) An analysis of the need for the 
                        grant, the particular problems that will be 
                        addressed through such interventions, and the 
                        reasons for prioritizing such interventions.
                            (iv) A description of efforts already 
                        underway in the State and that have been 
                        previously implemented to create jobs or avert 
                        lay-offs, and a description of the success 
                        elements and lessons learned that have informed 
                        each type of intervention that will be funded 
                        under the grant.
                            (v) An identification of the State agency 
                        for fiscal and contract administration, and 
                        description of its management capacity.
                            (vi) A description of how the State will 
                        collaborate with relevant State and local 
                        government agencies, non-profit entities, 
                        business and employer partners, and any other 
                        groups determined relevant by the State, and 
                        the roles and responsibilities of each such 
                        entity, which may include small business 
                        development entities, economic development 
                        entities, job training entities, unemployment 
                        compensation entities, institutions of higher 
                        education (including 2-year public institutions 
                        of higher education), labor unions, business 
                        associations, community-based organizations, 
                        and American Job Centers and one-stop centers.
                            (vii) How the State will leverage State, 
                        local, and private resources from partnering 
                        entities, including the entities described in 
                        clause (vi).
                            (viii) A description of how the State will 
                        identify and prioritize individual workers at-
                        risk of layoffs and employers or industry 
                        sectors with the most significant risks for 
                        decline and individual workers at risk of 
                        layoffs.
                            (ix) A list of in-demand industry sectors 
                        or occupations that will be the target of the 
                        interventions, and the corresponding recognized 
                        postsecondary credentials necessary for workers 
                        to obtain jobs in such sectors or occupations, 
                        and how underrepresented populations and 
                        individuals with education and employment 
                        barriers will be supported to succeed in such 
                        sectors or occupations.
                            (x) A description of the recognized 
                        postsecondary credentials necessary for workers 
                        to obtain in-demand high quality jobs within 
                        targeted sectors or occupations, the 
                        corresponding education and training resources 
                        currently available to be leveraged, new 
                        education and training resources that must be 
                        developed, and the role of employers in helping 
                        to create the appropriate and adequate pipeline 
                        of workers with those credentials.
                            (xi) A list of individuals and 
                        organizations, including roles and 
                        responsibilities, of each member of the State 
                        advisory council under title III.
                            (xii) A description of how the State will 
                        prioritize access to high-quality jobs by 
                        establishing the standards of job quality that 
                        an employer is required to meet as a condition 
                        of receiving funds under this title, which are 
                        consistent with the minimum standards 
                        established by the Interagency Task Force under 
                        section 304, and a description of such 
                        standards.
                            (xiii) Any other information required by 
                        the Secretary.
                    (C) Simplified application process.--The Secretary 
                shall establish a simplified application process for 
                States that have received a planning grant under this 
                title who are seeking to apply for an implementation 
                grant.
            (2) Grant amount.--
                    (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), an 
                implementation grant under this title shall be made to 
                a State in an amount that is not less than $5,000,000 
                and not more than $20,000,000.
                    (B) Additional funds.--A State that is awarded an 
                implementation grant under this section for piloting 
                the following models may receive up to $5,000,000 in 
                additional funds:
                            (i) Establishing a State or local public 
                        holding company that invests and acquires 
                        ownership in distressed businesses to allow 
                        them to continue operating or reopen later.
                            (ii) Piloting a model that seeks to improve 
                        individual economic security through every 
                        stage of career life, particularly for workers 
                        who are left out of traditional unemployment 
                        insurance, benefits, or worker training and 
                        retraining programs such as independent 
                        contractors, gig-workers, business owners, and 
                        individuals who are caring for dependents or 
                        otherwise not working outside of the home. This 
                        may include efforts to provide broader lifelong 
                        access to income support, access to pensions or 
                        retirement savings accounts, health care 
                        benefits, paid family leave, medical leave, and 
                        other fringe benefits.
                            (iii) Establishing sector-based or labor-
                        management governance boards with shared 
                        oversight over a worker support fund. Worker 
                        support funds may be used to provide ongoing 
                        training and retraining opportunities, income 
                        support during unemployment, health insurance 
                        or other health and wellness benefits, flexible 
                        or compensation during alternative or flexible 
                        work schedules, paid sick leave or paid family 
                        leave, or other benefits as determined by the 
                        joint sector-based or worker-management 
                        governing body.
            (3) Priority.--In awarding implementation grants under this 
        Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Interagency Task 
        Force, shall prioritize the following States:
                    (A) States that demonstrate the greatest need.
                    (B) States that have the most thorough plans for 
                deploying interventions.
                    (C) States that prioritize individuals with 
                barriers to employment, people of color, immigrants, 
                youth, justice impacted individuals, or people 
                experiencing pandemic-related job displacement.
                    (D) States that are committed to forging career 
                pathways with employers that provide high quality jobs 
                (as defined by the State in section 102(b)(10)), or in 
                a case in which the State does not submit a State plan 
                under title I, as defined in accordance with the 
                requirements of section 102(b)(10).
                    (E) States that have the most thorough, actionable 
                and achievable plans for deploying interventions, and 
                present reliable and relevant evidence for the 
                interventions chosen.
    (d) Reporting Requirements.--
            (1) States.--Each State shall submit annual performance 
        reports to the Secretary that demonstrate how the grant funded 
        activities are performing with respect to indicators of 
        performance under section 116(b)(2)(A) of the Workforce 
        Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3141(b)(2)(A)), and 
        the business satisfaction measures established by Interagency 
        Task Force established under title IV.
            (2) Secretary.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress, a 
        report --
                    (A) on an annual basis, containing a summary of the 
                reports submitted under paragraph (1); and
                    (B) at the conclusion of each implementation grant 
                period, the results of a rigorous, independent 
                evaluation of the grants awarded under this title.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this title, $250,000,000--
            (1) of which up to 70 percent may be used to award the 
        first round of grants under subsection (a)(2)(A); and
            (2) of which any remaining funds shall be used to award a 
        second round of grants under subsection (a)(2)(B).

               TITLE III--STATE GRANTEE ADVISORY COUNSEL

SEC. 301. STATE GRANTEE ADVISOR COUNSEL.

    (a) In General.--Each State that receives a grant under title I or 
title II shall establish a State grantee advisory counsel.
    (b) Membership and Duties.--
            (1) In general.--The State board shall serve as the State 
        grantee advisory council and shall oversee and assess the 
        performance of the activities carried out under the grant 
        received under title I or II.
            (2) Other entities.--Representatives of the following 
        entities shall be invited to serve as a member of the State 
        grantee advisory council, if not a member of the State board:
                    (A) The State workforce system.
                    (B) The State unemployment compensation agency.
                    (C) The State higher education system, including 2-
                year public institutions of higher education.
                    (D) The State, local, or regional chambers of 
                commerce.
                    (E) Representatives of employer organizations.
                    (F) Representatives of labor organizations or joint 
                labor-management organizations.
                    (G) Community-based organizations.
                    (H) An established State-based employee ownership 
                center that offers education and technical assistance 
                to retiring business owners, worker groups, 
                entrepreneurs, or declining firms, for the purpose of 
                using broad-based employee share ownership in the form 
                of employee stock ownership plans, worker cooperatives, 
                or employee ownership trusts, to allow worker groups to 
                buy out businesses.
                    (I) Any other member relevant to the activities 
                carried out by the State under the grant awarded under 
                title I or II.

                    TITLE IV--INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE

SEC. 401. PURPOSES.

    Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretaries of Commerce and Labor (in this title referred to as the 
``Secretaries'') shall, jointly, assemble a Federal interagency task 
force to--
            (1) identify any challenges that a State or local area 
        receiving funds under this Act has had to overcome; and
            (2) collect and disseminate best practices, and develop and 
        recommend policies at the Federal level to support ongoing 
        efforts to limit the impact of market disruptions on workers, 
        employers, and industry sectors or occupations, particularly 
        with respect to individuals with barriers to employment, people 
        of color, youth, immigrants, justice impacted individuals, and 
        people experiencing pandemic-related job displacement;
            (3) establish a framework for a State receiving a grant 
        under this Act to measure employer satisfaction with respect to 
        activities funded under this Act; and
            (4) establish the minimum standards of job quality that an 
        employer is required to meet as a condition of receiving 
        assistance under this Act, which shall consider the following:
                    (A) Whether the employer provides wages at or above 
                the minimum living wage standards for States and 
                localities determined by research centers at public or 
                private non-profit institutions of higher education or 
                think tanks. Living wage models used by the Interagency 
                Task Force must use a market-based approach that 
                utilizes geographically specific expenditure data 
                related to a household's expected minimum food, child 
                care, health insurance, housing, transportation, and 
                other basic needs costs.
                    (B) Whether the employer provides access to ongoing 
                training and advancement opportunities.
                    (C) Whether the employer provides paid sick days, 
                paid family leave, or paid medical leave or short-term 
                disability leave.
                    (D) Whether the employer provides adequate hours 
                and predictable schedules.

SEC. 402. COMPOSITION.

    The Secretaries shall appoint the following individuals to serve as 
members of the Task Force:
            (1) The Secretary of Labor.
            (2) The head of the Employment and Training Administration 
        of the Department of Labor.
            (3) The Administrator of the Economic Development 
        Administration of the Department of Commerce.
            (4) The Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
            (5) The Director of the Community Development Financial 
        Institutions Fund.
            (6) The Administrator of the Office of Career, Technical, 
        and Adult Education of the Department of Education.
            (7) The Administrator of the Office of Postsecondary 
        Education at the Department of Education.
            (8) A representative from the Employment and Training 
        Administration.

SEC. 403. MEETINGS.

    The Interagency Task Force shall meet at least on an annual basis 
until the date on which the Task Force is terminated to evaluate the 
activities being carried out by each State receiving a grant grantees 
under this Act and impact of those activities on employers, incumbent 
workers, and job-seekers, including the effectiveness of such 
activities--
            (1) in keeping workers employed in high quality jobs;
            (2) helping workers transition smoothly to high quality in-
        demand jobs during economic disruption;
            (3) improving firm resiliency during economic disruption; 
        and
            (4) expanding the number of jobs available in high-quality 
        in-demand industry sectors and occupations.

SEC. 404. REPORT.

    Not later than 1 year after the funds awarded under the final grant 
under this Act are expended, the Interagency Task Force shall submit a 
report to Congress detailing recommendations for a Federal program 
based on the most promising practices carried out with the funds 
awarded under titles I and II.

SEC. 405. SUNSET.

    The Interagency Task Force shall terminate after submitting its 
final report under section 404.
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