21st Century Energy Workforce Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2449
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2018-02-15
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Advisory bodies

Alternative and renewable resources

Department of Energy

Elementary and secondary education

Employment and training programs

Energy storage, supplies, demand

Higher education

Indian social and development programs

Licensing and registrations

Manufacturing

Minority employment

Teaching, teachers, curricula

Unemployment

Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Women's employment
Latest action: action_date: 2018-02-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-02-15
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>21st Century Energy Workforce Act</b> <b>of 2018</b></p> <p>This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a 21st Century Energy Workforce Advisory Board to develop a strategy for the support and development of a skilled energy workforce.</p> <p>Based on the board's recommendations, DOE shall establish a clearinghouse to:</p> <ul> <li>maintain and update information and resources on training and workforce development programs for energy- and manufacturing-related jobs; and</li> <li>act as a resource and provide guidance for secondary schools, institutions of higher education (including community colleges and minority-serving institutions), and workforce development, labor management, and industry organizations that would like to develop and implement such related training programs. </li> </ul> <p>DOE shall also establish a pilot program to award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities for job training programs that lead to an industry-recognized credential.</p> <p>Grant amounts are limited to $2 million for any one fiscal year. The federal share of the cost of a job training and education program using a grant shall be up to 65%, while the non-federal share may not be less than 50% cash.</p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2449 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 15, 2018 Ms. Cantwell (for herself and Ms. Hirono ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To require the Secretary of Energy to establish the 21st Century Energy Workforce Advisory Board, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the 21st Century Energy Workforce Act of 2018 . 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Board The term Board means the 21st Century Energy Workforce Advisory Board established under section 3(a). (2) Department The term Department means the Department of Energy. (3) Indian tribe The term Indian tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 5304 ). (4) Minority-serving institution The term minority-serving institution means an institution of higher education eligible to receive funds under section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1067q(a) ). (5) National Laboratory The term National Laboratory has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 15801 ). (6) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy. 3. 21st Century Energy Workforce Advisory Board (a) Establishment The Secretary shall establish a board, to be known as the 21st Century Energy Workforce Advisory Board , to develop a strategy for the support and development of a skilled energy workforce that— (1) meets the current and future industry and labor needs of the energy sector; (2) provides opportunities for students to become qualified for placement in traditional energy sector and clean energy sector jobs; (3) aligns apprenticeship programs and workforce development programs to provide industry-recognized certifications and credentials; (4) encourages leaders in the education system of the United States to equip students with the skills, mentorships, training, and technical expertise necessary to fill the employment opportunities vital to managing and operating the energy- and manufacturing-related industries of the United States; (5) appropriately supports other Federal agencies; (6) strengthens and more fully engages workforce training programs of the Department and the National Laboratories in carrying out the Minorities in Energy Initiative of the Department and other Department workforce priorities; (7) supports the design and replication of existing model energy curricula, particularly in new and emerging technologies, that leads to industry-wide credentials; (8) develops plans to support and retrain displaced and unemployed energy sector workers; and (9) makes a Department priority to provide education and job training to underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, Indian tribes, women, veterans, and socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals. (b) Membership (1) In general The Board shall be composed of 9 members, with the initial members of the Board to be appointed by the Secretary not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act. (2) Nominations Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology shall nominate for appointment to the Board under paragraph (1) not fewer than 18 individuals who meet the qualifications described in paragraph (3). (3) Qualifications Each individual nominated for appointment to the Board under paragraph (1) shall— (A) be eminent in the field of economics or workforce development; (B) have expertise in relevant traditional energy industries or clean energy industries; (C) have expertise in secondary or postsecondary education; (D) have expertise in energy workforce development or apprentice programs of States or units of local government; (E) have expertise in relevant organized labor organizations; or (F) have expertise in bringing underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, women, veterans, and socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals, into the workforce. (4) Representation The membership of the Board shall be representative of the broad range of the energy industry, labor organizations, workforce development, education, minority participation, cybersecurity, and economics disciplines related to activities carried out under this section. (5) Limitation No individual shall be nominated for appointment to the Board who is an employee of an entity applying for a grant under section 4. (c) Advisory board review and recommendations (1) Determination by board In developing the strategy required under subsection (a), the Board shall— (A) determine whether there are opportunities to more effectively and efficiently use the capabilities of the Department in the development of a skilled energy workforce; (B) identify ways in which the Department could work with other relevant Federal agencies, States, units of local government, educational institutions, labor, and industry in the development of a skilled energy workforce; (C) identify ways in which the Department and National Laboratories can— (i) increase outreach to minority-serving institutions; and (ii) make resources available to increase the number of skilled minorities and women trained to go into the energy- and manufacturing-related sectors; (D) identify ways in which the Department and National Laboratories can— (i) increase outreach to displaced and unemployed energy sector workers; and (ii) make resources available to provide training to displaced and unemployed energy sector workers to reenter the energy workforce; and (E) identify the energy sectors in greatest need of workforce training and develop guidelines for the skills necessary to develop a workforce trained to work in those energy sectors. (2) Required analysis In developing the strategy required under subsection (a), the Board shall analyze the effectiveness of— (A) existing Department-directed support; and (B) developing energy workforce training programs. (3) Report Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Board is established under this section, and each year thereafter, the Board shall submit to the Secretary and Congress, and make public, a report containing, with respect to the strategy required under subsection (a)— (A) the findings of the Board; and (B) model energy curricula. (d) Report by Secretary Not later than 18 months after the date on which the Board is established under this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that— (1) describes whether the Secretary approves or disapproves the recommendations of the Board under subsection (c)(3); and (2) provides an implementation plan for recommendations approved by the Board under paragraph (1). (e) Clearinghouse Based on the recommendations of the Board under subsection (c)(3), the Secretary shall establish a clearinghouse— (1) to maintain and update information and resources on training and workforce development programs for energy- and manufacturing-related jobs; and (2) to act as a resource, and provide guidance, for secondary schools, institutions of higher education (including community colleges and minority-serving institutions), workforce development organizations, labor management organizations, and industry organizations that would like to develop and implement energy- and manufacturing-related training programs. (f) Outreach to minority-Serving institutions In developing the strategy under subsection (a), the Board shall— (1) give special consideration to increasing outreach to minority-serving institutions, including— (A) part B institutions (as defined in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1061 )); (B) Predominantly Black institutions (as defined in section 371(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1067q(c) )); (C) Hispanic-serving institutions (as defined in section 502(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1101a(a) )); and (D) Tribal Colleges or Universities (as defined in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1059c(b) )); (2) make resources available to minority-serving institutions with the objective of increasing the number of skilled minorities and women trained to go into the energy and manufacturing sectors; and (3) encourage industry to improve the opportunities for students of minority-serving institutions to participate in industry internships and cooperative work-study programs. (g) Sunset The Board shall remain in effect until September 30, 2022. 4. Energy workforce pilot grant program (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education, shall establish a pilot program to award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities for job training programs that lead to an industry-recognized credential. (b) Eligibility To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall be a public or nonprofit organization or a consortium of public or nonprofit organizations that— (1) includes an advisory board of proportional participation, as determined by the Secretary, of relevant organizations, including— (A) relevant energy industry organizations, including public and private employers; (B) labor organizations; (C) postsecondary education organizations; and (D) workforce development boards; (2) demonstrates experience in implementing and operating job training and education programs; (3) demonstrates the ability to recruit and support individuals who plan to work in the energy industry in the successful completion of relevant job training and education programs; and (4) provides students who complete the job training and education program with an industry-recognized credential. (c) Applications Eligible entities desiring a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (d) Priority In selecting eligible entities to receive grants under this section, the Secretary shall prioritize applicants that— (1) house the job training and education programs in— (A) a community college or other institution of higher education that includes basic science and math education in the curriculum of the community college or other institution of higher education; or (B) an apprenticeship program registered with the Department of Labor or a State (as defined in section 202 of the Energy Conservation and Production Act ( 42 U.S.C. 6802 )) (referred to in this section as a State ); (2) work with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs or veteran service organizations recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code, to transition members of the Armed Forces and veterans to careers in the energy sector; (3) work with— (A) Indian tribes; (B) tribal organizations (as defined in section 3765 of title 38, United States Code); and (C) Native American veterans (as defined in section 3765 of title 38, United States Code), including veterans who are a Descendant of a Native (as defined in section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1602 )); (4) apply as a State or regional consortia to leverage best practices already available in the State or region in which the community college or other institution of higher education is located; (5) have a State-supported entity included in the consortium applying for the grant; (6) include an apprenticeship program registered with the Department of Labor or a State as part of the job training and education program; (7) provide support services and career coaching; (8) provide introductory energy workforce development training; (9) work with minority-serving institutions to provide job training to increase the number of skilled minorities and women in the energy sector; or (10) provide job training for displaced and unemployed workers in the energy sector. (e) Additional consideration In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall consider regional diversity. (f) Limitation on applications An eligible entity may not submit, either individually or as part of a joint application, more than 1 application for a grant under this section during any 1 fiscal year. (g) Limitations on amount of grant The amount of an individual grant for any 1 fiscal year shall not exceed $2,000,000. (h) Cost sharing (1) Federal share The Federal share of the cost of a job training and education program carried out using a grant under this section shall be not greater than 65 percent. (2) Non-Federal share (A) In general The non-Federal share of the cost of a job training and education program carried out using a grant under this section shall consist of not less than 50 percent cash. (B) Limitation Not greater than 50 percent of the non-Federal contribution of the total cost of a job training and education program carried out using a grant under this section may be in the form of in-kind contributions of goods or services fairly valued. (i) Reduction of duplication Prior to submitting an application for a grant under this section, each applicant shall consult with the appropriate agencies of the Federal Government and coordinate the proposed activities of the applicant with existing State and local programs. (j) Direct assistance In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall provide direct assistance (including technical expertise, wraparound services, career coaching, mentorships, internships, and partnerships) to entities that receive a grant under this section. (k) Technical assistance The Secretary shall provide technical assistance and capacity building to national and State energy partnerships, including the entities described in subsection (b)(1), to leverage the existing job training and education programs of the Department. (l) Report The Secretary shall submit to Congress and make publicly available on the website of the Department an annual report on the program established under this section, including a description of— (1) the entities receiving grants; (2) the activities carried out using the grants; (3) best practices used to leverage the investment of the Federal Government; (4) the rate of employment for participants after completing a job training and education program carried out using a grant; and (5) an assessment of the results achieved by the program. (m) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022.