Short title

This Act may be cited as the

American Manufacturing Efficiency and Retraining Investment Collaboration Achievement Works Act

AMERICA Works Act

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)Recent data show that United States manufacturing companies cannot fill as many as 600,000 skilled positions, even as unemployment numbers hover at historically high levels. (2)The unfilled positions are mainly in the skilled production category, and in occupations such as machinist, operator, craft worker, distributor, or technician. (3)In less than 20 years, an overall loss of expertise and management skill is expected to result from the gradual departure from the workplace of 77,200,000 workers. (4)Postsecondary success and workforce readiness can be achieved through attainment of a recognized postsecondary credential. (5)According to the January 2011 Computing Technology Industry Association report entitled Employer Perceptions of Information Technology Training and Certification, 64 percent of hiring information technology managers rate information technology certifications as having extremely high or high value in validating information technology skills and expertise. The value of those certifications is rated highest among senior information technology managers, such as Chief Information Officers, and managers of medium-size firms.

Industry-recognized and nationally portable credentials for job training programs

(a)

Workforce Investment Act of 1998

(1)

Youth activities

Section 129(c)(1)(C) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2854(c)(1)(C)) is amended— (A)by redesignating clauses (ii) through (iv) as clauses (iii) through (v), respectively; and (B)inserting after clause (i) the following:

(ii)training (which may include priority consideration for training programs that lead to recognized postsecondary credentials (as defined in section 4 of the AMERICA Works Act) that are aligned with in-demand occupations or industries in the local area involved, if the local board determines that the programs meet the quality criteria described in section 123);

(2)

General employment and training activities

Section 134(d)(4)(F) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2864(d)(4)(F)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(iv)

Programs that lead to an industry-recognized and nationally portable credential

In assisting individuals in selecting programs of training services under this section, a one-stop operator and employees of a one-stop center referred to in subsection (c) may give priority consideration to programs (approved in conjunction with eligibility decisions made under section 122) that lead to recognized postsecondary credentials (as defined in section 4 of the AMERICA Works Act) that are aligned with in-demand occupations or industries in the local area involved.

(3)

Criteria

(A)

General employment and training activities

Section 122(b)(2)(D) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2842(b)(2)(D)) is amended— (i)in clause (ii), by striking and at the end; (ii)in clause (iii), by striking the period and inserting ; and; and (iii)by adding at the end the following:

(iv)in the case of a provider of a program of training services that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential (as defined in section 4 of the AMERICA Works Act), that the program leading to the credential meets such quality criteria as the Governor shall establish.

(B)

Youth activities

Section 123 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2843) by inserting (including such quality criteria as the Governor shall establish for a training program that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential (as defined in section 4 of the AMERICA Works Act)) after plan. (b)

Career and technical education

(1)

State plan

Section 122(c)(1)(B) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2342(c)(1)(B)) is amended— (A)by striking (B) how and inserting (B)(i) how; (B)by inserting and after the semicolon; and (C)by adding at the end the following

(ii)in the case of an eligible entity that, in developing and implementing programs of study leading to recognized postsecondary credentials, desires to give a priority to such programs that are aligned with in-demand occupations or industries in the area served (as determined by the eligible agency) and that may provide a basis for additional credentials, certificates, or degree, how the entity will do so;

(2)

Use of local funds

Section 134(b) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2354(b)) is amended— (A)in paragraph (11), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon; (B)in paragraph (12)(B), by striking the period and inserting ; and; and (C)by adding at the end the following:

(13)describe the career and technical education activities supporting the attainment of recognized postsecondary credentials (as defined in section 4 of the AMERICA Works Act), and, in the case of an eligible recipient that desires to provide priority consideration to certain programs of study in accordance with the State plan under section 122(c)(1)(B), how the eligible recipient will give priority consideration to such activities.

(3)

Tech-prep programs

Section 203(c)(2)(E) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2373(c)(2)(E)) is amended by striking industry-recognized credential, a certificate, and inserting recognized postsecondary credential (as defined in section 4 of the AMERICA Works Act and approved by the eligible agency),. (c)

Training programs under TAA

Section 236(a) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2296(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(12)In approving training programs for adversely affected workers and adversely affected incumbent workers under paragraph (1), the Secretary may give priority consideration to workers seeking training through programs that are approved in conjunction with eligibility decisions made under section 122 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2842), and that lead to recognized postsecondary credentials (as defined in section 4 of the AMERICA Works Act) that are aligned with in-demand occupations or industries in the local area (defined for purposes of title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.)) involved.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Industry-recognized

The term industry-recognized, used with respect to a credential, means a credential that— (A)is sought or accepted by employers within the industry sector involved as recognized, preferred, or required for recruitment, screening, hiring, or advancement; (B)is endorsed by a recognized trade or professional association or organization, representing a significant part of the industry sector; and (C)is a nationally portable credential, meaning a credential that is sought or accepted, across multiple States, as described in subparagraph (A). (2)

Recognized postsecondary credential

The term recognized postsecondary credential means a credential consisting of an industry-recognized credential for postsecondary training, a certificate that meets the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (C) of paragraph (1) for postsecondary training, a certificate of completion of a postsecondary apprenticeship through a program described in section 122(a)(2)(B) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2842(a)(2)(B)), or an associate degree or baccalaureate degree awarded by an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))).

Effective Date

This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, take effect 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act.