[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 17 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
105th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 17
To consolidate certain Federal job training programs by developing a
system of vouchers to provide to dislocated workers and economically
disadvantaged adults the opportunity to choose the type of job training
that most closely meets the needs of such workers and adults, by
establishing a one-stop career center system to provide high quality
job training and employment-related services, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 21, 1997
Mr. Daschle (for himself, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Dodd, Ms.
Mikulski, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Kerry, Ms.
Moseley-Braun, Mr. Reid, and Mr. Lautenberg) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and
Human Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To consolidate certain Federal job training programs by developing a
system of vouchers to provide to dislocated workers and economically
disadvantaged adults the opportunity to choose the type of job training
that most closely meets the needs of such workers and adults, by
establishing a one-stop career center system to provide high quality
job training and employment-related services, 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 ``Working Americans
Opportunity Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
TITLE I--JOB TRAINING VOUCHERS
Sec. 101. Establishment.
Sec. 102. Individual choice.
Sec. 103. Eligibility.
Sec. 104. Obtaining a voucher.
Sec. 105. Oversight and accountability.
Sec. 106. Eligibility requirements for job training providers.
Sec. 107. Evaluation of voucher system.
Sec. 108. Apportionment of funds.
TITLE II--CONSOLIDATION OF FEDERAL JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS
Sec. 201. Consolidation of programs.
TITLE III--EMPLOYMENT-RELATED INFORMATION AND SERVICES THROUGH ONE-STOP
CAREER CENTERS
Sec. 301. One-stop career centers.
Sec. 302. Access to information.
Sec. 303. Direct loans to United States workers.
TITLE IV--REPORTS AND PLANS
Sec. 401. Consolidation and streamlining.
Sec. 402. Report relating to income support.
TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 501. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 502. Effective date.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) increasing international competition, technological
advances, and structural changes in the economy of the United
States present new challenges to private firms and public
policymakers in creating a skilled workforce with the ability
to adapt to change and progress;
(2) a substantial number of workers in the United States
lose jobs due to the constantly changing world and national
economies rather than cyclical downturns, with more than
2,000,000 full-time workers permanently displaced annually due
to plant closures, production cutbacks, and layoffs;
(3) the current response of the Federal Government to
dislocation and structural employment is a patchwork of
categorical programs, with varying eligibility requirements and
different sets of services and benefits;
(4) the lack of coherence among existing Federal job
training programs creates administrative and regulatory
obstacles that hamper the efforts of individuals who are
seeking new jobs or reemployment;
(5) enacted in 1944, the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of
1944 (commonly known as the ``G.I. Bill of Rights''), helped
millions of World War II veterans and, later, Korean and
Vietnam War veterans, finance college educations and assisted
in building the middle class of the United States;
(6) restructuring the current job training system, with
respect to dislocated and disadvantaged workers, in a manner
that is conceptually similar to the G.I. Bill of Rights will
help millions of workers in the United States to become more
competitive in today's dynamic world economy, in which most of the
workers--
(A) can expect to move to new jobs a number of
times, voluntarily or by layoff; and
(B) must upgrade their skills continuously;
(7) success in this ever-changing environment depends, in
part, on an individual's effective management of the
individual's career based on personal choice and reliable
information;
(8) there is insufficient job market information and
assistance regarding access to job training opportunities that
lead to good employment opportunities;
(9) only a small fraction of individuals eligible for
current Federal job training are now served, and by removing
obstacles and layers of administrative costs, more funds will
be made available to individuals to enable such individuals to
receive the job training of their choice; and
(10) while the Federal Government proceeds to create a new
marketplace for job training, the Federal Government must also
maintain a commitment to providing intensive services to assist
individuals who are economically disadvantaged adults.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to--
(1) enhance the choices available to dislocated workers,
and economically disadvantaged adults, who want to upgrade
their work skills and learn new skills to compete in a changing
economy;
(2) enable individuals to make choices that are best for
the careers of such individuals;
(3) consolidate job training programs and provide a simple
voucher system that relies on individual choice and provides
high quality job market information;
(4) allow an individual to tailor job training and
education to the personal needs of such individual so that such
individual may remain in long-term employment yet have the
means to be flexible when necessary; and
(5) create a system that provides timely and reliable
information to individuals to use to assist such individuals in
making the best choices with respect to the use of vouchers for
job training.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Act:
(1) Community-based organization.--The term ``community-
based organization'' means a private nonprofit organization
that--
(A) is representative of a community or a
significant segment of a community; and
(B) provides job training and employment-related
services.
(2) Dislocated worker.--
(A) In general.--The term ``dislocated worker''
means an individual who--
(i) has been terminated or laid off, or has
received a notice of termination or layoff,
from employment, is eligible for or has
exhausted entitlement to unemployment
compensation, and is unlikely to return to a
previous industry or occupation;
(ii) has been terminated or laid off, or
has received a notice of termination or layoff,
from employment as a result of any permanent
closure of, or any substantial layoff at, a
plant, facility, or enterprise;
(iii) has been unemployed long-term and has
limited opportunities for employment or
reemployment in the same or a similar
occupation in the area in which such individual
resides, including an older individual who may have substantial
barriers to employment by reason of age;
(iv) was self-employed (including a farmer,
a rancher, and a fisher) and is unemployed as a
result of general economic conditions in the
community in which such individual resides or
because of a natural disaster, subject to
regulations prescribed by the Secretary; or
(v) is an employee of the Department of
Defense or of a private defense contractor who
has been terminated or laid off, or has
received a notice of termination or layoff,
from employment as a result of the closure or
realignment of a military installation, or a
reduction in defense spending as determined by
the Secretary of Defense.
(B) Special rule for self-employed individuals.--
The Secretary of Labor shall establish categories of
self-employed individuals and of economic conditions
and natural disasters to which subparagraph (A)(iv)
applies.
(C) Special rule for displaced homemakers.--The
term ``dislocated worker'' shall, for the purpose of
applying provisions related to job training and
employment-related services under titles I and III
within a State, include a displaced homemaker (as
defined by the Secretary of Labor in regulation), if
the State determines that such definition of the term
is appropriate and will not adversely affect the
delivery of services to other dislocated workers in the
State.
(3) Economically disadvantaged adult.--The term
``economically disadvantaged adult'' means an individual who is
age 18 or older and who had received an income, or is a member
of a family that had received a total family income, for the 6-
month period prior to application for the activity involved
(exclusive of unemployment compensation, child support
payments, and welfare payments) that, in relation to family
size, does not exceed the higher of--
(A) the poverty line (as defined by the Office of
Management and Budget, and revised annually in
accordance with section 673(2) of the Community
Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)), for an
equivalent period; or
(B) 70 percent of the lower living standard income
level, for an equivalent period.
(4) Job training provider.--The term ``job training
provider'' means a public agency, private nonprofit
organization, or private for-profit entity that delivers job
training.
(5) Service delivery area.--The term ``service delivery
area'' means an area established under section 101 of the Job
Training Partnership Act (29 U.S.C. 1511).
(6) State.--The term ``State'', used to refer to a
jurisdiction, means any of the several States of the United
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa,
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic
of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia,
and the Republic of Palau.
(7) Workforce development entity.--The term ``workforce
development entity'' means a private industry council as
described in section 102 of the Job Training Partnership Act
(29 U.S.C. 1512), or such successor entity as may be
established by Federal statutory law specifically to serve as
such entity.
TITLE I--JOB TRAINING VOUCHERS
SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT.
The Secretary of Labor shall, pursuant to the requirements of this
title, establish a job training system that provides vouchers to
individuals for the purpose of enabling the individuals to obtain job
training.
SEC. 102. INDIVIDUAL CHOICE.
(a) In General.--Upon notification of approval of an application
submitted under section 104, an individual may receive a voucher for a
2-year period, beginning on the date on which the application is
approved.
(b) Use of Vouchers for Job Training.--
(1) In general.--An individual who is a recipient of a
voucher under subsection (a) may use such voucher to pay for
job training obtained from a job training provider that meets
the requirements of section 106.
(2) Authorized job training.--The job training described in
paragraph (1) may include training through--
(A) associate degree and nondegree programs at--
(i) two- and four-year colleges;
(ii) vocational and technical education
schools;
(iii) private for-profit and not-for-profit
training organizations;
(iv) public agencies and schools; and
(v) community-based organizations;
(B) employer work-based training programs; and
(C) in the case of individuals who are economically
disadvantaged adults, preemployment training programs.
SEC. 103. ELIGIBILITY.
An individual shall be eligible to receive a voucher under this
title if such individual is--
(1) a dislocated worker; or
(2) an economically disadvantaged adult.
SEC. 104. OBTAINING A VOUCHER.
(a) Application.--An individual who desires to receive a voucher
under this title shall submit an application to the State at such time,
in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the State may
reasonably require.
(b) Assistance to Applicants.--
(1) One-stop career centers.--Each one-stop career center
established under section 301 shall--
(A) provide applications for vouchers under this
title to interested individuals, assist such
individuals in completing such applications, and
collect completed applications for determination of
eligibility;
(B) provide performance-based information to the
applicants relating to job training providers eligible
to receive payment by vouchers in accordance with
section 106;
(C) provide information to the applicants on--
(i) the local economy and availability of
employment;
(ii) profiles of local industries; and
(iii) details of local labor market demand;
and
(D) carry out such other duties relating to the
voucher system as may be specified in regulations
issued by the Secretary of Labor.
(2) Conflict of interest standards.--The Secretary of Labor
shall issue regulations establishing procedures to ensure that
a one-stop career center that is operated by an entity that is
concurrently an eligible job training provider under the
voucher system provides information to the applicants relating
to the other eligible job training providers in the service
delivery area in an objective and equitable manner.
SEC. 105. OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 6 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall issue regulations
that--
(1) specify the--
(A) voucher application requirements;
(B) form of the vouchers;
(C) use of the vouchers;
(D) method of redemption of the vouchers;
(E) most expeditious and effective process of
distribution (consistent with the findings and purposes
of this Act) of the vouchers to eligible individuals;
and
(F) the arrangements necessary to phase in the
voucher system in each State in a timely manner;
(2) specify the duties and responsibilities of job training
providers under a voucher system under this title;
(3) specify the Federal and State responsibilities in
oversight of job training providers, including the enforcement
responsibilities and the determination of administrative costs
with respect to the voucher system under this title; and
(4) specify the manner in which economically disadvantaged
adults will receive adequate counseling and support services
necessary to take full advantage of voucher assistance under
this title.
(b) Public Comment.--In issuing regulations under subsection (a),
the Secretary of Labor shall provide an opportunity for comment from
the public, including the business community, labor organizations, and
community-based organizations.
SEC. 106. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR JOB TRAINING PROVIDERS.
(a) Eligibility Requirements.--A job training provider shall be
eligible to receive payment by vouchers under this title if such
provider--
(1) is--
(A) eligible to participate in programs under title
IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070
et seq.); or
(B) determined to be eligible under the procedure
described in subsection (b); and
(2) provides the performance-based information required
pursuant to subsection (c).
(b) Alternative Eligibility Procedure.--
(1) In general.--The State shall establish an alternative
eligibility procedure for job training providers desiring to
receive payment by vouchers under this title, but that are not
eligible to participate in programs under title IV of the
Higher Education Act of 1965.
(2) Procedure requirements.--In establishing the procedure
described in paragraph (1), the State shall establish minimum
acceptable levels of performance for job training providers
based on factors and guidelines developed by the Secretary of
Labor in consultation with the Secretary of Education. Such
factors shall be comparable in rigor and scope to the
provisions of part H of title IV of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1099a et seq.) that are used to determine the
eligibility of an institution of higher education to
participate in programs under such title and are appropriate to
the type of job training provider seeking eligibility under
this subsection and the nature of the job training to be
provided.
(3) Limitation.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the
participation of an institution of higher education in any of
the programs under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965
is terminated, such institution shall not be eligible to
receive funds under this title for a period of 2 years
beginning on the date of such termination.
(c) Performance-Based Information.--
(1) Contents.--The Secretary of Labor shall identify
performance-based information that is to be submitted by job
training providers desiring to receive payment by vouchers
under this title. Such information may include information
relating to--
(A) the percentage of students completing the
programs conducted by a job training provider;
(B) the rates of licensure of graduates of the
programs conducted by such job training provider;
(C) the percentage of graduates of the programs
conducted by such job training provider that meet
industry-specific skill standards;
(D) the rates of placement and retention in
employment, and earnings of, the graduates of the
programs conducted by such job training provider;
(E) the percentage of graduates of the programs
conducted by such job training provider who obtained
employment in an occupation related to such programs
conducted by such provider; and
(F) the warranties or guarantees provided by such
job training provider relating to the skill levels or
employment to be attained by graduates of the programs
conducted by such provider.
(2) Additions.--The State may, pursuant to the approval of
the Secretary of Labor, prescribe additional performance-based
information that shall be submitted by job training providers
pursuant to this subsection.
(d) Administration.--
(1) State agency.--The Governor shall designate a State
agency to collect, verify, and disseminate the performance-
based information submitted pursuant to subsection (c).
(2) Application.--A job training provider desiring to be
eligible to receive funds under this title shall submit the
information required under subsection (c) to the State agency
designated under paragraph (1) at such time and in such form as
such State agency may require.
(3) List of eligible providers.--The State agency
designated under paragraph (1) shall compile a list of eligible
job training providers, accompanied by the performance-based
information submitted, and disseminate such list and
information to the one-stop career centers established under
section 301, and other appropriate entities within the State.
(4) Accuracy of information.--
(A) In general.--If the State agency determines
that a job training provider submitted inaccurate
performance-based information under this subsection,
such provider shall be disqualified from receiving
funds under this title for a period of 2 years
beginning on the date of such determination, unless
such provider can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of
the State agency designated pursuant to paragraph (1),
that the information was provided in good faith.
(B) Appeal.--The State shall establish a procedure
for a job training provider to appeal a determination
by a State agency that results in a disqualification
under subparagraph (A). Such procedure shall provide an
opportunity for a hearing and include appropriate time
limits to ensure prompt resolution of the appeal.
(5) Assistance in developing information.--The State agency
designated under paragraph (1) may provide technical assistance
to a job training provider in developing the performance-based
information required under subsection (c). Such assistance may
include facilitating the utilization of State administrative
records, such as unemployment compensation wage records, and
conducting other appropriate coordination activities.
(6) Consultation.--The Secretary of Labor shall consult
with the Secretary of Education regarding the eligibility of
institutions of higher education to participate in programs
under this title.
SEC. 107. EVALUATION OF VOUCHER SYSTEM.
The Secretary of Labor shall annually--
(1) monitor the effectiveness of the voucher system;
(2) evaluate the benefit of such system to voucher
recipients under this title and the taxpayer; and
(3) submit information obtained from such evaluation to the
appropriate committees of Congress.
SEC. 108. APPORTIONMENT OF FUNDS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Labor shall, without in any way
reducing the commitment of, or the level of effort by, the Federal
Government to improve the job training, employment, and earnings of all
workers and jobseekers (particularly in hard-to-serve communities),
apportion sums appropriated under section 501 to each State for each
fiscal year in accordance with subsections (b) and (c), to enable
States and service delivery areas in the States to carry out this title
and title III.
(b) Allocation by Category.--
(1) Funding for dislocated workers.--From the sums
appropriated pursuant to section 501 for each fiscal year, the
Secretary of Labor shall determine the portion of the sums to
be made available for providing job training and employment-
related services for dislocated workers under this title and
title III, which shall be not less than the total amount made
available to the States for such purpose for fiscal year 1997.
The Secretary shall apportion such portion among the States,
based on consideration of factors described in subsection (c),
as appropriate.
(2) Funding for economically disadvantaged adults.--From
the sums appropriated pursuant to section 501 for each fiscal
year, the Secretary of Labor shall determine the portion of the
sums to be made available for providing job training and
employment-related services for economically disadvantaged
adults under this title and title III. The Secretary shall
apportion such total amount among the States, based on
consideration of factors described in subsection (c), as
appropriate.
(c) Consideration of Factors for Apportionment to States.--The
apportionment of the portions described in subsection (b) by the
Secretary to each State shall be based on the following factors:
(1) The relative number of unemployed individuals who
reside in each State as compared to the total number of
unemployed individuals in all the States.
(2) The relative excess number of unemployed individuals
who reside in each State as compared to the total excess number
of unemployed individuals in all the States.
(3) The relative number of individuals who have been
unemployed for 15 weeks or more and who reside in each State as
compared to the total number of such individuals in all the
States.
(4) The relative number of economically disadvantaged
adults who reside in each State as compared to the total number
of such adults in all the States.
(d) State Reserve.--
(1) Dislocated worker funds.--From the amount apportioned
to each State from the portion described in subsection (b)(1),
the State may reserve to carry out State activities, including
rapid response assistance (as described in section 314(b) of
the Job Training Partnership Act, as in existence on the date
of enactment of this Act (29 U.S.C. 1661c(b))) and State
administration, an amount that is not greater than the
proportion of funds reserved for State activities under title
III of the Job Training Partnership Act, as in existence on
such date (29 U.S.C. 1651 et seq.) for fiscal year 1997.
(2) Economically disadvantaged adults.--From the amount
apportioned to each State from the portion described in
subsection (b)(2), the State may reserve to carry out State
activities, including State administration, an amount that is
not greater than the proportion of funds reserved for State
activities under part A of title II of the Job Training
Partnership Act, as in existence on the date of enactment of
this Act (29 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) for fiscal year 1997.
(e) Consideration of Factors for Apportionment to Service Delivery
Areas.--The apportionment of amounts received by each State under
subsection (c), and not reserved under subsection (d), to service
delivery areas within such State shall be based on the following
factors:
(1) The relative number of unemployed individuals who
reside in each service delivery area within the State as
compared to the total number of unemployed individuals in all
such service delivery areas.
(2) The relative excess number of unemployed individuals
who reside in each service delivery area within the State as
compared to the total excess number of unemployed individuals
in all such service delivery areas.
(3) The relative number of individuals who have been
unemployed for 15 weeks or more and who reside in each service
delivery area within the State as compared to the total number
of such individuals in all such service delivery areas.
(4) The relative number of economically disadvantaged
adults who reside in each service delivery area within the
State as compared to the total number of such adults in all
such service delivery areas.
(f) Funds for Vouchers.--Not less than 75 percent of funds
apportioned to a service delivery area under subsection (e) and used
for job training under this Act by the service delivery area shall be
made available in the form of vouchers to individuals in such area who
are eligible under section 103.
(g) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term ``excess
number of unemployed individuals'' means the number that represents
unemployed individuals in excess of 4.5 percent of the civilian labor
force in a State or service delivery area, as appropriate.
TITLE II--CONSOLIDATION OF FEDERAL JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS
SEC. 201. CONSOLIDATION OF PROGRAMS.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the
consolidation and streamlining of Federal job training programs should
be accomplished without in any way reducing the commitment of, or the
level of effort provided by, the Federal Government to improve the job
training, employment, and earnings of all workers and jobseekers
(particularly in hard-to-serve communities).
(b) Repeals of Federal Job Training Programs.--The following
provisions are repealed:
(1) Section 6(d)(4) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
2015(d)(4)).
(2) Section 106(b)(7) of the Job Training Partnership Act
(29 U.S.C. 1516(b)(7)).
(3) Section 123 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1533).
(4) Section 204(d) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1604(d)).
(5) Part A of title II of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1601 et
seq.).
(6) Section 302(c) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1652(c)).
(7) Part A of title III of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1661 et
seq.).
(8) Section 325 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1662d).
(9) Section 325A of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1662d-1).
(10) Section 326 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1662e).
(11) Sections 301 through 303 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1651
et seq.).
(12) The Displaced Homemakers Self-Sufficiency Assistance
Act (29 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.).
(13) Subtitle C of title VII of the Stewart B. McKinney
Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11441 et seq.).
(14) Subchapter I of chapter 421 of title 49, United States
Code.
(15) Title II of Public Law 95-250 (92 Stat. 172).
TITLE III--EMPLOYMENT-RELATED INFORMATION AND SERVICES THROUGH ONE-STOP
CAREER CENTERS
SEC. 301. ONE-STOP CAREER CENTERS.
(a) Establishment.--Each service delivery area receiving funds
under this Act shall develop and implement a network of one-stop career
centers for the area to provide access for jobseekers, workers, and
businesses to a comprehensive array of high quality job training
described in section 102(b)(2) and employment-related services
(including provision of information) described in subsections (f) and
(g).
(b) Procedures.--Each workforce development entity for a service
delivery area, in conjunction with the appropriate local chief elected
official for the area, shall negotiate with the State a method for
establishing one-stop career centers (including designating one-stop
career center operators) for the area, consistent with criteria
established by the Secretary of Labor.
(c) Eligible Entities.--Each entity within the service delivery
area that provides the services specified in subsection (f) or (g)
shall be eligible to be designated as a one-stop career center
operator.
(d) Performance Standards.--The Secretary of Labor shall establish
a performance standard system for assessing the performance of each
one-stop career center operator.
(e) Period of Selection.--Each one-stop career center operator
shall be designated for 2-year period. Every 2 years, the workforce
development entity for a service delivery area shall reevaluate the
designation of one-stop career center operators for the area, based on
performance under the standards established under subsection (d).
(f) Employment-Related Services to Individuals.--Each one-stop
career center for a service delivery area may make available--
(1) outreach to make individuals aware of, and encourage
the use of, services available from workforce development
programs operating in the service delivery area;
(2) intake and orientation to the information and services
available through the one-stop career center;
(3) assistance in filing initial claims for unemployment
compensation;
(4) initial assessments (including appropriate testing) of
the skill levels and service needs of individuals, including
basic skills, occupational skills, work experience,
employability, interest, aptitude, and supportive service
needs;
(5) job search assistance, including resume and interview
preparation and workshops;
(6) information relating to the supply, demand, price, and
quality of job training available in each service delivery area
in the State involved, including performance-based information
provided pursuant to section 106(c);
(7) job market information, including--
(A) data on the local economy and availability of
employment;
(B) profiles of local industries;
(C) details of local labor market demand; and
(D) local demographic and socioeconomic
characteristics;
(8) referral to appropriate job training and employment
services, and to other services described in this subsection,
in the service delivery area;
(9) supportive services, including child care;
(10) job development; and
(11) counseling.
(g) Employment-Related Services to Employers.--Each one-stop career
center for a service delivery area may provide to employers, at the
request of the employers--
(1) information relating to supply, demand, price, and
quality of job training available in each service delivery area
in the State;
(2) customized screening and referral of individuals for
employment;
(3) customized assessment of skills of the workers of the
employer;
(4) an analysis of the skill needs of the employer; and
(5) other specialized employment and training services.
SEC. 302. ACCESS TO INFORMATION.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that accurate, timely, and relevant
data regarding employment, job training, job skills, and job training
opportunities are useful for individuals making choices about the
careers of such individuals.
(b) Authority.--The Secretary of Labor is authorized to make
arrangements to develop and provide through one-stop career centers and
other appropriate mechanisms relevant job market information to
interested individuals, including voucher recipients under title I,
jobseekers, employers, and workers.
SEC. 303. DIRECT LOANS TO UNITED STATES WORKERS.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that the William D. Ford Federal
Direct Loan Program authorized by part D of title IV of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq.), is a valuable
financing tool for United States workers who desire to take advantage
of training and education programs, consistent with the goals of such
workers, to learn new skills for careers that may bring higher salaries
and improved quality of life.
(b) Awareness.--The Department of Education shall endeavor to make
known the value and availability of direct loans through the William D.
Ford Federal Direct Loan Program authorized by part D of title IV of
the Higher Education Act of 1965 through cooperative arrangements with
one-stop career centers, training and educational training programs,
State agencies, and other Federal agencies.
TITLE IV--REPORTS AND PLANS
SEC. 401. CONSOLIDATION AND STREAMLINING.
(a) Report on Consolidating Noncovered Federal Job Training
Programs.--Not later than January 1, 1998, and each year thereafter,
the Secretary of Labor shall prepare and submit to Congress a report
that describes how additional Federal job training programs not covered
by this Act can be consolidated into a more integrated and accountable
workforce development system that better meets the needs of jobseekers,
workers, and business.
(b) Plan on Use of Common Definitions, Measures, Standards, and
Cycles.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of Labor shall develop a plan that, wherever
practicable, requires the Federal job training programs to use common
definitions, common outcome measures, common eligibility standards, and
common funding cycles in order to make such training programs more
accessible.
SEC. 402. REPORT RELATING TO INCOME SUPPORT.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) many dislocated workers and economically disadvantaged
adults are unable to enroll in long-term job training because
such workers and adults lack income support after unemployment
compensation is exhausted;
(2) evidence suggests that long-term job training is among
the most effective adjustment service in assisting dislocated
workers and economically disadvantaged adults to obtain
employment and enhance wages; and
(3) there is a need to identify options relating to how
income support may be provided to enable dislocated workers and
economically disadvantaged adults to participate in long-term
job training.
(b) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall prepare and submit to Congress a
report that--
(1) examines the need for income support to enable
dislocated workers and economically disadvantaged adults to
participate in long-term job training;
(2) identifies options relating to how such income support
may be provided to such workers and adults; and
(3) contains such recommendations as the Secretary of Labor
determines are appropriate.
TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 501. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry
out titles I and III such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal
years 1998 through 2002.
(b) Program Year.--Appropriations for any fiscal year for
activities carried out under this Act shall be available for obligation
only on the basis of a program year. The program year shall begin on
July 1 in the fiscal year for which the appropriation is made.
SEC. 502. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1998.
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