[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1344 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1344

 To provide training and technical assistance to Native Americans who 
         are interested in commercial vehicle driving careers.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 2, 2001

 Mr. Campbell introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
              referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide training and technical assistance to Native Americans who 
         are interested in commercial vehicle driving careers.

    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 ``Native American Commercial Driving 
Training and Technical Assistance Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Despite the availability of abundant natural resources 
        on Indian lands and a rich cultural legacy that accords great 
        value to self-determination, self-reliance, and independence, 
        Native Americans suffer higher rates of unemployment, poverty, 
        poor health, substandard housing, and associated social ills 
        than those of any other group in the United States.
            (2) The United States has an obligation to assist Indian 
        tribes with the creation of appropriate economic and political 
        conditions.
            (3) The economic success and material well-being of Native 
        American communities depends on the combined efforts of the 
        Federal Government, tribal governments, the private sector, and 
        individuals.
            (4) Two tribally controlled community colleges, D-Q 
        University in the State of California and Fort Peck Community 
        College in the State of Montana, currently offer commercial 
        vehicle driving programs.
            (5) The American Trucking Association reports that at least 
        until the year 2005, the trucking industry will need to hire 
        403,000 truck drivers each year to fill empty positions.
            (6) According to the Federal Government Occupational 
        Handbook the commercial driving industry is expected to 
        increase about as fast as the average for all occupations 
        through the year 2008 as the economy grows and the amount of 
        freight carried by trucks increases.
            (7) A career in commercial vehicle driving offers a 
        competitive salary, employment benefits, job security, and a 
        profession.
    (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act--
            (1) to foster and promote job creation and economic 
        opportunities for Native Americans; and
            (2) to provide education, technical, and training 
        assistance to Native Americans who are interested in a 
        commercial vehicle driving career.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Commercial vehicle driving.--The term ``commercial 
        vehicle driving'' means the driving of a vehicle which is a 
        tractor-trailer truck.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Labor.

SEC. 4. COMMERCIAL VEHICLE DRIVING TRAINING PROGRAM.

    (a) Grants.--The Secretary may award 4 grants, on a competitive 
basis, to eligible entities to support programs providing training and 
certificates leading to the professional development of individuals 
with respect to commercial vehicle driving.
    (b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
subsection (a), an entity shall--
            (1) be a tribally-controlled community college or 
        university (as defined in section 2 of the Tribally-Controlled 
        Community College or University Assistance Act of 1978 (25 
        U.S.C. 1801)); and
            (2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at 
        such time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
        the Secretary may require.
    (c) Priority.--In awarding grants under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall give priority to--
            (1) grant applications that propose training that exceeds 
        the United States Department of Transportation's Proposed 
        Minimum Standards for Training Tractor-Trailer Drivers; and
            (2) grant applications that propose training that exceeds 
        the entry level truck driver certification standards set by the 
        Professional Truck Driver Institute.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the Act.
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