[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2847 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2847

 To amend the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to establish an energy 
        efficiency and renewable energy worker training program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 25, 2007

 Ms. Solis (for herself, Mr. Tierney, and Mr. McNerney) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and 
                                 Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to establish an energy 
        efficiency and renewable energy worker training program.

    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 ``Green Jobs Act of 2007''.

SEC. 2. ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM.

    Section 171 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 
2916) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Worker Training 
Program.--
            ``(1) Grant program.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 6 months after 
                the date of enactment of the Green Jobs Act of 2007, 
                the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of 
                Energy, shall establish an energy efficiency and 
                renewable energy worker training program under which 
                the Secretary shall carry out the activities described 
                in paragraph (2) to achieve the purposes of this 
                subsection.
                    ``(B) Eligibility.--For purposes of providing 
                assistance and services under the program established 
                under this subsection--
                            ``(i) target populations of eligible 
                        individuals to be given priority for training 
                        and other services shall include--
                                    ``(I) veterans, or past and present 
                                members of reserve components of the 
                                Armed Forces;
                                    ``(II) workers affected by national 
                                energy and environmental policy;
                                    ``(III) unemployed workers;
                                    ``(IV) individuals, including at-
                                risk youth, seeking employment pathways 
                                out of poverty and into economic self-
                                sufficiency;
                                    ``(V) formerly incarcerated, 
                                adjudicated, non-violent offenders; and
                                    ``(VI) individuals in need of 
                                updated training related to the energy 
                                efficiency and renewable energy 
                                industries; and
                            ``(ii) energy efficiency and renewable 
                        energy industries eligible to participate in a 
                        program under this subsection include--
                                    ``(I) the energy-efficient 
                                building, construction, and retrofits 
                                industries;
                                    ``(II) the renewable electric power 
                                industry;
                                    ``(III) the energy efficient and 
                                advanced drive train vehicle industry;
                                    ``(IV) the biofuels industry; and
                                    ``(V) the deconstruction and 
                                materials use industries.
            ``(2) Activities.--
                    ``(A) National research program.--Under the program 
                established under paragraph (1), the Secretary, acting 
                through the Bureau of Labor Statistics, shall collect 
                and analyze labor market data to track workforce trends 
                resulting from energy-related initiatives carried out 
                under this subsection. Activities carried out under 
                this paragraph shall include--
                            ``(i) linking research and development in 
                        renewable energy and energy efficiency 
                        technology with the development of standards 
                        and curricula for current and future jobs;
                            ``(ii) the tracking and documentation of 
                        academic and occupational competencies as well 
                        as future skill needs with respect to renewable 
                        energy and energy efficiency technology;
                            ``(iii) tracking and documentation of 
                        occupational information and workforce training 
                        data with respect to renewable energy and 
                        energy efficiency technology;
                            ``(iv) assessing new employment and work 
                        practices including career ladder and upgrade 
                        training as well as high performance work 
                        systems;
                            ``(v) collaborating with State agencies, 
                        workforce investments boards, industry, 
                        organized labor, and community and nonprofit 
                        organizations to disseminate successful 
                        innovations for labor market services and 
                        worker training with respect to renewable 
                        energy and energy efficiency technology;
                            ``(vi) serving as a clearinghouse for best 
                        practices in workforce development, job 
                        placement, and collaborative partnerships;
                            ``(vii) promoting the establishment of 
                        workforce training initiatives with respect to 
                        renewable energy and energy efficiency 
                        technologies; and
                            ``(viii) providing technical assistance and 
                        capacity building to national and state energy 
                        partnerships, including industry and labor 
                        representatives.
                    ``(B) National energy training partnership 
                grants.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Under the program 
                        established under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
                        shall award National Energy Training 
                        Partnerships Grants on a competitive basis to 
                        eligible entities to enable such entities to 
                        carry out national training that leads to 
                        economic self-sufficiency and to develop an 
                        energy efficiency and renewable energy 
                        industries workforce. Grants shall be awarded 
                        under this subparagraph so as to ensure 
                        geographic diversity with at least two grants 
                        awarded to entities located in each of the four 
                        Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts 
                        with no subdistricts, and at least one grant 
                        awarded to an entity located in each of the 
                        subdistricts of the Petroleum Administration 
                        for Defense District with subdistricts, as such 
                        districts are established by the Secretary of 
                        Energy.
                            ``(ii) Eligibility.--To be eligible to 
                        receive a grant under clause (i), an entity 
                        shall be a non-profit partnership that--
                                    ``(I) includes the equal 
                                participation of industry, including 
                                public or private employers, and labor 
                                organizations, including joint labor-
                                management training programs, and may 
                                include community-based organizations, 
                                educational institutions, small 
                                businesses, cooperatives, State and 
                                local veterans agencies, and veterans 
                                service organizations; and
                                    ``(II) demonstrates--
                                            ``(aa) experience in 
                                        implementing and operating 
                                        worker skills training and 
                                        education programs;
                                            ``(bb) the ability to 
                                        identify and involve in 
                                        training programs carried out 
                                        under this grant, target 
                                        populations of workers who are, 
                                        or will be engaged in, 
                                        activities related to energy 
                                        efficiency and renewable energy 
                                        industries; and
                                            ``(cc) the ability to help 
                                        workers achieve economic self-
                                        sufficiency.
                            ``(iii) Activities.--Activities to be 
                        carried out under a grant under this 
                        subparagraph may include--
                                    ``(I) the provision of occupational 
                                skills training, including curriculum 
                                development, on-the-job training, and 
                                classroom training;
                                    ``(II) the provision of safety and 
                                health training;
                                    ``(III) the provision of basic 
                                skills, literacy, GED, English as a 
                                second language, and job readiness 
                                training;
                                    ``(IV) individual referral and 
                                tuition assistance for a community 
                                college training program;
                                    ``(V) the provision of customized 
                                training in conjunction with an 
                                existing registered apprenticeship 
                                program or labor-management 
                                partnership;
                                    ``(VI) the provision of career 
                                ladder and upgrade training;
                                    ``(VII) the implementation of 
                                transitional jobs strategies; and
                                    ``(VIII) the provision of 
                                supportive services.
                    ``(C) State labor market research, information, and 
                labor exchange research program.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Under the program 
                        established under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
                        shall award competitive grants to States to 
                        enable such States to administer labor market 
                        and labor exchange information programs that 
                        include the implementation of the activities 
                        described in clause (ii).
                            ``(ii) Activities.--A State shall use 
                        amounts awarded under a grant under this 
                        subparagraph to provide funding to the State 
                        agency that administers the Wagner-Peyser Act 
                        and State unemployment compensation programs to 
                        carry out the following activities using State 
                        agency merit staff:
                                    ``(I) The identification of job 
                                openings in the renewable energy and 
                                energy efficiency sector.
                                    ``(II) The administration of skill 
                                and aptitude testing and assessment for 
                                workers.
                                    ``(III) The counseling, case 
                                management, and referral of qualified 
                                job seekers to openings and training 
                                programs, including energy efficiency 
                                and renewable energy training programs.
                    ``(D) State energy training partnership program.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Under the program 
                        established under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
                        shall award competitive grants to States to 
                        enable such States to administer renewable 
                        energy and energy efficiency workforce 
                        development programs that include the 
                        implementation of the activities described in 
                        clause (ii).
                            ``(ii) Activities.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--A State shall 
                                use amounts awarded under a grant under 
                                this subparagraph to award competitive 
                                grants to eligible State Energy Sector 
                                Partnerships to enable such 
                                Partnerships to coordinate with 
                                existing apprenticeship and labor 
                                management training programs and 
                                implement training programs that lead 
                                to the economic self-sufficiency of 
                                trainees.
                                    ``(II) Eligibility.--To be eligible 
                                to receive a grant under this 
                                subparagraph, a State Energy Sector 
                                Partnership shall--
                                            ``(aa) consist of non-
                                        profit organizations that 
                                        include equal participation 
                                        from industry, including public 
                                        or private nonprofit employers, 
                                        and labor organizations, 
                                        including joint labor-
                                        management training programs, 
                                        and may include representatives 
                                        from local governments, worker 
                                        investment agency one-stop 
                                        career centers, community based 
                                        organizations, community 
                                        colleges, and other post-
                                        secondary institutions, small 
                                        businesses, cooperatives, State 
                                        and local veterans agencies, 
                                        and veterans service 
                                        organizations;
                                            ``(bb) demonstrate 
                                        experience in implementing and 
                                        operating worker skills 
                                        training and education 
                                        programs; and
                                            ``(cc) demonstrate the 
                                        ability to identify and involve 
                                        in training programs, target 
                                        populations of workers who are, 
                                        or will be engaged in, 
                                        activities related to energy 
                                        efficiency and renewable energy 
                                        industries.
                            ``(iii) Priority.--In awarding grants under 
                        this subparagraph, the Secretary shall give 
                        priority to States that demonstrate that 
                        activities under the grant--
                                    ``(I) meet national energy policies 
                                associated with energy efficiency, 
                                renewable energy, and the reduction of 
                                emissions of greenhouse gases; and
                                    ``(II) meet State energy policies 
                                associated with energy efficiency, 
                                renewable energy, and the reduction of 
                                emissions of greenhouse gases.
                            ``(iv) Coordination.--A grantee under this 
                        subparagraph shall coordinate activities 
                        carried out under the grant with existing 
                        apprenticeship and labor management training 
                        programs and implement training programs that 
                        lead to the economic self-sufficiency of 
                        trainees, including providing--
                                    ``(I) outreach and recruitment 
                                services, in coordination with the 
                                appropriate State agency;
                                    ``(II) occupational skills 
                                training, including curriculum 
                                development, on-the-job training, and 
                                classroom training;
                                    ``(III) safety and health training;
                                    ``(IV) basic skills, literacy, GED, 
                                English as a second language, and job 
                                readiness training;
                                    ``(V) individual referral and 
                                tuition assistance for a community 
                                college training program;
                                    ``(VI) customized training in 
                                conjunction with an existing registered 
                                apprenticeship program or labor-
                                management partnership;
                                    ``(VII) career ladder and upgrade 
                                training;
                                    ``(VIII) services under 
                                transitional jobs strategies; and
                                    ``(IX) supportive services.
                    ``(E) Pathways out of poverty demonstration 
                program.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Under the program 
                        established under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
                        shall award at least 10 competitive grants to 
                        eligible entities to enable such entities to 
                        carry out training that leads to economic self-
                        sufficiency. The Secretary shall give priority 
                        to entities that serve individuals in families 
                        with income of less than 200 percent of the 
                        poverty threshold (as determined by the Bureau 
                        of the Census) or a self-sufficiency standard 
                        for the local areas where the training is 
                        conducted that specifies the income needs of 
                        families, by family size, the number and ages 
                        of children in the family, and sub-State 
                        geographical considerations. Grants shall be 
                        awards to ensure geographic diversity.
                            ``(ii) Eligible entities.--To be eligible 
                        to receive a grant an entity shall be a 
                        partnership that--
                                    ``(I) includes community-based non-
                                profit organizations and educational 
                                institutions with expertise in serving 
                                low-income adults or youth, public or 
                                private employers from the industry 
                                sectors described in paragraph 
                                (1)(B)(ii), labor organizations 
                                representing workers in such industry 
                                sectors;
                                    ``(II) demonstrates experience in 
                                implementing and operating worker 
                                skills training and education programs; 
                                and
                                    ``(III) demonstrates the ability to 
                                recruit individuals for training and to 
                                support such individuals to successful 
                                completion in training programs carried 
                                out under this grant, targeting 
                                populations of workers who are or will 
                                be engaged in activities related to 
                                energy efficiency and renewable energy 
                                industries.
                            ``(iii) Priorities.--In awarding grants 
                        under this paragraph, the Secretary shall give 
                        priority to applicants that--
                                    ``(I) target programs to benefit 
                                low-income workers, unemployed youth 
                                and adults, high school dropouts, or 
                                other underserved sectors of the 
                                workforce within areas of high poverty;
                                    ``(II) ensure that supportive 
                                services are integrated with education 
                                and training, and delivered by 
                                organizations with direct access to and 
                                experience with targeted populations;
                                    ``(III) leverage additional public 
                                and private resources to fund training 
                                programs, including cash or in-kind 
                                matches from participating employers;
                                    ``(IV) involve employers and labor 
                                organizations in the determination of 
                                relevant skills and competencies and 
                                ensure that the certificates or 
                                credentials that result from the 
                                training are employer-recognized;
                                    ``(V) deliver courses at 
                                alternative times (such as evening and 
                                weekend programs) and locations most 
                                convenient and accessible to 
                                participants; and
                                    ``(VI) link adult remedial 
                                education with occupational skills 
                                training.
                            ``(iv) Activities.--Activities to be 
                        carried out may include--
                                    ``(I) outreach, recruitment, career 
                                guidance, counseling, and case 
                                management services;
                                    ``(II) occupational skills 
                                training, on-the-job training, 
                                customized training, and classroom 
                                training;
                                    ``(III) supportive services;
                                    ``(IV) basic skills, literacy, GED, 
                                English as a second language, and job 
                                readiness training;
                                    ``(V) career ladder and upgrade 
                                training; and
                                    ``(VI) transitional jobs 
                                strategies.
                            ``(v) Data collection.--Grantees shall 
                        collect and report the following information:
                                    ``(I) The number of participants.
                                    ``(II) The demographic 
                                characteristics of participants, 
                                including race, gender, age, parenting 
                                status, participation in other Federal 
                                programs, education and literacy level 
                                at entry, significant barriers to 
                                employment (such as limited English 
                                proficiency, criminal record, addiction 
                                or mental health problem requiring 
                                treatment, or mental disability).
                                    ``(III) The services received by 
                                participants, including training, 
                                education, and supportive services.
                                    ``(IV) The amount of program 
                                spending per participant.
                                    ``(V) Program completion rates.
                                    ``(VI) Other factors determined as 
                                significantly interfering with program 
                                participation or completion.
                                    ``(VII) The rate of Job placement 
                                and the rate of employment retention 
                                after 1 year.
                                    ``(VIII) The average wage at 
                                placement, including any benefits, and 
                                the rate of average wage increase after 
                                1 year.
                                    ``(IX) Any post-employment 
                                supportive services provided.
                        The Secretary shall assist grantees in the 
                        collection of data under this clause by making 
                        available, where practicable, low-cost means of 
                        tracking the labor market outcomes of 
                        participants.
            ``(3) Worker protections and nondiscrimination 
        requirements.--
                    ``(A) Application of wia.--The provisions of 
                sections 181 and 188 of the Workforce Investment Act of 
                1998 (29 U.S.C. 2931 and 2938) shall apply to all 
                programs carried out with assistance under this 
                subsection.
                    ``(B) Consultation with labor organizations.--If a 
                labor organization represents a substantial number of 
                workers who are engaged in similar work or training in 
                an area that is the same as the area that is proposed 
                to be funded under this Act, the labor organization 
                shall be provided an opportunity to be consulted and to 
                submit comments in regard to such a proposal.
            ``(4) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
        enactment of the Green Jobs Act of 2007, the Secretary shall 
        transmit a report to Congress on the training program 
        established by this subsection. The report shall include a 
        description of the entities receiving funding and the 
        activities carried out by such entities, and an assessment of 
        the results achieved by the program.
            ``(5) Definition.--As used in this subsection, the term 
        `renewable energy' has the meaning given such term in section 
        203(b)(2) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58).
            ``(6) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this subsection, $125,000,000 
        for each fiscal years, of which--
                    ``(A) not to exceed 20 percent of the amount 
                appropriated in each such fiscal year shall be made 
                available for, and shall be equally divided between, 
                national labor market research and information under 
                paragraph (2)(A) and State labor market information and 
                labor exchange research under paragraph (2)(C);
                    ``(B) 20 percent shall be dedicated to Pathways Out 
                of Poverty Demonstration Programs under paragraph 
                (2)(E); and
                    ``(C) the remainder shall be divided equally 
                between National Energy Partnership Training Grants 
                under paragraph (2)(B) and State energy training 
                partnership grants under paragraph (2)(D).''.
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