[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 341 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 341

 To amend the Economic Adjustment Assistance grant program to improve 
 assistance for areas affected by long-term economic deterioration and 
  severe economic dislocation relating to the manufacturing industry 
  sector, to amend the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to expand the 
       national emergency grants program, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 28, 2009

 Ms. Stabenow introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Economic Adjustment Assistance grant program to improve 
 assistance for areas affected by long-term economic deterioration and 
  severe economic dislocation relating to the manufacturing industry 
  sector, to amend the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to expand the 
       national emergency grants program, 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 ``Main Street 
Manufacturing Communities Reinvestment Act of 2009''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
                TITLE I--ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE

Sec. 101. Enhancement of Economic Adjustment Assistance grant program.
          TITLE II--EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO DISPLACED WORKERS

Sec. 201. National emergency grants for manufacturing workers.
Sec. 202. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 203. Conforming amendments.
   TITLE III--INCREASING TECHNOLOGICAL SKILLS OF AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY 
     WORKERS IN MANUFACTURING NEW TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED, ENERGY 
          EFFICIENT, AND RENEWABLE FUEL POWERED MOTOR VEHICLES

Sec. 301. Advanced training partnership grants to upgrade automobile 
                            industry workers' skills concerning new 
                            technologically advanced, energy efficient, 
                            and renewable fuel powered motor vehicles.

                TITLE I--ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE

SEC. 101. ENHANCEMENT OF ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 209(b) of the Public Works and Economic 
Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3149(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by redesignating subparagraphs (A) 
        and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively;
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
        subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively;
            (3) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), as 
        redesignated by paragraph (2), by striking ``The Secretary'' 
        and inserting the following:
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
        Secretary''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Waivers for manufacturing industry sector.--In the 
        case of a request for a grant to meet a special need described 
        in paragraph (1)(A) that relates to an industry classified 
        under section 31, 32, or 33 of the North American Industrial 
        Classification System, the Secretary may--
                    ``(A) waive the requirement under paragraph (1)(B) 
                if the area in which the project is to be carried out 
                has a streamlined economic development strategy 
                consisting of a plan by the eligible recipient that has 
                the written approval of the Governor of the State in 
                which the area is located; and
                    ``(B) provide assistance with respect to economic 
                dislocation described in subsection (a) without regard 
                to whether such economic dislocation was sudden or 
                arose from an event that occurred more than 24 months 
                before the date the application for a grant is filed by 
                an eligible recipient.''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary of Commerce $2,000,000,000 to provide grants 
        under section 209 of the Public Works and Economic Development 
        Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3149) for special needs relating to the 
        manufacturing industry sector under subsection (b)(2) of such 
        section, as added by subsection (a), with priority for special 
        needs relating to the automotive industry sector.
            (2) Salaries and expenses.--The Secretary may expend up to 
        4 percent of the amount appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) 
        for salaries and expenses in order to expedite the provision of 
        grants relating to the manufacturing industry sector under such 
        section 209.
            (3) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    (A) Automotive industry sector.--The term 
                ``automotive industry sector'' means the part of the 
                manufacturing industry sector that includes the 
                industries classified under code numbers 3361, 3362, 
                and 3363 of the North American Industrial 
                Classification System.
                    (B) Manufacturing industry sector.--The term 
                ``manufacturing industry sector'' means the industries 
                classified under section 31, 32, and 33 of the North 
                American Industrial Classification System.

          TITLE II--EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO DISPLACED WORKERS

SEC. 201. NATIONAL EMERGENCY GRANTS FOR MANUFACTURING WORKERS.

    (a) Redesignations.--Section 173 of the Workforce Investment Act of 
1998 (29 U.S.C. 2918) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (h) and 
        moving that subsection to the end of that section; and
            (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b).
    (b) Types of National Emergency Grants.--Section 173(a) of such Act 
(29 U.S.C. 2918(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``(1)'' and inserting ``(1)(A)'';
                    (B) by striking ``subsection (c)'' and inserting 
                ``subsection (b)'';
                    (C) by adding ``and'' at the end; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(B) to an entity described in subsection (c) to provide, 
        in accordance with that subsection, employment and training 
        assistance to manufacturing workers who lost employment due to 
        a plant closure, or mass layoff, or experienced a change in 
        employment status due to a plant shutdown, that resulted in 
        such an employment loss or change in employment status at a 
        single site of employment for 50 or more workers;'';
            (2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``paragraphs (1) and 
        (2)'' and inserting ``paragraphs (1)(A) and (2)''; and
            (3) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking ``173(c)(1)(B)'' and 
        inserting ``173(b)(1)(B)''.
    (c) Employment and Training Assistance Requirements.--Subsection 
(b) (as redesignated by subsection (a)(2) of this section) of section 
173 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 is amended, in paragraphs 
(1)(A) and (2)(A), by striking ``subsection (a)(1)'' and inserting 
``subsection (a)(1)(A)''.
    (d) Employment and Training Assistance for Manufacturing Workers.--
Section 173 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 is amended by 
inserting before subsection (d) the following:
    ``(c) Employment and Training Assistance for Manufacturing 
Workers.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--In subsection (a)(1)(B) and this 
        subsection:
                    ``(A) Automobile industry worker.--The term 
                `automobile industry worker' means a worker in an 
                automobile-related industry, classified under code 
                number 3361, 3362, or 3363 of the North American 
                Industrial Classification System.
                    ``(B) Eligible worker.--The term `eligible worker' 
                means a manufacturing worker who lost employment due to 
                a plant closure or mass layoff, or experienced a change 
                in employment status due to a plant shutdown, that 
                resulted in such an employment loss or change in 
                employment status at a single site of employment for 50 
                or more workers.
                    ``(C) Employment and training assistance.--The term 
                `employment and training assistance' means training 
                activities, job search allowances, relocation 
                allowances, and needs-related payments, as specified in 
                paragraphs (4) through (7).
                    ``(D) Mass layoff; plant closure.--The terms `mass 
                layoff' and `plant closure' are defined as such terms, 
                within the meaning of subsection (a)(1)(A).
                    ``(E) Manufacturing worker.--The term 
                `manufacturing worker' means a worker in an industry 
                classified under section 31, 32, or 33 of the North 
                American Industrial Classification System.
            ``(2) Grant recipient eligibility.--
                    ``(A) Eligible entity.--In this paragraph, the term 
                `entity' has the meaning given the term in subsection 
                (b)(1)(B).
                    ``(B) Application.--To be eligible to receive a 
                grant under subsection (a)(1)(B), an entity shall 
                submit an application to the Secretary in such manner, 
                and containing such information, as the Secretary may 
                require. The Secretary shall accept applications for 
                such grants on an ongoing basis.
                    ``(C) Priority.--In awarding grants under 
                subsection (a)(1)(B), the Secretary shall give priority 
                to--
                            ``(i) eligible entities proposing projects 
                        to serve automobile industry workers; and
                            ``(ii) eligible entities proposing to serve 
                        areas with the greatest number of eligible 
                        workers.
                    ``(D) Considerations.--In awarding grants under 
                subsection (a)(1)(B), the Secretary shall take into 
                consideration the costs of the services to be provided 
                and the reasonableness of those costs. In determining 
                reasonableness of costs for a grant to an entity, the 
                Secretary shall not take into account the amount of 
                Federal financial assistance provided to the entity.
            ``(3) Participant eligibility.--In order to be eligible to 
        receive employment and training assistance under a grant 
        awarded under subsection (a)(1)(B), an individual shall be an 
        eligible worker.
            ``(4) Training activities.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A grant under subsection 
                (a)(1)(B) may be used to provide a training activity, 
                consisting of any service that is a core service under 
                section 134(d)(2), an intensive service under section 
                134(d)(3)(C), or a training service under section 
                134(d)(4)(D).
                    ``(B) Prohibition on additional eligibility 
                requirements.--None of the eligibility requirements of 
                paragraph (3)(A), or subparagraph (A), (B), or (E) of 
                paragraph (4), of section 134(d) shall apply to 
                services described in subparagraph (A) and provided 
                under this subsection.
            ``(5) Job search allowance.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A grant under subsection 
                (a)(1)(B) may be used to provide a job search allowance 
                to an eligible worker. Such allowance, if provided, 
                shall provide reimbursement to the worker of not more 
                than 90 percent of the cost of necessary job search 
                expenses. Such allowance may not exceed $1,250 unless 
                the need for a greater amount is justified in the 
                application for the grant submitted under paragraph 
                (2)(B) and approved by the Secretary.
                    ``(B) Criteria for granting job search 
                allowances.--Such a job search allowance may be 
                provided only--
                            ``(i) to assist an eligible worker, in 
                        securing a job within the United States; and
                            ``(ii) if an eligible worker cannot 
                        reasonably be expected to secure suitable 
                        employment in the commuting area in which the 
                        worker resides.
            ``(6) Relocation allowance.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A grant under subsection 
                (a)(1)(B) may be used to provide a relocation allowance 
                to an eligible worker. Such an allowance may only be 
                provided to assist an eligible worker in relocating 
                within the United States and only if--
                            ``(i) such worker cannot reasonably be 
                        expected to secure suitable employment in the 
                        commuting area in which the worker resides; and
                            ``(ii) such worker--
                                    ``(I) has obtained suitable 
                                employment affording a reasonable 
                                expectation of long-term employment in 
                                the area in which the worker wishes to 
                                relocate; or
                                    ``(II) has obtained a bona fide 
                                offer of employment described in 
                                subclause (I).
                    ``(B) Amount of relocation allowance.--The amount 
                of any relocation allowance for any eligible worker may 
                not exceed the amount that is equal to the sum of--
                            ``(i) 90 percent of the reasonable and 
                        necessary expenses, as determined by the grant 
                        recipient, incurred in transporting the worker 
                        and the worker's family, if any, and household 
                        effects; and
                            ``(ii) a lump sum equivalent to 3 times the 
                        worker's average weekly wage (on the date of 
                        the employment loss or change in employment 
                        status) described in paragraph (1)(A), up to a 
                        maximum payment of $1,250, unless the need for 
                        a greater amount is justified in the 
                        application for the grant submitted under 
                        paragraph (2)(B) and approved by the Secretary.
            ``(7) Needs-related payments.--A grant under subsection 
        (a)(1)(B) may be used in order to provide needs-related 
        payments to an eligible worker, if the grant agreement--
                    ``(A) requires that such payments shall be provided 
                to an eligible worker only if such worker--
                            ``(i) does not qualify or has ceased to 
                        qualify for unemployment compensation;
                            ``(ii) has been enrolled in a training 
                        activity described in paragraph (4) by the end 
                        of the 13th week of the worker's initial 
                        unemployment compensation benefit period, or, 
                        if later, by the end of the 8th week after the 
                        worker is informed that a short-term layoff 
                        will in fact exceed 6 months; and
                            ``(iii) is participating in a training 
                        activity described in paragraph (4) except that 
                        no worker shall be disqualified pursuant to 
                        this clause for a failure to participate that 
                        is not the fault of the worker;
                    ``(B) provides that to qualify for such payments 
                the worker shall currently receive, or be a member of a 
                family that currently receives, a total family income 
                (exclusive of unemployment compensation, child support 
                payments, and cash payments under a Federal, State, or 
                local income-based public assistance program) that, in 
                relation to family size, is not in excess of the lower 
                living standard income level;
                    ``(C) provides that the levels of such payments 
                shall be equal to the higher of--
                            ``(i) the applicable level of unemployment 
                        compensation, adjusted for the period involved; 
                        or
                            ``(ii) an amount equal to the poverty line, 
                        adjusted to the period involved;
                    ``(D) provides for the adjustment of payments to 
                reflect changes in total family income; and
                    ``(E) provides that the grant recipient shall 
                obtain information with respect to such income, and 
                changes in such income, from the eligible worker.
            ``(8) Limit on administrative expenses.--Of the funds 
        appropriated under section 137(c) and reserved for grants under 
        subsection (a)(1)(B), not more than 10 percent may be used for 
        administrative expenses associated with the grants (including 
        the provision of technical assistance for the preparation of 
        grant applications) or the activities carried out under those 
        grants.''.

SEC. 202. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Separation From Other National Emergency Grant Funds.--Section 
132(a)(2)(A) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 
2862(a)(2)(A)) is amended by striking ``subsection (a)(4),'' and 
inserting ``subsections (a)(1)(B), (a)(4), (c),''.
    (b) Authorization.--Section 174 of the Workforce Investment Act of 
1998 (29 U.S.C. 2919) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Employment and Training Assistance for Manufacturing 
Workers.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 
173(a)(1)(B), $1,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.''.

SEC. 203. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Redesignations.--
            (1) Sections 170(b)(2) and 171(d) of the Workforce 
        Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2915(b)(2), 2916(d)) are 
        amended by striking ``section 173(b)'' and inserting ``section 
        173(h)''.
            (2) Section 173(f)(6) of the Workforce Investment Act of 
        1998 (29 U.S.C. 2918(f)(6)) is amended by striking ``subsection 
        (c)(1)(B)'' and inserting ``subsection (b)(1)(B)''.
    (b) Heading.--Section 174(c) of the Workforce Investment Act of 
1998 (29 U.S.C. 2919(c)) is amended by striking all that precedes 
paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
    ``(c) Health Insurance and Other Assistance for Eligible Workers.--
''.

   TITLE III--INCREASING TECHNOLOGICAL SKILLS OF AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY 
     WORKERS IN MANUFACTURING NEW TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED, ENERGY 
          EFFICIENT, AND RENEWABLE FUEL POWERED MOTOR VEHICLES

SEC. 301. ADVANCED TRAINING PARTNERSHIP GRANTS TO UPGRADE AUTOMOBILE 
              INDUSTRY WORKERS' SKILLS CONCERNING NEW TECHNOLOGICALLY 
              ADVANCED, ENERGY EFFICIENT, AND RENEWABLE FUEL POWERED 
              MOTOR VEHICLES.

    Section 171(e) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 
2916(e)), as added by Public Law 110-140, is amended by--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(B)--
                    (A) in clause (i)(II), by inserting before the 
                semicolon the following: ``, including industries 
                (which may be industries that supply equipment) engaged 
                in the integration of advanced technology equipment or 
                processes for the design, engineering, and 
                manufacturing of new technologically advanced, energy 
                efficient, and renewable fuel powered motor vehicles''; 
                and
                    (B) in clause (ii)--
                            (i) in subclause (VI), by striking ``and'' 
                        at the end;
                            (ii) in subclause (VII), by striking the 
                        period and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                                    ``(VIII) industries that design, 
                                engineer, manufacture, or supply 
                                equipment for, new technologically 
                                advanced, energy efficient, and 
                                renewable fuel powered motor 
                                vehicles.'';
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as 
                subparagraph (F); and
                    (B) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the 
                following:
                    ``(E) Advanced training partnership programs.--
                            ``(i) Definition.--In this subparagraph, 
                        the term `institution of higher education' has 
                        the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of 
                        the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                        1001(a)).
                            ``(ii) General authority.--Under the 
                        program established under paragraph (1), the 
                        Secretary shall award advanced training 
                        partnership grants on a competitive basis from 
                        funds available under paragraph (9). The 
                        Secretary shall award the grants to 
                        institutions of higher education, in the United 
                        States, that have the capacity, technical 
                        knowledge, and experience to administer 
                        advanced training partnership programs for the 
                        design, engineering, manufacture, or supply of 
                        equipment for, new technologically advanced, 
                        energy efficient, and renewable fuel powered 
                        motor vehicles. In awarding grants under this 
                        subparagraph, the Secretary shall give priority 
                        to institutions of higher education whose grant 
                        applications specify that the institutions have 
                        established or will, by the date grants are 
                        made to such institutions, establish 
                        partnerships under clause (iii) that include 
                        new motor vehicle manufacturers, and suppliers 
                        of equipment for new motor vehicles, in the 
                        United States, that have collective bargaining 
                        relationships with 1 or more labor 
                        organizations.
                            ``(iii) Partnerships.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--To be eligible 
                                to receive a grant under this 
                                subparagraph, an institution of higher 
                                education shall specify in its grant 
                                application that the institution has 
                                established or will, by the date a 
                                grant is made to the institution, 
                                establish a partnership to carry out 
                                activities under the grant.
                                    ``(II) Members.--The partnership 
                                shall--
                                            ``(aa) include a 
                                        representative of the 
                                        institution of higher education 
                                        that applies for the grant, of 
                                        new motor vehicle 
                                        manufacturers, of labor 
                                        organizations, and, where 
                                        applicable, of industry and 
                                        labor training centers; and
                                            ``(bb) may include, as 
                                        appropriate, as determined by 
                                        the institution of higher 
                                        education, a representative of 
                                        suppliers of equipment for new 
                                        motor vehicles, of local 
                                        governments, of other 
                                        postsecondary technical 
                                        institutions, and of other 
                                        public and private 
                                        organizations, including 
                                        veterans organizations.
                                    ``(III) Qualifications.--The 
                                members of the partnership shall 
                                demonstrate capability and experience 
                                in implementing and operating the 
                                activities described in clause (iv).
                            ``(iv) Activities.--The partnership shall 
                        coordinate its activities with the activities 
                        of engineering, apprenticeship, and labor-
                        management training programs, and other 
                        appropriate training programs. The partnership 
                        shall implement an advanced training 
                        partnership program that--
                                    ``(I) leads to educating and 
                                training workers in the creation, 
                                operation, and maintenance of 
                                sophisticated and highly technical 
                                manufacturing equipment and processes 
                                used in the design, engineering, 
                                manufacture, and supply of equipment 
                                for, as appropriate, technologically 
                                advanced, energy efficient, and 
                                renewable fuel powered motor vehicles; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) lead to economic self-
                                sufficiency and improved skills for 
                                such workers.
                            ``(v) Use of funds.--The partnership shall 
                        use not less than 90 percent of the funds made 
                        available through the grant to pay for not more 
                        than 90 percent of the costs of the advanced 
                        training partnership program, including the 
                        education and training of trainees, the 
                        utilization of training centers, and, during 
                        the training period, the applicable wages of 
                        the trainees, the trainers, and other experts 
                        as provided by section 181(a)(1)(A). The 
                        institution of higher education that receives 
                        the grant may use not more than 10 percent of 
                        the grant funds to pay for the institution's 
                        administrative costs of carrying out the 
                        program.
                            ``(vi) Regulations.--Not later than 90 days 
                        after the date of enactment of the Main Street 
                        Manufacturing Communities Reinvestment Act of 
                        2009, the Secretary shall promulgate, as 
                        interim final rules, such reasonable 
                        regulations as may be necessary to implement 
                        the awarding of grants expeditiously under 
                        paragraph (2)(E).'';
            (3) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or (E)'' and 
                inserting ``or (F)''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``(E)'' and 
                inserting ``(F)'';
            (4) in paragraph (8)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
                inserting ``(other than paragraph (2)(E))'' after 
                ``this subsection''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``paragraph 
                (2)(E)'' and inserting ``paragraph (2)(F)''; and
            (5) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(9) Advanced training partnership programs.--There is 
        authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out 
        paragraph (2)(E), $1,500,000,000 annually over 2 fiscal years, 
        beginning with the first full fiscal year after the date of 
        enactment of the Main Street Manufacturing Communities 
        Reinvestment Act of 2009. Such funds shall remain available 
        until expended for grants awarded pursuant to such paragraph.
            ``(10) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Motor vehicle.--The term `motor vehicle' has 
                the meaning given the term in section 216 of the Clean 
                Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7550).
                    ``(B) New.--The term `new', used with respect to a 
                motor vehicle, means a new (within the meaning of title 
                II of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7521 et seq.)) motor 
                vehicle.
                    ``(C) New technologically advanced.--The term `new 
                technologically advanced', used with respect to a motor 
                vehicle, includes a motor vehicle with electric 
                transportation technology, as that term is defined in 
                section 131(a)(3) of the Energy Independence and 
                Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17011(a)(3)) or 
                advanced gasoline combustion technology, such as direct 
                injection engine technology.
                    ``(D) New technologically advanced, energy 
                efficient, and renewable fuel powered motor vehicle.--
                The term `new technologically advanced, energy 
                efficient, and renewable fuel powered motor vehicle' 
                includes a new advanced lean burn technology motor 
                vehicle, a new qualified fuel cell motor vehicle, a new 
                qualified hybrid motor vehicle, or a new qualified 
                alternative fuel motor vehicle, as those terms are 
                defined in section 30B of the Internal Revenue Code of 
                1986, or a mixed-fuel vehicle, as defined in such 
                section, that is new.''.
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