[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2560 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2560

  To amend the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to support community 
       college and industry partnerships, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 27, 2013

    Mr. George Miller of California (for himself, Mr. Tierney, Mr. 
 Hinojosa, Mrs. Capps, Mr. Israel, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. Conyers, 
   Mrs. Napolitano, Ms. Norton, Ms. Jackson Lee, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. 
  Larsen of Washington, Ms. Esty, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, Mr. 
 Cardenas, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Moran, Mrs. Negrete McLeod, Mr. Dingell, 
 and Mr. Sablan) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
              the Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to support community 
       college and industry partnerships, 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.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Community College to Career Fund 
Act''.

SEC. 2. COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO CAREER FUND.

    Title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 amended by adding 
at the end the following:

             ``Subtitle G--Community College to Career Fund

``SEC. 199B. COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Grants Authorized.--From funds appropriated under section 
199F(1), the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education, in 
accordance with the interagency agreement described in section 199G, 
shall award competitive grants to eligible entities described in 
subsection (b) for the purpose of developing, offering, improving or 
providing educational or career training programs for workers.
    ``(b) Eligible Entity.--
            ``(1) Partnerships with employers or an employer or 
        industry partnership.--
                    ``(A) General definition.--For purposes of this 
                section, an `eligible entity' means any of the entities 
                described in subparagraph (B) (or a consortium of any 
                of such entities) in partnership with employers or an 
                employer or industry partnership representing multiple 
                employers.
                    ``(B) Description of entities.--The entities 
                described in this subparagraph are as follows:
                            ``(i) a community college;
                            ``(ii) a 4-year public institution of 
                        higher education (as defined in section 101(a) 
                        of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                        1001(a)) that offers 2-year degrees, and which 
                        will use funds provided under this section for 
                        activities at the certificate and associate 
                        degree levels;
                            ``(iii) a tribal college or university (as 
                        defined in section 316(b) of the Higher 
                        Education Act of 1965); or
                            ``(iv) a private or nonprofit, 2-year 
                        institution of higher education (as defined in 
                        section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
                        (20 U.S.C. 1002)) in Puerto Rico, Guam, the 
                        United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, 
                        the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
                        Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, 
                        the Federated States of Micronesia, or the 
                        Republic of Palau.
            ``(2) Additional partnerships.--
                    ``(A) Authorization of additional partnerships.--In 
                addition to partnering with employers or an employer or 
                industry partnership representing multiple employers as 
                described in paragraph (1)(A), an eligible entity 
                described in paragraph (1) may partner with 1 or more 
                of the organizations described in subparagraph (B). An 
                eligible entity in partnership with 1 or more such 
                organizations shall collaborate with the State or local 
                board in the area served by the eligible entity.
                    ``(B) Organizations.--The organizations described 
                in this subparagraph are as follows:
                            ``(i) An adult education provider or 
                        institution of higher education (as defined in 
                        section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
                        (20 U.S.C. 1001)).
                            ``(ii) A community-based organization.
                            ``(iii) A joint-labor management 
                        partnership.
                            ``(iv) A State or local board.
                            ``(v) Any other organization that the 
                        Secretaries consider appropriate.
    ``(c) Educational or Career Training Program.--For purposes of this 
section, the Governor of the State in which at least 1 of the entities 
described in subsection (b)(1)(B) of an eligible entity is located 
shall establish criteria for the educational or career training program 
for which the eligible entity submits a grant proposal under subsection 
(d).
    ``(d) Application.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under this 
section shall submit a grant proposal to the Secretaries at such time 
and containing such information as the Secretaries determine is 
required, including a detailed description of--
            ``(1) the specific educational or career training program 
        for which the grant proposal is submitted and that meets the 
        criteria established under subsection (c), including the manner 
        in which the grant will be used to develop, offer, improve, or 
        provide the educational or career training program;
            ``(2) the extent to which the program will meet the 
        educational or career training needs of workers in the area 
        served by the eligible entity;
            ``(3) the extent to which the program will meet the needs 
        of employers in the region for skilled workers in in-demand 
        industry sectors and occupations;
            ``(4) the extent to which the program submitted fits within 
        any overall strategic plan developed by an eligible entity; and
            ``(5) any previous experience of the eligible entity in 
        providing educational or career training programs, the absence 
        of which shall not automatically disqualify an eligible 
        institution from receiving a grant under this section.
    ``(e) Criteria for Award.--
            ``(1) In general.--Grants under this section shall be 
        awarded based on criteria established by the Secretaries, that 
        include the following:
                    ``(A) A determination of the merits of the grant 
                proposal submitted by the eligible entity to develop, 
                offer, improve, or provide an educational or career 
                training program to be made available to workers.
                    ``(B) An assessment of the likely employment 
                opportunities available in the region to individuals 
                who complete an educational or career training program 
                that the eligible entity proposes to develop, offer, 
                improve, or provide.
                    ``(C) An assessment of prior demand for training 
                programs by individuals eligible for training served by 
                the eligible entity as well as availability and 
                capacity of existing training programs to meet future 
                demand for training programs.
            ``(2) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
        Secretaries shall give priority to eligible entities that--
                    ``(A) include a partnership with a business or 
                industry or sector partnership that--
                            ``(i) pays a portion of the costs of such 
                        programs; or
                            ``(ii) agrees to hire individuals who have 
                        completed a particular postsecondary degree, 
                        certificate, or credential resulting from the 
                        training program of the eligible entity;
                    ``(B) enter into a partnership with a labor 
                organization or labor-management training program that 
                provides technical expertise for occupationally 
                specific education necessary for a recognized 
                postsecondary credential leading to a skill occupation 
                in an in-demand industry sector;
                    ``(C) are focused on serving individuals with 
                barriers to employment, low-income, non-traditional 
                students, students who are dislocated workers, students 
                who are veterans, or students who are long-term 
                unemployed;
                    ``(D) are community colleges serving areas with 
                high unemployment rates, including rural areas;
                    ``(E) are eligible entities that include an 
                institution of higher education eligible for assistance 
                under title III or V of the Higher Education Act of 
                1965; and
                    ``(F) include a partnership with a business or 
                industry or sector partnership that increases domestic 
                production of goods, such as advanced manufacturing or 
                clean energy technology.
    ``(f) Use of Funds.--Grants awarded under this section shall be 
used for one or more of the following:
            ``(1) The development, offering, improvement, or provision 
        of academic programs or training programs, that provide 
        relevant job training for skilled occupations that will meet 
        the needs of employers in in-demand industries sectors, and 
        which may include registered apprenticeship programs, on-the-
        job training programs, and programs that support employers in 
        upgrading the skills of their workforce.
            ``(2) The development and implementation of policies and 
        programs to expand opportunities for students to earn a 
        recognized postsecondary credential or degree in in-demand 
        industry sectors and occupations, including by--
                    ``(A) facilitating the transfer of academic credits 
                between institutions of higher education, including the 
                transfer of academic credits for courses in the same 
                field of study;
                    ``(B) expanding articulation agreements and 
                policies that guarantee transfer between such 
                institutions, including through common course numbering 
                and general core curriculum; and
                    ``(C) developing or enhancing student support 
                services programs.
            ``(3) The creation of workforce programs that provide a 
        sequence of education and occupational training that leads to a 
        recognized postsecondary credential or degree, including 
        programs that--
                    ``(A) blend basic skills and occupational training;
                    ``(B) facilitate means of transitioning from non-
                credit occupational, basic skills, or developmental 
                coursework to for-credit coursework within and across 
                institutions;
                    ``(C) build or enhance linkages including the 
                development of dual enrollment programs and early 
                college high schools between secondary education or 
                adult education programs (including programs 
                established under the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
                Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301 et 
                seq.) and title II of this Act);
                    ``(D) implement other innovative programs designed 
                to increase the provision of training for students, 
                including students who are veteran members of the 
                National Guard or Reserves, to enter skilled 
                occupations in in-demand industry sectors; and
                    ``(E) support paid internships that will allow 
                students to simultaneously earn credit for work-based 
                learning and gain relevant employment experience in an 
                in-demand industry sector or occupation, which shall 
                include opportunities that transition individuals into 
                employment.
            ``(4) The support of regional or national in-demand 
        industry sectors to develop skills consortia that will identify 
        pressing workforce needs and develop solutions such as--
                    ``(A) standardizing industry certifications;
                    ``(B) developing new training technologies; and
                    ``(C) collaborating with industry employers to 
                define and describe how specific skills lead to 
                particular jobs and career opportunities.

``SEC. 199C. PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE AND PAY-FOR-SUCCESS JOB TRAINING 
              PROJECTS.

    ``(a) Award Grants Authorized.--From funds appropriated under 
section 199F(2), the Secretaries, in accordance with the interagency 
agreement described in section 199G, shall award grants on a 
competitive basis to eligible entities described in subsection (b) who 
meet specific performance outcomes and criteria established by the 
Secretaries under subsection (c). Projects funded by grants under this 
section shall be referred to as either Pay-for-Performance or Pay-for-
Success projects, as set forth in subsection (b).
    ``(b) Eligible Entity.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
this section an entity shall be a State or local organization (which 
may be a local workforce organization) in partnership with entities 
such as community colleges and other training providers who--
            ``(1) in the case of Pay-for-Performance projects, agree to 
        be reimbursed primarily on the basis of achievement of 
        specified performance outcomes and criteria agreed upon by the 
        Secretaries under subsection (c); or
            ``(2) in the case of Pay-for-Success projects, include 
        partnerships with investors, such as philanthropic 
        organizations that provide funding for a specific project or 
        projects to address a clear and measurable job training need in 
        the community or region and agree to be reimbursed under the 
        grant only if the project or projects meet specified 
        performance outcomes and criteria agreed to by the Secretaries 
        under subsection (c).
    ``(c) Performance Outcomes and Criteria.--Not later than 6 months 
after the date of the enactment of this subtitle, the Secretaries shall 
establish and publish specific performance measures for the initial 
qualification of eligible entities to receive a grant under this 
section. At a minimum, to receive an award an eligible entity shall--
            ``(1) identify a particular program area and client 
        population that is not achieving optimal outcomes;
            ``(2) provide evidence that the proposed strategy would 
        achieve better results;
            ``(3) clearly articulate and quantify the improved outcomes 
        of such new approach;
            ``(4) for Pay-for-Success projects, specify a monetary 
        value that would need to paid to obtain such results and 
        explain the basis for such value;
            ``(5) identify data that would be required to evaluate 
        whether outcomes are being achieved for a target population and 
        a comparison group;
            ``(6) identify estimated savings that would result from the 
        improved outcomes, including to other programs or units of 
        government;
            ``(7) demonstrate the capacity to collect required data, 
        track outcomes, and validate those outcomes; and
            ``(8) any other criteria the Secretaries may require.
    ``(d) Period of Availability for Pay-for-Success Projects.--Funds 
appropriated to carry out Pay-for-Success projects pursuant to section 
199F(2) shall, upon obligation, remain available for disbursement until 
expended, notwithstanding section 1552 of title 31, United States Code, 
and, if later deobligated, in whole or in part, be available until 
expended for additional Pay-for-Success grants under this section.

``SEC. 199D. BRING JOBS BACK TO AMERICA GRANTS.

    ``(a) Grants Authorized.--From funds appropriated under section 
199F(3), the Secretaries, in accordance with the interagency agreement 
described in section 199G, shall award grants to State or local 
governments for job training and recruiting activities that can quickly 
provided businesses with skilled workers in order to encourage 
businesses to remain in or relocate to areas served by such 
governments. The Secretaries shall coordinate with the Secretary of 
Commerce in carrying out this section.
    ``(b) Purpose and Use of Funds.--Grants awarded under this section 
may be used by a State or local government to issue subgrants to 
eligible entities as designated by the Secretaries, including those 
described in section 199B(b), to assist such eligible entities in 
providing training necessary to provide skilled workers for businesses 
that have relocated or are considering relocating operations outside 
the United States, and may instead relocate to the areas served by such 
governments.
    ``(c) Application.--A State or local government seeking a grant 
under the program established under subsection (a) shall submit an 
application to the Secretaries in such manner and containing such 
information as the Secretaries may require. At a minimum, each 
application shall include--
            ``(1) a description of the eligible entity or entities the 
        State or local government proposes to assist in providing job 
        training or recruiting activities;
            ``(2) a description of the proposed or existing business 
        facility, including the number of jobs relating to such 
        facility and the average wage or salary of those jobs; and
            ``(3) a description of any other resources that the State 
        has committed to assisting such business in locating such 
        facility, including tax incentives provided, bonding authority 
        exercised, and land granted.
    ``(d) Criteria.--The Secretaries shall award grants under this 
section to State and local governments that--
            ``(1) the Secretaries determine are most likely to succeed 
        with a grant under the program in assisting an eligible entity 
        in providing the training necessary to cause a business or 
        businesses to remain in or relocate to areas served by such 
        governments;
            ``(2) will fund training programs that will result in the 
        greatest number and quality of jobs;
            ``(3) have committed State or other resources, to the 
        extent of their ability as determined by the Secretaries, to 
        assist a business or businesses to remain in or relocate to 
        areas served by such governments; and
            ``(4) have met such other criteria as the Secretaries 
        consider appropriate, including criteria relating to marketing 
        plans, benefits to ongoing regional or State strategies for 
        economic development and job growth.

``SEC. 199E. GRANTS FOR ENTREPRENEUR AND SMALL BUSINESS STARTUP 
              TRAINING.

    ``(a) Grants Authorized.--From funds appropriated under section 
199F(4), the Secretaries, in accordance with the interagency agreement 
described in section 199G, shall award competitive grants to eligible 
entities described in subsection (b) to provide training in starting a 
small business and entrepreneurship. The Secretaries shall coordinate 
with the Administrator of the Small Business Administration in carrying 
out this section including in the development of criteria and selection 
of proposals.
    ``(b) Eligible Entity.--
            ``(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, the term 
        `eligible entities' means an entity described in section 
        199B(b)(1) (or a consortium of any of such entities) in 
        partnership with at least one local or regional economic 
        development entity described in paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Additional partnerships.--Local or regional economic 
        development entities described in this paragraph are the 
        following:
                    ``(A) Small business development centers.
                    ``(B) Women's business centers.
                    ``(C) Regional innovation clusters.
                    ``(D) Local accelerators or incubators.
                    ``(E) State or local economic development agencies.
    ``(c) Application.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under this 
section shall submit a grant proposal in such manner and containing 
such information as the Secretaries and the Small Business 
Administrator shall require. Such information shall include the manner 
in which entrepreneurship training and education will be provided, the 
role of partners in such an arrangement, and the manner in which the 
proposal will integrate and partner with local economic development 
resources.
    ``(d) Use of Funds.--Grants awarded under this section shall be 
used to provide training in entrepreneurship and starting a small 
business, including through online courses, intensive seminars, and 
comprehensive courses.

``SEC. 199F. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
$8,000,000,000 to carry out this subtitle, of which $4,000,000,000 is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Labor and 
$4,000,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
Education. Such amounts shall be used to carry out the programs 
authorized by this subtitle as follows:
            ``(1) $7,000,000,000 is authorized for the program 
        established by section 199B;
            ``(2) $500,000,000 is authorized for the program 
        established by section 199C;
            ``(3) $250,000,000 is authorized for the program 
        established by section 199D;
            ``(4) $250,000,000 is authorized for the program 
        established by section 199E; and
            ``(5) not more than 5 percent of the amounts authorized 
        under paragraphs (1) through (4) may be used by the Secretaries 
        to administer each respective program, including providing 
        technical assistance and carrying out evaluations.
    ``(b) Period of Availability.--Except as provided in section 
199C(d), the funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) shall be 
available for Federal obligation for the fiscal year for which the 
funds are appropriated and the succeeding 2 fiscal years.

``SEC. 199G. INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of 
Education shall jointly develop policies for the administration of this 
subtitle in accordance with such terms as the Secretaries shall set 
forth in an interagency agreement. Such interagency agreement, at a 
minimum, shall include a description of the respective roles and 
responsibilities of the Secretaries in carrying out this subtitle (both 
jointly and separately), including--
            ``(1) how the funds available under this subtitle will be 
        obligated and disbursed and compliance with applicable laws 
        (including regulations) will be ensured, as well as how the 
        grantees will be selected and monitored;
            ``(2) how evaluations and research will be conducted on the 
        effectiveness of grants awarded under this subtitle in 
        addressing the education and employment needs of workers, and 
        employers;
            ``(3) how technical assistance will be provided to 
        applicants and grant recipients;
            ``(4) how information will be disseminated, including 
        through electronic means, on best practices and effective 
        strategies and service delivery models for activities carried 
        out under this subtitle; and
            ``(5) how policies and processes critical to the successful 
        achievement of the education, training, and employment goals of 
        this subtitle will be established.
    ``(b) Transfer Authority.--The Secretary of Labor and the Secretary 
of Education shall have the authority to transfer funds between the 
Department of Labor and the Department of Education to carry out this 
subtitle in accordance with the agreement described in subsection (a). 
The Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education shall have the 
ability to transfer funds to the Secretary of Commerce and the 
Administrator of the Small Business Administration to carry out 
sections 199D and 199E, respectively.
    ``(c) Reports.--The Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of 
Education shall jointly develop and submit a biennial report to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and 
the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of 
Representatives, describing the activities carried out under this 
subtitle and the outcomes of such activities.

``SEC. 199H. DEFINITIONS.

    ``For purposes of this subtitle:
            ``(1) Community college.--The term `community college' has 
        the meaning given the term `junior or community college' in 
        section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1085(f)).
            ``(2) Nontraditional student.--The term `nontraditional 
        student' has the meaning given the term in section 803(j) of 
        the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 11561(c)(j)).
            ``(3) Secretaries.--The term `Secretaries' means the 
        Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education.''.

SEC. 3. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.

    The table of contents for the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (20 
U.S.C. 9201 note) is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
section 199A the following:

             ``Subtitle G--Community College to Career Fund

``Sec. 199B. Community college and industry partnerships program.
``Sec. 199C. Pay-for-Performance and Pay-for-Success Job Training 
                            projects.
``Sec. 199D. Bring Jobs Back to America grants.
``Sec. 199E. Grants for Entrepreneur and Small Business startup 
                            training.
``Sec. 199F. Authorization of appropriations.
``Sec. 199H. Definitions.''.
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