117 HR 998 IH: Offshore Wind Jobs and Opportunity Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-02-11
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EN
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I
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 998
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 11, 2021
Mr. Keating (for himself, Ms. Pingree, Mr. Pappas, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Carbajal, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. McNerney, Mr. Norcross, Mr. Huffman, Ms. Barragán, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Velázquez, Mr. Lynch, Mr. McEachin, Ms. Clark of Massachusetts, Mr. Khanna, Mr. Neal, Ms. Kuster, Mr. Lowenthal, Mrs. Trahan, Mr. Sires, and Mr. Kim of New Jersey) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To establish an offshore wind career training grant program, and for other purposes.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Offshore Wind Jobs and Opportunity Act”.
2.

Offshore Wind Career Training Grant Program
The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“33.

Offshore Wind Career Training Grant Program
(a)

Grants authorized
Beginning 360 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary may award offshore wind career training grants to eligible entities for the purpose of developing, offering, or improving educational or career training programs that provide individuals in such programs skills necessary for employment in the offshore wind industry.
(b)

Allocation of grants
(1)

Limitation on grant quantity and size
An eligible entity may not be awarded—
(A)
more than one grant under this section for which the eligible entity is the lead applicant; or
(B)
a grant under this section in excess of $2,500,000.
(2)

Allocation to community colleges
Not less than 25 percent of the total amount awarded under this section for a fiscal year shall be awarded to eligible entities that are community colleges.
(c)

Partnerships
An eligible entity seeking to receive a grant under this section may partner with one or more of the following:
(1)
Another eligible entity (including an eligible entity that is a community college).
(2)
A State or local government.
(3)
A nonprofit organization.
(d)

Use of grant
An eligible entity may use a grant awarded under this section for the following activities:
(1)
Occupational skills training, including curriculum development, on-the-job training, and classroom training.
(2)
Safety and health training.
(3)
The provision of basic skills, English as a second language, and job readiness training.
(4)
Individual referral and tuition assistance for a community college training program or similarly situated training program operated by a nonprofit organization leading to a recognized postsecondary credential (as such term is defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102)).
(5)
Internship programs in a field related to offshore wind energy.
(6)
Customized training in conjunction with an existing registered apprenticeship program or labor-management partnership.
(7)
Incumbent worker and career ladder training and skill upgrading and retraining.
(8)
The implementation of transitional jobs strategies.
(9)
Curriculum development at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
(10)
Development and support of offshore wind energy major, minor, or certificate programs.
(11)
Such other activities, as determined by the Secretary, to meet the purposes of this section.
(e)

Grant proposals
(1)

Submission procedure for grant proposals
An eligible entity seeking to receive a grant under this section shall submit a grant proposal to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(2)

Content of grant proposals
A grant proposal submitted to the Secretary under this section shall include a detailed description of—
(A)
the specific project for which the grant proposal is submitted, including the manner in which the grant will be used to develop, offer, or improve an educational or career training program that will provide individuals in such program skills necessary for employment in the offshore wind industry;
(B)
any previous experience of the eligible entity in providing such educational or career training programs; and
(C)
the extent to which such project will meet the educational or career training needs identified under subsection (i).
(f)

Criteria for award of grants
(1)

In general
Subject to appropriations, the Secretary shall award grants under this section based on an evaluation of—
(A)
the merits of the grant proposal;
(B)
the likely employment opportunities available to individuals who complete the educational or career training program that the eligible entity proposes to develop, offer, or improve;
(C)
prior demand for such educational or career training programs in the community served by the eligible entity; and
(D)
the availability and capacity of existing educational or career training programs in the community to meet future demand for such programs.
(2)

Priority
Priority in awarding grants under this section shall be given to an eligible entity that—
(A)
is—
(i)
an institute of higher education that has formed a partnership with a labor organization; or
(ii)
a labor organization that has formed a partnership with an institute of higher education;
(B)
has entered into a memorandum of understanding with an employer in the offshore wind industry to foster workforce development;
(C)
is located in an economically distressed area;
(D)
focuses on individuals who are—
(i)
displaced workers (particularly workers displaced from the offshore oil and gas, onshore fossil fuel, nuclear energy, or fishing industries);
(ii)
veterans, members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces, or former members of such reserve components;
(iii)
unemployed;
(iv)
seeking employment pathways out of poverty and into economic self-sufficiency;
(v)
at-risk youth; or
(vi)
formerly incarcerated, adjudicated, nonviolent offenders; or
(E)
with respect to an eligible entity that is an institution of higher education, has a high percentage or number of low-income or minority students.
(3)

Geographic distribution
The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, award grants under this section in a manner that provides for a reasonable geographic distribution, except that the Secretary shall not be required to award grants equally among different regions of the United States.
(g)

Matching requirements
A grant awarded under this section may not be used to satisfy any non-Federal funds matching requirement under any other provision of law.
(h)

Grantee data collection
(1)

In general
A grantee, with respect to the educational or career training program for which the grantee received a grant under this section, shall collect and report to the Secretary on an annual basis the following:
(A)
The number of participants enrolled in the educational or career training program.
(B)
The number of participants that have completed the educational or career training program.
(C)
The services received by such participants, including a description of training, education, and supportive services.
(D)
The amount spent by the grantee per participant.
(E)
The rate of job placement of participants in the offshore wind industry or related fields.
(F)
The rate of employment retention—
(i)
if the eligible entity is not an institution of higher education, 1 year after completion of the educational or career training program; or
(ii)
if the eligible entity is an institution of higher education, 1 year after completion of the educational or career training program or 1 year after the participant is no longer enrolled in such institution of higher education, whichever is later.
(2)

Disaggregation of data
The data collected and reported under this subsection shall be disaggregated by—
(A)
race;
(B)
low-income status;
(C)
disability; and
(D)
English language proficiency.
(3)

Assistance from Secretary
The Secretary shall assist grantees in the collection of data under this subsection by making available, where practicable, low-cost means of tracking the labor market outcomes of participants and by providing standardized reporting forms, where appropriate.
(i)

Identification of educational and career training needs
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the offshore wind industry, eligible entities, including eligible entities that are community colleges, State and local governments, labor organizations, and nonprofit organizations, shall identify the educational and career training needs of such industry, including needs related to construction and installation, engineering, manufacturing, operation, and maintenance activities relevant to the offshore wind industry.
(j)

Guidelines
Not later than 240 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall—
(1)
promulgate guidelines for the submission of grant proposals under this section, including a list of the educational and career training needs identified under subsection (i); and
(2)
publish and maintain such guidelines on a public website of the Secretary.
(k)

Reporting requirement
Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this section, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate on the grant program established by this section. The report shall include a description of the grantees and the activities for which grantees used a grant awarded under this section.
(l)

Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated for purposes of this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.
(m)

Definitions
In this section:
(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. 1058(f)).
(2)

Eligible entity
The term eligible entity means an entity that is—
(A)
an institution of higher education, as such term is defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001); or
(B)
a labor organization.
(3)

Grantee
The term grantee means an eligible entity that has received a grant under this section.
(4)

Lead applicant
The term lead applicant means the eligible entity that is primarily responsible for the preparation, conduct, and administration of the project for which the grant was awarded.
(5)

Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Education, and the Secretary of Labor.”.