[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6601 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 6601

   To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to codify a 
  competitive grant program to build community colleges' capacity to 
 provide employment and training programs for in-demand industries or 
                              occupations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 5, 2023

 Mrs. McBath (for herself, Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Bowman, Mr. Takano, and Mr. 
   Thompson of California) introduced the following bill; which was 
        referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to codify a 
  competitive grant program to build community colleges' capacity to 
 provide employment and training programs for in-demand industries or 
                              occupations.

    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 ``Training, Retention, And Investment 
Now for a Better America Act'' or the ``TRAIN Act''.

SEC. 2. STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY COLLEGES TRAINING GRANTS PROGRAM.

    Subtitle D of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
Act (29 U.S.C. 3221 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 172 as section 173; and
            (2) by inserting after section 171 the following:

``SEC. 172. STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY COLLEGES TRAINING GRANTS PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
            ``(1) to establish, improve, or expand high-quality 
        educational or career training programs at community colleges; 
        and
            ``(2) to expand opportunities for individuals to obtain 
        recognized postsecondary credentials that are nationally or 
        regionally portable and stackable for high-wage, or in-demand 
        industry sectors or occupations.
    ``(b) Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--From the amounts appropriated to carry 
        out this section under subsection (k) and not reserved under 
        paragraph (2), the Secretary shall, on a competitive basis, 
        make grants to eligible institutions to carry out the 
        activities described in subsection (e).
            ``(2) Reservation.--Of the amounts appropriated to carry 
        out this section under subsection (k), the Secretary may 
        reserve not more than two percent for the administration of 
        grants awarded under this section, including--
                    ``(A) providing technical assistance and targeted 
                outreach to support eligible institutions serving a 
                high number or high percentage of low-income 
                individuals or individuals with barriers to employment, 
                and rural-serving eligible institutions, to provide 
                guidance and assistance in the process of applying for 
                grants under this section; and
                    ``(B) evaluating and reporting on the performance 
                and impact of activities funded under this section in 
                accordance with subsections (f) through (h).
    ``(c) Award Periods.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each grant under this section shall be 
        awarded for a grant period of not more than 4 years.
            ``(2) Subsequent grants.--An eligible institution that 
        receives a grant for a 4-year grant period under this section 
        may receive one or more additional grants under this section 
        for periods of not more than 4 years, if the Secretary 
        determines that the eligible institution's performance with 
        respect to activities supported by each preceding grant 
        received under this section qualifies the institution for such 
        additional grant.
    ``(d) Application.--
            ``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
        this section, an eligible institution shall submit an 
        application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
        containing such information as the Secretary may require.
            ``(2) Contents.--At a minimum, an application submitted by 
        an eligible institution under paragraph (1) shall include each 
        the following:
                    ``(A) A description of the community college and 
                industry partnership to be established by the eligible 
                institution under subsection (e)(1), including--
                            ``(i) the expected participation and 
                        responsibilities of each of the partners 
                        included in the community college and industry 
                        partnership;
                            ``(ii) evidence of such partnership's 
                        capacity to carry out activities described in 
                        subsection (e); and
                            ``(iii) the methods and strategies the 
                        partnership will use to engage with employers 
                        in in-demand industry sectors or occupations.
                    ``(B) A description of the industries or sectors to 
                be served by the activities to be carried out under the 
                grant, including--
                            ``(i) how such industries or sectors will 
                        be identified by the eligible institution 
                        through working with businesses, industry 
                        associations and organizations, labor 
                        organizations, labor management organizations, 
                        State boards, local boards, economic 
                        development agencies, or other organizations 
                        that the eligible institution determines 
                        necessary; and
                            ``(ii) data demonstrating such industries 
                        or sectors are aligned with employer demand in 
                        the geographic area to be served by the 
                        eligible institution with such grant.
                    ``(C) The extent to which the eligible institution 
                has prior experience in leading capacity building 
                projects, which demonstrates such institution's ability 
                to accomplish multi-pronged, complex projects and an 
                explanation of the results of any such projects.
                    ``(D) The extent to which the eligible institution 
                can--
                            ``(i) leverage additional resources to 
                        support the education or career training 
                        program, career pathway program, or work-based 
                        learning program described in subsection 
                        (e)(2)(A) to be funded with the grant; and
                            ``(ii) demonstrate the future 
                        sustainability of such program.
                    ``(E) A description of each proposed program 
                referred to in subparagraph (D)(i) to be supported by 
                the grant, including--
                            ``(i) whether such program--
                                    ``(I) is part of a career pathway; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) includes an integrated 
                                education and training;
                            ``(ii) steps the eligible institution will 
                        take to ensure the quality of such program; and
                            ``(iii) the estimated number of individuals 
                        to receive training under such program.
                    ``(F) A description of any recognized postsecondary 
                credential that the eligible institution proposes to 
                offer or develop using such grant, and an assurance 
                that such credential shall be--
                            ``(i) nationally portable;
                            ``(ii) an industry recognized credential in 
                        an industry that the eligible institution 
                        proposes to support using the grant or, if not 
                        available for such industry, another credential 
                        determined by the Secretary to be appropriate; 
                        and
                            ``(iii) related to the in-demand industry 
                        or sector that the eligible partnership 
                        proposes to support using the grant, and 
                        stackable with respect to other credentials.
                    ``(G) A description of how each credential 
                described in subparagraph (F) is aligned with quality 
                job opportunities, including, with respect to such 
                opportunities--
                            ``(i) the wage level, and whether such 
                        wages support economic self-sufficiency;
                            ``(ii) the availability of benefits, such 
                        as paid time off, health insurance, and 
                        retirement savings plan;
                            ``(iii) the availability of predictable 
                        work hours;
                            ``(iv) the history of employer compliance 
                        with Federal and State health, safety, and 
                        employment standards; and
                            ``(v) the opportunities for advancement 
                        within an industry or sector, which may include 
                        additional education and training opportunities 
                        and mentorship.
                    ``(H) The needs that will be addressed by the 
                community college and industry partnership supported by 
                the grant.
                    ``(I) A description of the population and 
                geographic area to be served by the eligible 
                institution, including how--
                            ``(i) such eligible institution will serve 
                        unemployed individuals, low-income individuals, 
                        dislocated workers, individuals with barriers 
                        to employment, individuals with disabilities, 
                        veterans, and women; and
                            ``(ii) the programs described in subsection 
                        (e) will support access and eliminate barriers 
                        to training and employment for individuals 
                        described under clause (i).
                    ``(J) The evidence upon which the education and 
                training strategies to be used in the programs are 
                based and an explanation of how such evidence 
                influenced the design of the educational or training 
                programs to improve education and employment outcomes.
                    ``(K) A description of the activities to be carried 
                out under the grant, and whether, and to what extent, 
                such activities are expected to align with the 
                workforce strategies identified in--
                            ``(i) any State plan or local plan 
                        submitted under this Act by the State, outlying 
                        area, or locality in which the partnership is 
                        expected to operate;
                            ``(ii) any State plan submitted under 
                        section 122 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
                        Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 
                        2342) by such State or outlying area; and
                            ``(iii) any economic development plan of 
                        the chief executive of such State or outlying 
                        area.
                    ``(L) The goals of the eligible institution with 
                respect to--
                            ``(i) capacity building (as described in 
                        subsection (f)(1)(B)); and
                            ``(ii) the expected performance of 
                        individuals participating in the programs to be 
                        offered by the eligible institution, including 
                        with respect to performance applicable under 
                        section 116 or subsection (f) of this section.
            ``(3) Consideration of previous experience.--The Secretary 
        may not disqualify an otherwise eligible institution from 
        receiving a grant under this section solely because such 
        institution lacks previous experience in capacity building 
        projects, as described in subparagraph (2)(C).
            ``(4) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
        Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that will 
        use the grant to serve--
                    ``(A) individuals with barriers to employment; or
                    ``(B) incumbent workers who need to gain or improve 
                foundational skills to enhance their employability.
    ``(e) Uses of Funds.--
            ``(1) Community college and industry partnership.--For the 
        purpose of carrying out the activities specified in paragraphs 
        (2) and (3), an eligible institution that receives a grant 
        under this section shall establish a community college and 
        industry partnership, or continue an existing partnership, with 
        one or more employers in an in-demand industry sector or 
        occupation and shall maintain such partnership for the duration 
        of the grant period. The eligible institution shall ensure that 
        the partnership--
                    ``(A) targets one or more specific in-demand 
                industry or sector;
                    ``(B) supports industry recognized credentials that 
                are aligned with quality job opportunities;
                    ``(C) includes collaboration with the workforce 
                development system;
                    ``(D) serves adult and dislocated workers, 
                incumbent workers, and new entrants to the workforce;
                    ``(E) uses an evidence-based program design that is 
                appropriate for the activities carried out by the 
                partnership; and
                    ``(F) incorporates, to the extent appropriate, 
                virtual service delivery to facilitate technology-
                enabled learning.
            ``(2) Required activities.--The partnership established by 
        the eligible institution under paragraph (1), shall--
                    ``(A) establish, improve, or expand high quality, 
                evidence-based education or career training programs, 
                career pathway programs, or work-based learning 
                programs (including apprenticeship programs or pre-
                apprenticeships that qualify an individual for 
                participation in an apprenticeship program) that are 
                aligned with industry recognized credentials and 
                quality job opportunities; and
                    ``(B) use not less than 15 percent of the grant to 
                provide supportive services to individuals 
                participating in the programs funded with the grant to 
                facilitate retention and program completion, which may 
                include--
                            ``(i) childcare, transportation, mental 
                        health services, substance use disorder 
                        prevention and treatment, and assistance in 
                        obtaining health insurance coverage and 
                        housing;
                            ``(ii) assistance in accessing State and 
                        Federal means-tested benefits programs;
                            ``(iii) career navigation, coaching, 
                        mentorship, and case management services, 
                        including providing information and outreach to 
                        individuals with barriers to employment to 
                        encourage such individuals to participate in 
                        programs funded with the grant; and
                            ``(iv) providing access to course 
                        materials, technological devices, required 
                        equipment, and other supports necessary for 
                        participation in and successful completion of 
                        such programs.
            ``(3) Additional activities.--In addition to the activities 
        required under paragraph (2), the partnership established under 
        paragraph (1) shall carry out one or more of the following 
        activities:
                    ``(A) Establish, improve, or expand--
                            ``(i) articulation agreements (as defined 
                        in section 486A(a) of the Higher Education Act 
                        of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1093a(a)));
                            ``(ii) credit transfer agreements;
                            ``(iii) corequisite remediation programs 
                        that enable a student to receive remedial 
                        education services while enrolled in a 
                        postsecondary course rather than requiring the 
                        student to receive remedial education before 
                        enrolling in a such a course;
                            ``(iv) dual or concurrent enrollment 
                        programs;
                            ``(v) competency-based education and 
                        assessment; or
                            ``(vi) policies and processes to award 
                        academic credit for prior learning or for the 
                        programs described in paragraph (2).
                    ``(B) Make available, in a format that is open, 
                searchable, and easily comparable, information on--
                            ``(i) curricula and recognized 
                        postsecondary credentials offered through 
                        programs funded with the grant, including any 
                        curricula or credentials created or further 
                        developed using such grant;
                            ``(ii) the skills or competencies developed 
                        by individuals who participate in such 
                        programs; and
                            ``(iii) related employment and earnings 
                        outcomes.
                    ``(C) Establish or implement plans for providers of 
                the programs described in paragraph (2) to meet the 
                criteria and carry out the procedures necessary to be 
                included on the eligible training services provider 
                list described in section 122(d).
                    ``(D) Purchase, lease, or refurbish specialized 
                equipment as necessary to carry out such programs.
                    ``(E) Reduce or eliminate unmet financial need 
                relating to participants' cost of attendance (as 
                defined under section 472 of the Higher Education Act 
                of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ll)) in such programs.
            ``(4) Administrative cost limit.--An eligible institution 
        may use not more than 10 percent of the funds received under 
        this section for administrative costs, including costs related 
        to collecting information, analysis, and coordination for 
        purposes of subsection (f).
    ``(f) Performance Outcomes and Performance Reviews.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct an annual 
        performance review with respect to activities carried out under 
        this section, which shall include--
                    ``(A) an assessment of outcomes of students who 
                participated in an education or training program 
                supported by a grant under this section, including 
                whether such students have proficient levels of 
                performance based on indicators described in section 
                116(b);
                    ``(B) the extent to which the eligible 
                institution--
                            ``(i) engaged employers and secured 
                        investment in educational and training programs 
                        in the in-demand industry sectors and 
                        occupations targeted by the eligible 
                        institution;
                            ``(ii) utilized, designed, or implemented 
                        new and accelerated instructional techniques or 
                        technologies, including the use of advanced 
                        online and technology-enabled learning; and
                            ``(iii) supported program and policy 
                        alignment across systems and addressed 
                        duplicative services or service gaps; and
                    ``(C) such other indicators of success as 
                determined by the Secretary.
            ``(2) Failure to meet proficient performance.--After 
        conducting a performance review under paragraph (1), if the 
        Secretary determines that an eligible institution did not 
        achieve proficient performance based on the criteria described 
        in such paragraph the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) provide technical assistance to the eligible 
                institution; and
                    ``(B) develop a performance improvement plan for 
                the eligible institution.
    ``(g) Evaluations and Reports.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 5 years after the date on 
        which the first grant is made under this section, the Secretary 
        shall design and conduct an evaluation to determine the overall 
        effectiveness of the eligible institutions receiving a grant 
        under this section.
            ``(2) Elements.--The evaluation conducted under paragraph 
        (1) shall include an assessment of the general effectiveness of 
        programs and activities supported by grants awarded under this 
        section, including the extent to which the programs and 
        activities--
                    ``(A) developed new or expanded existing successful 
                industry sector strategies, including the extent to 
                which such eligible institutions deepened employer 
                engagement and developed education and training 
                programs that met industry skill needs;
                    ``(B) created, expanded, or enhanced career 
                pathways, including the extent to which the eligible 
                institutions developed or improved competency-based 
                education and assessment, credit for prior learning, 
                modularized and self-paced curricula, integrated 
                education and career training, dual enrollment in 
                secondary and postsecondary career pathways, stacked 
                and latticed credentials, and online and distance 
                learning;
                    ``(C) created alignment between community colleges 
                and the workforce development system;
                    ``(D) assisted individuals with finding, retaining, 
                or advancing in employment;
                    ``(E) assisted individuals with earning recognized 
                postsecondary credentials;
                    ``(F) served various demographic groups, including 
                people of different geographic locations, ages, races, 
                national origins, and sex; and
                    ``(G) increased access to industry recognized 
                credentials and supported pathways to quality job 
                opportunities for individuals with barriers to 
                employment.
            ``(3) Design requirements.--The evaluation under this 
        subsection shall--
                    ``(A) be designed by the Secretary (acting through 
                the Chief Evaluation Officer) in conjunction with the 
                eligible institutions being evaluated;
                    ``(B) include analysis of participant feedback and 
                outcome and process measures; and
                    ``(C) use designs that employ the most rigorous 
                analytical and statistical methods that are reasonably 
                feasible, such as the use of control groups.
            ``(4) Data accessibility.--The Secretary shall make 
        available on a publicly accessible website of the Department of 
        Labor any data collected as part of the evaluation under this 
        subsection. Such data shall be made available in an aggregated 
        format that does not reveal personally identifiable 
        information.
            ``(5) Publication and reporting of evaluation findings.--
        The Secretary (acting through the Chief Evaluation Officer) 
        shall--
                    ``(A) not later than one year after the initial 
                award of grants under this section, publish an interim 
                report on the preliminary results of the evaluation 
                conducted under this subsection;
                    ``(B) not later than 60 days after the date on 
                which the evaluation is completed under this 
                subsection, submit to the Committee on Education and 
                the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the 
                Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of 
                the Senate a report on such evaluation; and
                    ``(C) not later than 90 days after such completion 
                date, publish and make the results of the evaluation 
                available on a publicly accessible website of the 
                Department of Labor.
    ``(h) Annual Reports.--The Secretary shall make available on a 
publicly accessible website of the Department of Labor, in transparent, 
linked, open, and interoperable data formats, the following 
information:
            ``(1) The performance of eligible institution based on the 
        assessment of student outcomes described in subsection 
        (f)(1)(A).
            ``(2) The number of individuals enrolled in employment and 
        training activities funded with a grant under this section.
    ``(i) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Community college.--The term `community college' 
        means--
                    ``(A) a public institution of higher education (as 
                defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act 
                (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)), at which--
                            ``(i) the highest degree awarded is an 
                        associate degree; or
                            ``(ii) an associate degree is the most 
                        frequently awarded degree;
                    ``(B) a branch campus of a 4-year public 
                institution of higher education (as defined in section 
                101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                1001)), if, at such branch campus--
                            ``(i) the highest degree awarded is an 
                        associate degree; or
                            ``(ii) an associate degree is the most 
                        frequently awarded degree;
                    ``(C) a 2-year Tribal College or University (as 
                defined in section 316(b)(3) of the Higher Education 
                Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)(3))); or
                    ``(D) a degree-granting Tribal College or 
                University (as defined in section 316(b)(3) of the 
                Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)(3))) 
                at which--
                            ``(i) the highest degree awarded is an 
                        associate degree; or
                            ``(ii) an associate degree is the most 
                        frequently awarded degree.
            ``(2) Eligible institution.--The term `eligible 
        institution' means--
                    ``(A) a community college;
                    ``(B) a postsecondary vocational institution (as 
                defined in section 102(c) of the Higher Education Act 
                of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(c))); or
                    ``(C) a consortium of such colleges or 
                institutions.
    ``(j) Supplement Not Supplant.--Funds made available under this 
section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant other Federal, 
State, and local public funds made available for carrying out the 
activities described in this section.
    ``(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section--
            ``(1) $110,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
            ``(2) $121,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
            ``(3) $133,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
            ``(4) $146,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
            ``(5) $161,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; and
            ``(6) $176,000,000 for fiscal year 2029.''.

SEC. 3. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO THE TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
Act in section 1(b) is amended--
            (1) by striking the item relating to section 172; and
            (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 171, 
        the following:

``Sec. 172. Strengthening community colleges training grants program.
``Sec. 173. Authorization of appropriations.''.
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