[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 53 (Monday, May 4, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H2744-H2746]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               AMENDMENTS

  Under clause 6 of rule XXIII, proposed amendments were submitted as 
follows:

[[Page H2745]]

                                 H.R. 6

                         Offered By: Mr. Owens

       Amendment No. 78: Page 349, after line 9, insert the 
     following:
         TITLE XI--INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION RECRUITMENT

     SEC. 1101. POSTSECONDARY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION 
                   RECRUITMENT.

       (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
       (1) There are more than 200,000 to 400,000 vacancies in 
     various categories of information technology jobs.
       (2) From 1996 to 2005, more than 1,300,000 new computer 
     scientists, engineers, and systems analysts will be required 
     in the United States to fill vacant jobs, which equals 
     136,800 new workers per year.
       (3) Systems analysts will experience the largest job 
     growth, accounting for a 103 percent increase in the number 
     of new positions from 1996 (506,000) to 2005 (1,025,000).
       (4) The shortage of information technology workers 
     transcends industries, affecting the manufacturing, service, 
     transportation, health care, education, and government 
     sectors. Within each sector, vacancies exist at all levels 
     from aides and mechanics to programmers and designers.
       (5) The information technology worker shortage is having an 
     adverse effect on the viability of businesses in the United 
     States and on the Nation's competitiveness. Industry surveys 
     report that half of industry executives cite the lack of 
     workers skilled in technology as the number one obstacle to 
     their company's growth. An additional 20 percent of industry 
     executives identify the lack of information technology 
     workers as a major obstacle to their company's growth.
       (6) A major factor affecting the short supply of 
     information technology workers is the mismatch between what 
     universities teach and what industry needs.
       (7) It is in the national interest to promote special 
     initiatives which effectively educate and train our domestic 
     workforce to keep pace with these expanding job 
     opportunities.
       (8) Institutions of higher education have the capacity and 
     resources to provide a role of oversight and technical 
     assistance to a wide range of local entities, including 
     community-based organizations, participating in a 
     comprehensive education and training program for potential 
     technology workers.
       (9) Higher education institutions must be responsive to the 
     digital environment and expand both their outreach efforts 
     and on-campus activities to train and certify individuals to 
     close the information technology worker gap.
       (b) Amendment.--Title II is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:

         ``PART G--INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION RECRUITMENT

     ``SEC. 281. PARTNERSHIPS FOR POSTSECONDARY INFORMATION 
                   TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION RECRUITMENT.

       ``(a) Grants Authorized.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may make grants under this 
     section, in accordance with competitive criteria established 
     by the Secretary, to institutions of higher education, in 
     order to establish, oversee the operation of, and provide 
     technical assistance to, projects described in paragraph (2).
       ``(2) Projects.--Projects under this section shall be 
     projects implemented by a community-based organization 
     described in subsection (b), or by the institution of higher 
     education receiving the grant, to provide postsecondary 
     information technology education.
       ``(3) Restrictions.--An institution of higher education 
     shall be eligible to receive only one grant under this 
     section, but may, subject to the requirements of this 
     section, use the grant to enter into contracts with more than 
     one community-based organization. A community-based 
     organization shall not be eligible to enter into a contract 
     under this section with more than one institution of higher 
     education.
       ``(4) Period of grant.--The provision of payments under a 
     grant under this section shall not exceed 5 fiscal years and 
     shall be subject to the annual approval of the Secretary and 
     subject to the availability of appropriations for each fiscal 
     year involved.
       ``(b) Community-Based Organizations.--
       ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), a community-
     based organization described in this subsection is an entity 
     that, at the time the entity enters into a contract with an 
     institution of higher education for a project under this 
     section, and throughout the duration of that contract--
       ``(A) is--
       ``(i) a governmental agency; or
       ``(ii) an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of 
     the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under 
     section 501(a) of such Code; and
       ``(B) is one of the following:
       ``(i) A local partnership (as defined in section 4 of the 
     School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994) receiving a grant 
     under section 302 of such Act.
       ``(ii) An entity organized and operated for religious 
     purposes.
       ``(iii) An entity furnishing school-age child care services 
     after school.
       ``(iv) A community-based college computer recruitment 
     center.
       ``(v) An entity furnishing adult education.
       ``(vi) A library.
       ``(vii) A museum.
       ``(viii) Any other entity organized and operated for 
     cultural, literary, or educational purposes.
       ``(2) Limitation.--An entity shall not be considered a 
     community-based organization described in this subsection 
     unless, at the time the entity enters into a contract with an 
     institution of higher education for a project under this 
     section, it has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the 
     Secretary that--
       ``(A) it has the capacity successfully to recruit eligible 
     individuals described in subsection (c) for participation in 
     a project described in subsection (a), consistent with the 
     enrollment requirements in subsection (d)(2)(E);
       ``(B) it is providing an educational service, social 
     service, or employment procurement service; and
       ``(C) in the case of an entity that independently manages 
     its own finances, it has been in existence 2 years or more.
       ``(c) Eligible Individuals.--An eligible individual 
     described in this subsection is an individual who--
       ``(1) has submitted a satisfactory application to receive 
     postsecondary information technology education recruitment 
     assistance through a project under this section; and
       ``(2) has a certificate of graduation from a school 
     providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent 
     of such a certificate.
       ``(d) Duties.--
       ``(1) Institutions of higher education.--An institution of 
     higher education receiving a grant under this section shall 
     use the funds provided under the grant to carry out the 
     following duties:
       ``(A) Final selection of community-based organizations 
     described in subsection (b) desiring to provide, at one or 
     more sites, in accordance with a contract with the 
     institution of higher education and this section, 
     postsecondary information technology education and employment 
     procurement assistance to eligible individuals described in 
     subsection (c).
       ``(B) Entering into a contract with each community-based 
     organization selected under subparagraph (A) under which the 
     institution and the organization agree to carry out the 
     duties respectively required of them under this section with 
     respect to each site described in subparagraph (A).
       ``(C) With respect to each site described in subparagraph 
     (A)--
       ``(i) design of a process for the recruitment of students 
     from the site to enroll in college courses or matriculate in 
     college programs;
       ``(ii) provision of such funding for the establishment and 
     initial operation of the site as was specified in the grant 
     application submitted by the institution to the Secretary;
       ``(iii) approval of final site selection and preparation;
       ``(iv) initial orientation and training of personnel 
     employed to manage and operate the site;
       ``(v) design and certification of the instructional and 
     academic programs, and oversight of the implementation of the 
     programs;
       ``(vi) oversight of equipment purchases and contracts for 
     equipment maintenance; and
       ``(vii) selection of an outside contractor for periodic 
     evaluation of the management and operation of the site.
       ``(2) Community-based organizations.--
       ``(A) In general.--A community-based organization 
     implementing a project under this section with an institution 
     of higher education, at one or more sites, shall carry out 
     the duties described in this paragraph, with respect to each 
     such site, subject to the oversight and guidance of the 
     institution.
       ``(B) General duties.--The organization--
       ``(i) shall undertake final site selection and preparation;
       ``(ii) shall recruit and hire a site director;
       ``(iii) shall carry out any supplementary instructional, 
     academic, or educational activities specified in the contract 
     with the institution of higher education that are not 
     described in subparagraph (D);
       ``(iv) shall assemble an advisory committee composed of 
     individuals residing in the community in which the site is 
     located, as well as industry representatives, who desire to 
     assist the organization in ensuring that the goals of the 
     organization are consistent with the goals and needs of the 
     community population;
       ``(v) shall provide to the institution other evidence of 
     volunteer support from among individuals residing in the 
     community in which the site is located and industry 
     representatives;
       ``(vi) shall recruit eligible individuals for enrollment, 
     subject to subparagraph (E); and
       ``(vii) shall maintain waiting lists of eligible 
     individuals desiring to enroll in the project's programs.
       ``(C) Site requirements.--The organization shall ensure 
     that each site--
       ``(i) has a minimum of 20 fully functioning computers with 
     sufficient capacity to perform all of the computer operations 
     that are the subject of the curriculum specified in 
     subparagraph (D);
       ``(ii) in addition to the space for the computers described 
     in clause (i), has--

       ``(I) a classroom space with the capacity for seating a 
     minimum of 30 students; and
       ``(II) a separate office for the site director;

       ``(iii) is real property subject to the control of the 
     organization or the institution, through a lease or other 
     legal instrument, for a period of not less than 5 years;
       ``(iv) is open to enrolled individuals not less than 12 
     hours per day; and
       ``(v) is located within walking distance of public 
     transportation.
       ``(D) Information technology curriculum.--

[[Page H2746]]

       ``(i) In general.--The organization shall ensure that each 
     site offers enrollees a curriculum that includes a broad 
     range of course work in information technology.
       ``(ii) Courses leading to certification.--Such curriculum 
     shall include course work leading to a certification of 
     competence in areas of information technology recognized by 
     the National Skill Standards Board established under the 
     National Skill Standards Act of 1994.
       ``(iii) Specific courses.--The computer training offered 
     shall include courses in basic computer competence, on-the-
     job upgrade assistance, and advanced computer competence.
       ``(E) Enrollment requirements.--The organization shall 
     ensure that its enrollment of eligible individuals at each 
     site is consistent with the following:
       ``(i) Not less than 50 percent of the eligible individuals 
     shall be, at the time of enrollment, individuals--

       ``(I) to whom a credit was allowed under section 32 of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for the preceding taxable year;
       ``(II) who are recipients of assistance under a State 
     program funded under part A of title IV of the Social 
     Security Act;
       ``(III) who are a member of a household participating in 
     the food stamp program; or
       ``(IV) who are considered low-income pursuant to 
     regulations promulgated by the Secretary under this section.

       ``(ii) Not less than 50 percent of the eligible individuals 
     shall be, at the time of enrollment, under 25 years of age.
       ``(iii) No prerequisite relating to net worth, income, or 
     assets may be applied to any eligible individual who, at the 
     time of enrollment, is over 50 years of age, except that this 
     requirement shall not be construed to supersede clause (i).
       ``(e) Implementation of Projects Solely by Institutions.--
     The Secretary may make a grant under this section to an 
     institution of higher education that desires to implement a 
     project under this section without the participation of a 
     community-based organization described in subsection (b), if 
     the institution agrees to carry out all of the duties 
     required of such an organization under this section, in 
     addition to the duties otherwise required of an institution 
     of higher education. The Secretary shall, in awarding grants 
     under this section, give priority to institutions of higher 
     education whose grant application includes an assurance that 
     the institution will contract with one or more community-
     based organizations in accordance with this section.
       ``(f) Applications.--To apply for a grant under this 
     section for any fiscal year, an institution of higher 
     education shall submit an application to the Secretary in 
     accordance with the procedures established by the Secretary. 
     The application shall specify the institution's preliminary 
     selections for the community-based organizations (if any) 
     with which the institution proposes to contract, and shall 
     include information with respect to preliminary site 
     selections.
       ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
     $100,000,000 for fiscal year 1999 and such sums as may be 
     necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.
       ``(h) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
       ``(1) Adult education.--The term `adult education' has the 
     meaning given such term in section 312 of the Adult Education 
     Act.
       ``(2) Community-based college computer recruitment 
     center.--The term `community-based college computer 
     recruitment center' means a computer center--
       ``(A) funded by both the Federal Government and at least 
     one private sector entity;
       ``(B) located in a low-income community (as determined by 
     the Secretary); and
       ``(C) organized and operated for the purpose of providing 
     families with access to computer resources that otherwise 
     would not be available to them.
       ``(3) Food stamp program.--The term `food stamp program' 
     has the meaning given such term in section 3(h) of the Food 
     Stamp Act of 1977.
       ``(4) Library.--The term `library' has the meaning given 
     such term in section 213 of the Library Services and 
     Technology Act.
       ``(5) Museum.--The term `museum' has the meaning given such 
     term in section 272 of the Museum and Library Services 
     Act.''.