[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 44 (Monday, March 22, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H2185-H2188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      ENERGY JOBS FOR VETERANS ACT

  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4592) to provide for the establishment of a pilot program to 
encourage the employment of veterans in energy-related positions, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4592

       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 referred to as the ``Energy Jobs for 
     Veterans Act''.

     SEC. 2. VETERANS ENERGY-RELATED EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM.

       (a) Establishment of Pilot Program.--To encourage the 
     employment of eligible veterans in the energy industry, the 
     Secretary of Labor, as part of the Veteran's Workforce 
     Investment Program, shall carry out a pilot program to be 
     known as the ``Veterans Energy-Related Employment Program''. 
     Under the pilot program, the Secretary shall award 
     competitive grants to three States for the establishment and 
     administration of a State program to make grants to energy 
     employers and labor-management organizations that provide 
     covered training, on-job training, apprenticeships, and 
     certification classes to eligible veterans. Such a program 
     shall be known as a ``State Energy-Related Employment 
     Program''.
       (b) Eligibility for Grants.--To be eligible to receive a 
     grant under the pilot program, a State shall submit to the 
     Secretary an application that includes each of the following:

[[Page H2186]]

       (1) A proposal for the expenditure of grant funds to 
     establish and administer a public-private partnership program 
     designed to provide covered training, on-job training, 
     apprenticeships, and certification classes to a significant 
     number of eligible veterans and ensure lasting and 
     sustainable employment in well-paying jobs in the energy 
     industry.
       (2) Evidence that the State has--
       (A) a population of eligible veterans of an appropriate 
     size to carry out the State program;
       (B) a robust and diverse energy industry; and
       (C) the ability to carry out the State program described in 
     the proposal under paragraph (1).
       (3) Such other information and assurances as the Secretary 
     may require.
       (c) Use of Funds.--A State that is the recipient of a grant 
     under this section shall use the grant for the following 
     purposes:
       (1) Making grants to energy employers and labor-management 
     organizations to reimburse such employers and organizations 
     for the cost of providing covered training, on-job training, 
     apprenticeships, and certification classes to eligible 
     veterans.
       (2) Conducting outreach to inform energy employers, labor-
     management organizations, and veterans, including veterans in 
     rural areas, of their eligibility or potential eligibility 
     for participation in the State program.
       (d) Conditions.--Under the pilot program, each grant to a 
     State shall be subject to the following conditions:
       (1) The State shall repay to the Secretary, on such date as 
     shall be determined by the Secretary, any amount received 
     under the pilot program that is not used for the purposes 
     described in subsection (c).
       (2) The State shall submit to the Secretary, at such times 
     and containing such information as the Secretary shall 
     require, reports on the use of grant funds.
       (e) Employer Requirements.--In order to receive a grant 
     made by a State under the pilot program, an energy employer 
     shall--
       (1) submit to the administrator of the State Energy-Related 
     Employment Program an application that includes--
       (A) the rate of pay for each eligible veteran proposed to 
     be trained using grant funds;
       (B) the average rate of pay for an individual employed by 
     the energy employer in a similar position who is not an 
     eligible veteran; and
       (C) such other information and assurances as the 
     administrator may require; and
       (2) agree to submit to the administrator, for each quarter, 
     a report containing such information as the Secretary may 
     specify.
       (f) Limitation.--None of the funds made available to an 
     energy employer through a grant under the pilot program may 
     be used to provide training of any kind to a person who is 
     not an eligible veteran.
       (g) Report to Congress.--Together with the report required 
     to be submitted annually under section 4107(c) of title 38, 
     United States Code, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 
     report on the pilot program for the year covered by such 
     report. The report on the pilot program shall include a 
     detailed description of activities carried out under this 
     section and an evaluation of the program.
       (h) Administrative and Reporting Costs.--Of the amounts 
     appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations 
     under subsection (j), two percent shall be made available to 
     the Secretary for administrative costs associated with 
     implementing and evaluating the pilot program under this 
     section and for preparing and submitting the report required 
     under subsection (f). The Secretary shall determine the 
     appropriate maximum amount of each grant awarded under this 
     section that may be used by the recipient for administrative 
     and reporting costs.
       (i) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
       (1) The term ``covered training, on-job training, 
     apprenticeships, and certification classes'' means training, 
     on-job training, apprenticeships, and certification classes 
     that are--
       (A) designed to provide the veteran with skills that are 
     particular to an energy industry and not directly 
     transferable to employment in another industry; and
       (B) approved as provided in paragraph (1) or (2), as 
     appropriate, of subsection (a) of section 3687 of title 38, 
     United States Code.
       (2) The term ``eligible veteran'' means a veteran, as that 
     term is defined in section 101(3) of title 38, United States 
     Code, who is employed by an energy employer and enrolled or 
     participating in a covered training, on-job training, 
     apprenticeship, or certification class.
       (3) The term ``energy employer'' means an entity that 
     employs individuals in a trade or business in an energy 
     industry.
       (4) The term ``energy industry'' means any of the following 
     industries:
       (A) The energy-efficient building, construction, or 
     retrofits industry.
       (B) The renewable electric power industry, including the 
     wind and solar energy industries.
       (C) The biofuels industry.
       (D) The energy efficiency assessment industry that serves 
     the residential, commercial, or industrial sectors.
       (E) The oil and natural gas industry.
       (F) The nuclear industry.
       (j) Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
     to the Secretary $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 
     through 2015, for the purpose of carrying out the pilot 
     program.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released 
survey data showing unsettling numbers on the employment rates of newly 
returning veterans. Last year, the unemployment rate for our Iraqi and 
Afghanistan veterans was over 10 percent. Even more disturbing were 
figures showing that the jobless rate of younger veterans exceeded 20 
percent.
  Congressman Harry Teague, a first-term member of our committee from 
New Mexico, proposed an innovative way to provide training for veterans 
in the energy industry. He introduced this act, H.R. 4592, the Energy 
Jobs for Veterans Act.
  I would yield to Mr. Teague for further explanation of the bill.
  Mr. TEAGUE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 
4592, the Energy Jobs for Veterans Act. I would like to thank Chairman 
Filner for bringing this legislation to the floor and Chairwoman 
Herseth Sandlin and Ranking Member Boozman for their assistance in 
crafting this legislation. Finally, I would like to thank the 
Democratic and Republican professional staff of the Economic 
Opportunity Subcommittee, namely, Juan Lara, Javier Martinez, and Mike 
Brink, for their work and expertise.
  Madam Speaker, our dependence on foreign oil threatens our national 
security and the lives and safety of our men and women in uniform 
serving their country overseas. When the fierce global competition for 
petroleum drives up the price of crude, millions upon millions of 
dollars flow into the coffers of nations that don't like us too much. 
In too many cases, that money has financed weapons and operations that 
have resulted in the deaths of American soldiers.
  What can we do about it? It's simple. Produce our energy in America, 
instead of importing it from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and 
Venezuela.
  How do we do it? Also straightforward. We invest in the production of 
energy right here in America. We produce American oil. We produce 
clean-burning American natural gas. We extract liquid fuels from algae. 
We construct wind and solar farms. We make our homes more efficient, 
and we invest in nuclear power.
  What's the result? We keep our money at home. We create energy jobs 
all over America, and we bolster our national security.
  My bill means that those who fought for their country abroad would be 
able to continue their work for the security of our country when they 
return home by getting a job and a career producing our energy right 
here in America.
  My bill says, if you risked your life for your country fighting 
enemies funded by foreign oil purchased with American dollars, then you 
can come home and continue your work for our national security, this 
time with a career in the energy industry.
  The Energy Jobs for Veterans Act will incentivize employers to hire 
veterans for jobs being created by American energy. The bill instructs 
the Department of Labor to award competitive grants to three States to 
establish programs to reimburse employers and other organizations for 
providing on-the-job training and apprenticeship programs for veterans 
that are employed by energy companies. The bill will allow States to 
reimburse employers for training and apprenticeship provided to veteran 
employees.
  Unlike other employment programs for veterans that fund training but 
don't guarantee employment, the Energy Jobs for Veterans Act 
incentivizes companies to hire veterans in the first place, and ensures 
that veterans are learning on the job and collecting valuable work 
experience from the beginning.
  Eligible energy employers are those involved in the energy efficient 
building, construction, and retrofits industry, the renewable electric 
power industry, the biofuels industry, the energy efficiency assessment 
industry, the oil and gas industry, and the nuclear industry.

[[Page H2187]]

  This is a pilot program and it's 100 percent competitive. The 
Secretary of Labor must make the awards to the most competitive 
applications for funds. If this works, we can expand to more States and 
different industries.
  Madam Speaker, now let's get down to why it is really important.
  On March 12th, the Labor Department announced that the unemployment 
rate last year for young Iraq and Afghanistan veterans hit 21.1 
percent. The number was well above the 16.6 percent jobless rate for 
nonveterans of that same age group, 18-24. As of last year, 1.9 million 
had deployed for the wars since 9/11. Many have struggled with mental 
health problems, addiction, and homelessness as they return home. 
Difficulty in finding work can make the adjustments much harder.
  Our veterans were on the front lines defending our freedom. We can't 
leave them behind now. I urge my colleagues to join me in passing this 
bill.
  I will enter into the Record these seven letters of support for my 
bill from my congressional district.

                            Marine Corps League of New Mexico,

                                                   March 22, 2010.
     Representative Harry Teague.
       Sir: I have just received a copy of Bill H.R. 4592.
       I am Marine Corps League Department Commandant for the 
     state of New Mexico. You have the support of the League as 
     well as my personal vote of approval of H.R. 4592. The 
     returning service personnel need all the assistance we as 
     Americans can give them.
           Sincerely,

                                                Vernon Mollan,

                                Commandant of Marine Corps League,
     State of New Mexico.
                                  ____



                                              Sapphire Energy,

                                   San Diego, CA, March 8th, 2010.
     Hon. Harry Teague,
     U.S. House of Representatives, Longworth House Office 
         Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Teague: Sapphire Energy commends you 
     for taking bold measures to both expedite the development of 
     our green economy and provide on-the-job training to 
     America's veterans, through H.R. 4592, the ``Energy Jobs for 
     Veterans Act'' This bill addresses three of our nation's most 
     pressing concerns--energy independence, climate change, and 
     job creation--by helping veterans integrate seamlessly into 
     the domestic energy industry. As the leading company in the 
     algae-based fuels industry, Sapphire Energy applauds you for 
     your consistent leadership on these issues at large, and 
     specifically as it relates to this bill.
       Our war heroes fought to secure America's freedom abroad, 
     and should be given an opportunity to continue their work 
     here at home. H.R. 4592 enables them to do so, by preparing 
     them for a life-long career in the thriving domestic energy 
     industry, which will ultimately help America achieve its 
     foremost security imperative: energy independence. No one has 
     put more on the line to help secure America's security--and 
     no one is better suited to continue doing so on the home 
     front--than our Nation's veterans. As such, Sapphire Energy 
     lends its full support to this initiative, and your concerted 
     efforts to enact the ``Energy Jobs for Veterans Act.''
           Sincerely,

                                                     Tim Zenk,

                              Vice President of Corporate Affairs,
     Sapphire Energy, Inc.
                                  ____



                                      Las Cruces Green Chamber

                                                      of Commerce.
       Dear Congressman Teague: On behalf of the Las Cruces Green 
     Chamber of Commerce, which represents over 300 businesses in 
     Dona Ana County, I'd like to express our support for H.R. 
     4592. The Energy Jobs for Veterans Act will not only provide 
     much needed incentives to make sure that our veterans can 
     find well-paying jobs but also make sure that our growing 
     energy sector has a pool of well-trained workers. This would 
     be an excellent boon to our community.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Nick Voges,
     Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce.
                                  ____

                                          Center of Excellence for


                               Hazardous Materials Management,

                                     Carlsbad, NM, March 10, 2010.
       To Whom It May Concern: The Center of Excellence for 
     Hazardous Materials Management (CEHMM) is a non-profit 
     organization in Carlsbad, NM with a research and development 
     program to convert algae to biofuel. The Center of Excellence 
     is committed to the hire of individuals who can think on 
     their feet, follow direction and wish to contribute to a 
     green energy venture with tremendous potential.
       I believe that many veterans meet all of these criteria, 
     and we welcome applications from this esteemed group. CEHMM 
     currently employs several veterans who have been excellent 
     employees.
       CEHMM fully supports the ``Energy Jobs for Veterans Act'' 
     and would welcome the chance to participate as a member of 
     the biofuels industry.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Douglas C. Lynn,
     Executive Director.
                                  ____

                                               State of New Mexico


                             Department of Veterans' Services,

                                  Sante Fe, NM, February 24, 2010.
     Harry Teague,
     Longworth House Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Honorable Congressman Teague: New Mexico is striving to 
     provide services to our veterans that will enable them to 
     transition into society by providing avenues for employment 
     and business training.
       The proposed Energy Jobs for Veterans Act will allow New 
     Mexico to increase the outreach to recently discharged 
     veterans to provide training in the emerging energy-related 
     fields such as wind, solar, biofuels, geothermal, nuclear, as 
     well as oil and gas.
       New Mexico is a mostly rural state and this very important 
     piece of legislation will go a long way to provide training 
     and outreach to those veterans who live in rural areas of our 
     state where we currently see a high unemployment rate. The 
     men and women who proudly and bravely served our country 
     deserve all of the opportunities possible when it comes to 
     job creation. They were first in line to raise their hand to 
     defend this country and we believe they should be first in 
     line for jobs when they are discharged.
       We appreciate all the support and hard work that you have 
     provided to New Mexico veterans and we fully support this 
     legislation.
           Respectfully,
                                                   John M. Garcia,
     Cabinet Secretary.
                                  ____

         VFW Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, 
           Department of New Mexico,
                                      Glencoe, NM, March 22, 2010.
     Hon. Harry Teague,
     Longworth House Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Congressman Teague: The Department of New Mexico, Veterans 
     of Foreign Wars, strongly supports H.R. 4592 Energy Jobs for 
     Veterans Bill. We share the same vision ``Those who fought 
     for their country abroad would be able to continue their work 
     for the security of our country when they return home--by 
     getting a job, and a career, producing our energy right here 
     in America.''
           Sincerely,
                                                     Raul Sanchez,
                                                        Commander,
     Department of New Mexico, VFW.
                                  ____



                                                PNM Resources,

                                  Albuquerque, NM, March 11, 2010.
     Hon. Harry Teague,
     U.S. House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Teague: PNM Resources commends your 
     thoughtful leadership in the development of our green economy 
     and your support of on-the-job training to America's veterans 
     through HR 4592, the ``Energy Jobs for Veterans Act.'' This 
     bill addresses three of our nation's most pressing concerns--
     energy independence, climate change, and job creation--by 
     helping veterans integrate seamlessly into domestic energy 
     industry. As the largest utility in New Mexico and one of the 
     first utilities to support climate legislation, PNM Resources 
     applauds you for your commitment to diligently address these 
     issues and your leadership on this bill.
       America's veterans should have every opportunity to utilize 
     and develop their skills domestically. HR 4592 prepares our 
     veterans for a life-long career in domestic energy industry, 
     which will ultimately help America achieve its foremost 
     security imperative: energy independence. No one has put more 
     on the line to help secure America's security our Nation's 
     veterans. As such, PNM Resources lends its full support to 
     this initiative, and your concerted efforts to enact the 
     ``Energy Jobs for Veterans Act.''
           Sincerely,
                                                      Jim Ferland,
                        Senior Vice President, Utility Operations.

  Mr. FILNER. Thank you, Congressman Teague, for your strong advocacy 
on behalf of our veterans. This innovative and competitive idea will 
ensure that our returning veterans have the employment opportunities 
they require to make the difficult transition into the civilian 
workforce, while also addressing America's need for energy 
independence.
  Madam Speaker, Congress must act to ensure our returning veterans 
have employment opportunities as they strive to reintegrate into the 
civilian workforce. This bill would help do just that.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, I also rise in support of H.R. 4592, as 
amended, a bill to provide for the establishment of a pilot program to 
encourage the employment of veterans in energy-related positions.
  Madam Speaker, I think the final bill is better. I applaud the manner 
in which the bill was developed. As originally introduced by Mr. 
Teague, the

[[Page H2188]]

bill would have established a Department of Labor grant program to 
subsidize employers for salaries paid to newly hired veterans working 
in the energy sector.
  The ranking member of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, Mr. 
Boozman, Dr. Boozman, expressed some reservations, some concerns about 
the approach, and he offered to work with Mr. Teague to craft a bill 
that would pay for skilled development, providing on-the-job training 
for veterans in the energy sector. And to the credit of Mr. Teague, 
he's worked with our side in a bipartisan manner.
  I believe we have a better bill that will promote greater veterans 
employment results in the long run. I liken it to helping a veteran, in 
a way, instead of perhaps giving him something for a day, we're also 
giving him the opportunity to learn so that it will be for a lifetime.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers and am prepared 
to close.
  Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, once again, I thank Chairwoman Herseth 
Sandlin for her leadership and Ranking Member Dr. Boozman and Mr. 
Teague for their work to bring us a bipartisan bill. I urge my 
colleagues to support it, as amended, to provide for the establishment 
of a pilot program to encourage the employment of veterans in energy-
related positions.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, as we conclude this package of six bills 
that I think do so much for our Nation's veterans, this committee has 
been proud to work in a bipartisan way to get these bills to the floor.
  I would like to remind my colleagues that this committee, in the last 
4 years, has, in fact, done a tremendous amount for our Nation's 
veterans. We have increased the health care budget by more than $20 
billion, 60 percent increase in health care for our Nation's veterans. 
We've updated the GI bill and have a GI bill for the 21st century that 
about 200,000 students are taking advantage of in this first year of 
the bill.
  We are helping to improve access for our rural veterans, for our 
women veterans, and, as we show today, to make sure we bring an end to 
our homeless veterans. So we are very proud of the work that we are 
doing for the veterans that we are so proud of.


                             General Leave

  Mr. FILNER. And as I close, Madam Speaker, I would ask unanimous 
consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise 
and extend their remarks and include extraneous material, both on the 
previous bill, H.R. 4667, and the current bill, H.R. 4592, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
H.R. 4592, ``To provide for the establishment of a pilot program to 
encourage the employment of veterans in energy-related positions,'' a 
bill sponsored by my colleague Congressman Teague from New Mexico.
  H.R. 4592 increases job opportunities increase job opportunities for 
veterans by reimbursing employers for the cost of providing on-the job 
training for veterans in the energy sector through a new ``Veterans 
Energy Related Employment Program'' of competitive grants.
  We have an obligation to ensure that our veterans can continue to use 
their expertise and talents that they have so ably used in serving this 
great nation. We can do this by showing our appreciation of the service 
of veterans and actively provide opportunities for them to work. These 
veterans have given great contributions and made incredible personal 
sacrifices so that all of us in this country might live in a safe and 
secure nation and world. It is time that we pay up and stand up for our 
heroes. For, what is the price of freedom?
  As President Kennedy once said, `The price of freedom is high, but 
Americans have always paid it.' And no one has paid a higher price than 
the brave men and women through the years who gave the last full 
measure of devotion to their country. Whether it is the ultimate 
sacrifice of life or the loss of limb or the loss of time with family 
and friends, we owe our veterans an enormous outstanding debt of 
gratitude.
  From Bunker Hill to Yorktown, from Washington, D.C. to the Battle of 
New Orleans, from Bull Run to Gettysburg and Antietam to Appamattox, 
brave Americans gave their lives so that the nation might live. And 
from Alsace Lorain to Verdun, and Normandy to Berlin and Pearl Harbor 
to Okinawa, from Inchon and Correigador to Vietnam, Lebanon, Grenada, 
Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq, Americans have nobly sacrificed their 
lives so that the world may live in freedom.
  The debt of gratitude we owe to the soldiers, sailors, marines, and 
airmen who answered their nation's call and made supreme sacrifices can 
never be repaid. But the nation can follow President Lincoln's 
admonition to `care for him who has borne the battle, and for his 
[family].' Indeed, it is the least we can do.
  It is out of my profound respect and gratitude for all who wear and 
have worn the uniform of the United States that I continue to work so 
hard to pass legislation that will ensure that veterans receive the 
health care, job opportunities, housing assistance, and educational 
benefits they deserve. Caring for our veterans also means giving them 
our support when they need it.
  Madam Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4592.
  Mr. FILNER. I would urge my colleagues to support this bill. I have 
no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 4592, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

                          ____________________