[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 127 (Thursday, July 27, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S4604]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 724. Mr. BENNET submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill H.R. 2810, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2018 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. ____. CLEAN ENERGY-READY VETS PROGRAM.

       (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Energy (referred to in 
     this section as the ``Secretary'') shall establish a program, 
     to be known as the ``Clean Energy-Ready Vets Program'', to 
     support and enhance training opportunities for members of the 
     Armed Forces who are transitioning out of service in the 
     Armed Forces for jobs in the energy industry, including jobs 
     relating to--
       (1) electric grid security;
       (2) energy transmission and distribution infrastructure; 
     and
       (3) solar, wind, geothermal, and natural gas energy.
       (b) Use of SkillBridge Program.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 4 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in partnership with the 
     Secretary of Defense, shall carry out the Clean Energy-Ready 
     Vets Program through the SkillBridge program of the 
     Department of Defense at not fewer than 20 facilities of the 
     Department of Defense, under which the Secretary shall--
       (A) in partnership with junior or community colleges (as 
     defined in section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1058(f))), nonprofit organizations, and the clean 
     energy industry, train members of the Armed Forces who are 
     transitioning out of service in the Armed Forces for jobs 
     described in subsection (a); and
       (B) facilitate partnerships between junior or community 
     colleges (as defined in section 312(f) of the Higher 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058(f))) and potential 
     employers to place members of the Armed Forces described in 
     subparagraph (A) in jobs in the energy industry.
       (2) Modification.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, the Secretary of Defense shall modify the SkillBridge 
     program to provide that 20 percent of the amount of Federal 
     training assistance available under the SkillBridge program 
     for the Clean Energy-Ready Vets Program at each facility of 
     the Department of Defense may be used for on-the-job training 
     activities conducted outside of a facility of the Department 
     of Defense pursuant to the Clean Energy-Ready Vets Program.
       (c) Administration.--
       (1) Secretary.--In carrying out the Clean Energy-Ready Vets 
     Program, the Secretary shall collaborate with the Secretary 
     of Defense, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs to increase opportunities for spouses of 
     veterans to secure jobs in the energy industry.
       (2) Secretary of defense.--The Secretary of Defense shall 
     collaborate with electric utilities to enhance the process by 
     which members of the Armed Forces in system administrator 
     positions, information technology positions, and other 
     relevant cybersecurity duties and positions in the Armed 
     Forces may transition to careers in electric grid security.
       (3) Secretary of labor.--To ensure that unemployed veterans 
     and members of the Armed Forces who are transitioning out of 
     service in the Armed Forces are provided information at 
     appropriate times and locations regarding eligibility to 
     participate in the Clean Energy-Ready Vets Program and other 
     similar energy and grid security workforce training programs, 
     the Secretary of Labor shall collaborate with--
       (A) the Secretary of Defense;
       (B) State workforce agencies; and
       (C) American Job Centers.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the Clean 
     Energy-Ready Vets Program [$______