[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 148 (Wednesday, September 13, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S5681]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 1026. Mr. BENNET submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1003 proposed by Mr. McCain (for himself and Mr. Reed) 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) In General.--The Secretary of Energy shall carry out a 
     program, to be known as the ``Clean Energy-Ready Vets 
     Program'', to enhance training opportunities for members of 
     the Armed Forces who are transitioning out of service in the 
     Armed Forces and veterans for jobs in the clean energy 
     industry, including jobs relating to--
       (1) electric grid security and cybersecurity;
       (2) energy transmission and distribution infrastructure; 
     and
       (3) solar, wind, geothermal, and natural gas energy.
       (b) Goals.--
       (1) In general.--As part of the program carried out under 
     subsection (a), not later than 4 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy, in 
     partnership with the Secretary of Defense, shall provide 
     opportunities for members of the Armed Forces at not fewer 
     than 20 facilities of the Department of Defense to receive 
     training for, and obtain jobs in, the clean energy industry.
       (2) Partnerships.--In carrying out activities under 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary of Energy shall 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))), nonprofit organizations, and potential 
     employers to train and place members of the Armed Forces who 
     are transitioning out of service in the Armed Forces in jobs 
     in the clean energy industry.
       (c) Elements.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary 
     of Energy shall--
       (1) coordinate with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on 
     opportunities to streamline the approval of appropriate 
     workforce training programs for which members participating 
     in the program and following their transition to civilian 
     life may use veterans educational assistance;
       (2) coordinate with the Secretary of Defense to enhance 
     distance learning;
       (3) enhance the process, in coordination with power 
     companies, by which members of the Armed Forces participating 
     in the program who serve or have served in system 
     administrator positions, information technology positions, 
     and other relevant cybersecurity duties and positions in the 
     Armed Forces may transition to civilian careers in electric 
     grid security;
       (4) consider opportunities for on-the-job worker training 
     activities under the program that are conducted outside the 
     military installation concerned; and
       (5) ensure that members of the Armed Forces are provided 
     information at appropriate times and locations regarding 
     eligibility to participate in similar energy and grid 
     security workforce training programs, including through the 
     Transition Assistance Program (TAP) of the Department of 
     Defense.
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