[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 167 (Tuesday, October 22, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5968-S5970]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Jones, Mrs. Feinstein, and Ms.
Cortez Masto):
S. 2659. A bill to address the needs of workers in industries likely
to be impacted by rapidly evolving technologies; to the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of
the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 2659
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 ``Investing in Tomorrow's
Workforce Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) In 2014, the United States spent just 0.1 percent of
the Nation's Gross Domestic Product on labor market policies,
less than half of what the United States spent on labor
market policies 30 years ago.
(2) The number of workers receiving federally supported
training has declined in the past 3 decades as advances in
technology have simultaneously shifted labor market demand
over time.
(3) As much as 47 percent of all jobs in the United States
are at risk of being replaced by automation technology, and
job losses from automation are more likely to impact workers
making less than $40,000 annually.
(4) Strong Federal investment in expanding training
services for workers whose jobs may be lost due to automation
could prepare the United States workforce to better adapt to
changes in the labor market and enter into skilled positions
in technologically-oriented occupations and industries.
(5) A focus on preparing the workforce of the United States
for jobs that utilize advanced technologies could grow wages,
increase economic productivity, and boost the competitiveness
of the United States.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Automation.--The term ``automation'' means a device,
process, or system that functions without continuous input
from an operator, including--
(A) advanced technologies, such as--
(i) data collection, classification processing, and
analytics; and
(ii) 3-D printing, digital design and simulation, and
digital manufacturing;
(B) robotics, including collaborative robotics, and worker
augmentation technology;
(C) autonomous vehicle technology; or
(D) autonomous machinery technology.
(2) Dislocated worker.--The term ``dislocated worker'' has
the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
(3) In-demand industry sector or occupation.--The term
``in-demand industry sector or occupation'' has the meaning
given the term in section 3 of that Act.
(4) Integrated education and training.--The term
``integrated education and training'' has the meaning given
the term in section 203 of that Act (29 U.S.C. 3272).
(5) Eligible partnership.--The term ``eligible
partnership'' means an industry or sector partnership, as
defined in section 3 of that Act, except that--
(A) for purposes of applying paragraph (26)(A)(iii) of that
section, the term ``institution of higher education'' has the
meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001); and
(B) the partnership shall include, in addition to the
representatives described in clauses (i) through (iii) of
paragraph (26)(A) of that section, representatives of--
(i) a State workforce development board or a local
workforce development board; and
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(ii) an economic development organization.
(6) Local and state workforce development boards.--The
terms ``local workforce development board'' and ``State
workforce development board'' have the meanings given the
terms ``local board'' and ``State board'', respectively, in
section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
U.S.C. 3102).
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Labor.
(8) Training services.--The term ``training services''
means training services described in section 134(c)(3)(D) of
that Act (29 U.S.C. 3174(c)(3)(D)).
SEC. 4. GAO STUDY ON BARRIERS TO AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR
RETRAINING WORKERS.
(a) Study.--
(1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United
States, in coordination with the Secretary of Labor, shall
conduct a study of the barriers to providing, and
opportunities for improving, training for workers in
industries that have, or are likely to have, high rates of
job loss due to automation.
(2) Contents.--In conducting the study, the Comptroller
General shall study--
(A) considerations impacting, and strategies to improve
data collection with respect to, the workforce in industries
with high rates of job loss or a high likelihood of
automation in the United States, including considerations and
data collection strategies concerning--
(i) industries and occupations most likely to be impacted
by automation, including--
(I) the geographical location of those industries and
occupations;
(II) the annual average wages of those occupations; and
(III) demographic data on the race, gender, and age of
workers in those industries and occupations;
(ii) employer-based training practices in those industries
and occupations;
(iii) the frequency with which employers provide worker
training to address skills needs and react to changes in the
labor market;
(iv) projected job losses; and
(v) labor organization membership rates in those industries
and occupations;
(B) considerations impacting, and strategies to improve
data collection with respect to, the workforce in in-demand
industry sectors and occupations in the United States, such
as advanced manufacturing, information technology, and health
care, including considerations and data collection strategies
concerning--
(i) industry sectors and occupations that may emerge or
become in-demand industry sectors or occupations as a result
of automation, including--
(I) the geographical location of those industry sectors and
occupations;
(II) the average annual wages of those occupations; and
(III) demographic data on the race, gender, and age of
workers in those occupations;
(ii) the skills and education needed to fill the positions
in those industry sectors;
(iii) employer-based training practices in those industry
sectors;
(iv) projected job gains; and
(v) labor organization membership rates in those industries
and occupations;
(C) barriers to, and opportunities for, retraining workers
in industries that have a high likelihood of being impacted
by automation;
(D) the impact of the geographical location of workers and
their access to transportation on the ability of the workers
to access job training and related higher-skilled positions;
(E) the impact of workers' access to other benefits and
services, including child care, paid sick leave, paid family
and medical leave, or a retirement plan, on the ability of
the workers to access job training and related higher-skilled
positions; and
(F) how reduced Federal funding for job training programs
has impacted the ability of State and local governments,
employers, labor organizations, and communities to respond to
changes in the labor market, including rapidly evolving
technologies.
(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United
States shall prepare and submit to the Secretary of Labor and
the appropriate committees of Congress a report concerning
the results of the study.
SEC. 5. GRANTS TO IMPROVE TRAINING FOR WORKERS IMPACTED BY
AUTOMATION.
(a) Grants Authorized.--
(1) In general.--From the amounts appropriated under
subsection (g) and beginning not later than 1 year after
receiving the report by the Comptroller General of the United
States under section 4(b), the Secretary of Labor shall award
grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible partnerships to
support demonstration and pilot projects relating to the
training needs of workers who are, or are likely to become,
dislocated workers as a result of automation.
(2) Duration.--A grant awarded under this section shall be
for a period not to exceed 4 years.
(3) Use of report.--The Secretary shall use the report
prepared the Comptroller General under section 4(b) to inform
the grant program carried out under this section.
(b) Applications.--
(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, an eligible partnership shall submit an
application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner,
and containing such information as the Secretary shall
reasonably require.
(2) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph
(1) shall include a description of the demonstration or pilot
project to be completed with the grant funds, which
description shall include--
(A) a description of the members of the eligible
partnership who will be involved in the demonstration or
pilot program and the services each member will provide;
(B) a description of the training services that will be
available to individuals participating in the demonstration
or pilot project, which may include--
(i) a plan to train dislocated workers from industries
likely to be impacted by automation and transition the
workers into regionally in-demand industry sectors or
occupations; and
(ii) a plan to partner with local businesses to retrain,
upskill, and re-deploy workers within an industry as an
alternative to layoffs;
(C) a plan to provide workers with technology-based skills
training, which may include training to provide skills
related to coding, systems engineering, or information
technology security, in addition to other skills; and
(D) a description of the goals that the eligible
partnership intends to achieve to upskill workers and prepare
them for in-demand industry sectors or occupations.
(c) Priorities.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority to--
(1) eligible partnerships that are located in an area with
a high concentration of--
(A) industries with a higher likelihood of being impacted
by automation; or
(B) industries included in in-demand industry sectors, as
determined under subparagraphs (A)(i) and (B) of section
3(23) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
U.S.C. 3102(23));
(2) eligible partnerships--
(A) with a plan to provide incumbent worker training--
(i) to assist workers in obtaining the skills necessary to
retain employment or avert layoffs; or
(ii) that allows a worker working for an employer to
acquire new skills that allow the worker to obtain a higher-
skilled or higher-paid position with such employer; and
(B) that partner with local employers that intend to
backfill the pre-training positions of the incumbent workers
by hiring new workers to fill those positions;
(3) eligible partnerships that will provide workers with a
transportation stipend, paid sick leave, paid family and
medical leave, access to child care services, or other
employment benefits; or
(4) eligible partnerships with a plan to develop a shared
training curriculum that can be used across local and
regional networks of employers and training providers.
(d) Use of Funds.--An eligible partnership that receives a
grant under this section shall use the grant funds for 1 or
more of the following:
(1) Providing training services under the demonstration or
pilot project, which may include training services that
prepare workers for in-demand industry sectors or
occupations.
(2) Providing assistance for employers in developing a
staff position for an individual who will be responsible for
supporting training services provided under the grant.
(3) Purchasing equipment or technology necessary for
training services provided under paragraph (1).
(4) Providing job search and other transitional assistance
to workers in industries with high rates of job loss.
(5) Providing a training stipend to workers for training
services.
(6) Providing integrated education and training.
(e) Report.--Not later than 1 year after an eligible
partnership's completion of a demonstration or pilot project
supported under this section, the eligible partnership shall
prepare and submit to the Secretary a report regarding--
(1) the number of workers who received training services
through the demonstration or pilot project, disaggregated by
type of training service and the age, gender, and race of the
workers;
(2) the number of such workers who successfully
transitioned into a new position following completion of the
training services;
(3) the number of individuals who successfully transitioned
into an in-demand industry sector or occupation following
completion of the training services;
(4) annual earnings data for individuals who have completed
training services through the demonstration or pilot project;
(5) the percentage of individuals described in paragraph
(4) who are in education or training activities, or in
employment, during the second quarter after exit from the
training services;
(6) the percentage of individuals described in paragraph
(4) who are in education or training activities, or in
employment, during the fourth quarter after exit from the
training services; and
(7) any practices used by the partnership that should be
considered best practices with respect to training workers in
industries that have, or are expected to have, high rates of
job loss as a result of automation.
(f) General Requirements.--An eligible partnership that
receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds
in a manner
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that is consistent with the labor standards and protections
described in section 181 of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3241) and nondiscrimination
provisions described in section 188 of such Act (29 U.S.C.
3248).
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may
be necessary for the first 5 full fiscal years after the date
of submittal of the report under section 4(b).
SEC. 6. EXPANSION OF WORKER TRAINING SERVICES.
(a) Adult and Dislocated Worker Employment and Training.--
Section 134(d)(1)(A) of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3174(d)(1)(A)) is amended--
(1) in clause (xi), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in clause (xii), by striking the period and inserting
``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(xiii) training programs for individuals who are, or are
likely to become, dislocated workers as a result of
automation, including activities that prepare the individuals
for occupations in the technology sector.''.
(b) National Dislocated Worker Grants.--Section 170 of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3225) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by inserting ``advances in
automation technology,'' before ``plant closures,''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to any
funds reserved under section 132(a)(2)(A) to carry out this
section, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out
this section $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020
through 2024.''.
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