[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1222-S1225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION
By Mr. THUNE (for himself, Mr. Tester, Mr. Moran, Mr. Peters, and
Mr. Wicker):
S. 3355. A bill to address the workforce needs of the
telecommunications industry; to the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions.
Mr. THUNE. 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. 3355
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 ``Telecommunications Skilled
Workforce Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) 5G.--The term ``5G'', with respect to wireless
infrastructure and wireless technology, means fifth-
generation wireless infrastructure and wireless technology.
(2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of
Representatives.
(3) Broadband infrastructure.--The term ``broadband
infrastructure'' means any buried, underground, or aerial
facility, and any wireless or wireline connection, that
enables users to send and receive voice, video, data,
graphics, or any combination thereof.
(4) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Communications Commission.
(5) Institution of higher education.--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).
(6) Rural area.--The term ``rural area'' means any area
other than--
(A) a city, town, or incorporated area that has a
population of more than 20,000 inhabitants; or
(B) an urbanized area adjacent to a city or town that has a
population of more than 50,000 inhabitants.
(7) Secretary.--Except as otherwise provided, the term
``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Labor.
(8) State workforce development board.--The term ``State
workforce development board'' means a State workforce
development board established under section 101 of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3111).
SEC. 3. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP EVALUATION.
(a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with
the Chairman of the Commission, shall convene an interagency
working group to develop recommendations to address the
workforce needs of the telecommunications industry.
(b) Duties.--In developing recommendations under subsection
(a), the interagency working group shall--
[[Page S1223]]
(1) determine whether, and if so how, any Federal laws
(including regulations), policies, or practices, or any
budgetary constraints, inhibit institutions of higher
education or for-profit businesses from establishing,
adopting, or expanding programs intended to address the
workforce needs of the telecommunications industry, including
the workforce needed to build and maintain the 5G wireless
infrastructure necessary to support 5G wireless technology;
(2) identify potential policies and programs that could
encourage and improve coordination among Federal agencies,
between Federal agencies and States, and among States, on
telecommunications workforce needs;
(3) identify ways in which existing Federal programs,
including programs that help facilitate the employment of
veterans and military personnel transitioning into civilian
life, could be leveraged to help address the workforce needs
of the telecommunications industry;
(4) identify ways to encourage individuals and for-profit
businesses to participate in qualified industry-led workforce
development programs, including the Telecommunications
Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program and other
industry-recognized apprenticeship programs;
(5) identify ways to improve recruitment in qualified
industry-led workforce development programs, including the
Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program
and other industry-recognized apprenticeship programs; and
(6) identify Federal incentives that could be provided to
institutions of higher education, for-profit businesses,
State workforce development boards, or other relevant
stakeholders to establish or adopt programs, or expand
current programs, to address the workforce needs of the
telecommunications industry, including such needs in rural
areas.
(c) Members.--The interagency working group convened under
subsection (a) shall be composed of representatives of such
Federal agencies and relevant non-Federal industry
stakeholder organizations as the Secretary considers
appropriate, including--
(1) a representative of the Department of Education,
appointed by the Secretary of Education;
(2) a representative of the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration, appointed by the Assistant
Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information;
(3) a representative of the Department of Commerce,
appointed by the Secretary of Commerce;
(4) a representative of the Commission, appointed by the
Chairman of the Commission;
(5) a representative of the Telecommunications Industry
Registered Apprenticeship Program, appointed by the
Secretary;
(6) a representative of a telecommunications industry
association, appointed by the Chairman of the Commission;
(7) a representative of an Indian Tribe or Tribal
organization, appointed by the Secretary;
(8) a representative of a rural telecommunications carrier,
appointed by the Secretary; and
(9) a representative from a labor organization, appointed
by the Secretary.
(d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after the
date on which the interagency working group is convened under
subsection (a), the interagency working group shall submit to
the appropriate congressional committees a report containing
recommendations to address the workforce needs of the
telecommunications industry.
(e) Powers.--
(1) Hearings.--The interagency working group convened under
subsection (a) may hold such hearings, sit and act at such
times and places, take such testimony, and receive such
evidence as the interagency working group considers advisable
to carry out the objectives of this section.
(2) Information from federal agencies.--The interagency
working group convened under subsection (a) may secure
directly from any Federal agency such information as the
interagency working group considers necessary to carry out
the provisions of this section. Upon request of the
interagency working group, the head of such agency shall
furnish such information to the interagency working group.
(3) Postal services.--The interagency working group
convened under subsection (a) may use the United States mails
in the same manner and under the same conditions as other
Federal agencies.
(f) Personnel.--
(1) Travel.--The members of the interagency working group
convened under subsection (a) shall not receive compensation
for the performance of services for the interagency working
group, but shall be allowed travel expenses, including per
diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for
employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of
title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or
regular places of business in the performance of services for
the interagency working group. Notwithstanding section 1342
of title 31, United States Code, the interagency working
group may accept the voluntary and uncompensated services of
members of the interagency working group.
(2) Detail of government employees.--Any employee of the
Federal Government may be detailed to the interagency working
group convened under subsection (a) without reimbursement,
and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of
civil service status or privilege.
(g) Nonapplicability of FACA.--The Federal Advisory
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the
interagency working group convened under subsection (a).
(h) Sunset.--The interagency working group convened under
subsection (a) shall terminate on the day after the date on
which the interagency working group submits the report to
Congress under subsection (d).
SEC. 4. TELECOMMUNICATIONS WORKFORCE GUIDANCE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Chairman of the Commission, shall establish and issue
guidance on how States can address the workforce needs of the
telecommunications industry, including guidance on how a
State workforce development board can--
(1) utilize Federal resources available to States to meet
the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry; and
(2) promote and improve recruitment in qualified industry-
led workforce development programs, including the
Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program
and other industry-recognized apprenticeship programs.
SEC. 5. GAO ASSESSMENT OF WORKFORCE NEEDS OF THE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report
that estimates the number of skilled telecommunications
workers that will be required to build and maintain--
(1) broadband infrastructure in rural areas; and
(2) the 5G wireless infrastructure needed to support 5G
wireless technology.
______
By Mr. THUNE (for himself and Ms. Sinema):
S. 3359. A bill to amend title 23, United States Code, to modify the
distribution of funds under the tribal transportation program, and for
other purposes; to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
Mr. THUNE. 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. 3359
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 ``Tribal Transportation Equity
and Transparency Improvement Act of 2020''.
SEC. 2. TRIBAL TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 202 of title 23, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(9)(A), by striking ``construction and
improvement'' and inserting ``construction, improvement, and
highway safety'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the
following:
``(D) Additional facilities.--
``(i) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the date
of enactment of the Tribal Transportation Equity and
Transparency Improvement Act of 2020, and not less frequently
than every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary of the Interior
shall publish in the Federal Register a notice requesting
proposals from Indian tribes to include additional
transportation facilities that are eligible for funding under
the tribal transportation program in the inventory described
in subparagraph (A), if those proposed additional facilities
are included in the inventory in a uniform and consistent
manner nationally.
``(ii) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this
subparagraph--
``(I) prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from
including in the inventory under subparagraph (A) additional
transportation facilities more frequently than required under
clause (i), including, as necessary, in response to a
proposal from an eligible Indian tribe submitted during a
period not described in the notice under clause (i); or
``(II) requires Indian tribes to submit proposals to the
Secretary of the Interior in response to the notice required
under clause (i).''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(F) Public availability.--The Secretary of the Interior
shall ensure that all non-confidential information within the
inventory described in subparagraph (A) is made available--
``(i) in a user-friendly manner on the public website of
the Department of the Interior; and
``(ii) in a manner capable of being searched and downloaded
by users of the public website of the Department of the
Interior.''; and
(B) in paragraph (3)(B), in the matter preceding clause
(i), by striking ``fiscal year 2012'' and inserting ``the
most recent fiscal year for which data is available'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``; and'' at the end
and inserting a period;
(ii) by striking subparagraph (B); and
[[Page S1224]]
(iii) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``shall be--'' and all that follows through ``selected by''
in subparagraph (A), and inserting ``shall be selected by'';
and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Nationally significant federal lands and tribal
projects program.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
this section, amounts made available to Indian tribes under
subsection (b)(3) may be used for planning and design
activities related to applications for grants under the
nationally significant Federal lands and tribal projects
program under section 1123 of the FAST Act (23 U.S.C. 201
note; Public Law 114-94).''; and
(4) in subsection (e)(2), by striking ``as appropriate,''
and inserting ``subject to subsection (a)(9),''.
(b) Inspector General Review.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the
Department of Transportation and the Inspector General of the
Department of the Interior shall jointly begin an audit of
the tribal transportation program under section 202 of title
23, United States Code (referred to in this section as the
``program'').
(2) Review.--The audit under paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) a review of the data collection and management
processes used by the Secretary of the Interior in
maintaining the national inventory of tribal transportation
facilities under section 202(b)(1) of title 23, United States
Code; and
(B) a review of the administration of the program,
including whether--
(i) funding under the program is distributed in a timely
manner that is consistent with statutory and regulatory
requirements; and
(ii) the current procedures and practices used by the
Secretary of the Interior to allocate funding for tribal
transportation facilities (as defined in section 101(a) of
title 23, United States Code) under the program are
transparent and consistently applied.
(3) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the
Department of Transportation and the Inspector General of the
Department of the Interior shall jointly submit a report
describing the results of the audit under paragraph (1) to--
(A) the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the
Senate;
(B) the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of
the House of Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives.
(c) Comptroller General Review.--
(1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United
States (referred to in this subsection as the ``Comptroller
General'') shall initiate an audit of the program.
(2) Review.--The audit under paragraph (1) shall include an
examination of--
(A) the funding formula of the program under section
202(b)(3) of title 23, United States Code, including key
decisions made over time that have affected the methods used
to determine tribal shares of program funds;
(B) whether, for purposes of allocating funding under
section 202 of title 23, United States Code, the allocation
methodology under subpart D of part 1000 of title 24, Code of
Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of
this Act), provides an accurate and reliable estimate of
tribal population;
(C) potential alternatives to the methodology described in
subparagraph (B) for purposes of allocating funding under
section 202 of title 23, United States Code;
(D) how the Secretary of the Interior ensures that--
(i) the program is consistently administered; and
(ii) program decisions are transparently and consistently
made; and
(E) the potential effects of having the program
administered solely by the Secretary of the Interior or the
Secretary of Transportation.
(3) Report.--Not later than 540 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit a
report describing the results of the audit under paragraph
(1) to--
(A) the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the
Senate;
(B) the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of
the House of Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives.
(d) Obligation Limitations.--Notwithstanding section
1102(a) of the FAST Act (23 U.S.C. 104 note; Public Law 114-
94) or any other provision of law providing a limitation on
obligations for Federal-aid highway and highway safety
construction programs for a fiscal year, amounts made
available to carry out the tribal transportation program
under section 202 of title 23, United States Code, for a
fiscal year shall not be subject to the obligation limitation
for that fiscal year.
SEC. 3. TRANSPORTATION FACILITY ELIGIBILITY.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Inventory.--The term ``inventory'' means the national
inventory of tribal transportation facilities under section
202(b) of title 23, United States Code.
(2) Proposed road.--The term ``proposed road'' means a
proposed road or facility (as defined in section 170.5 of
title 25, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the
date of enactment of this Act)) that is a road, including a
primary access route (as defined in that section).
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(b) Deadline.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than every 3
years thereafter, the Secretary and the Secretary of
Transportation shall require each Indian tribe that intends
to include a proposed road in the inventory to complete and
submit for approval the documentation and other information
required under section 170.443(a) of title 25, Code of
Federal Regulations (as in effect on November 6, 2019), for
the proposed road.
(c) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after each
deadline described in subsection (b), the Secretary shall
submit to the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate and
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives a report describing the proposed roads
approved to be included in the inventory.
(2) Requirements.--Each report under paragraph (1) shall
include, for each Indian reservation, Alaska Native village,
or other recognized Indian community (including former Indian
reservations in the State of Oklahoma)--
(A) the mileage of proposed roads included in the inventory
before the deadline described in subsection (b);
(B) the mileage of proposed roads approved to be included
in the inventory on the basis of the documentation and other
information submitted under subsection (b); and
(C) an estimate, based on the documentation and other
information submitted under subsection (b), of the
construction and maintenance costs of the proposed roads
described in subparagraph (B).
SEC. 4. TRIBAL HIGHWAY SAFETY PARTNERSHIPS.
Section 402 of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(1)(C), by striking ``by'' and
inserting ``by, or on behalf of,''; and
(2) in subsection (h)(2)--
(A) by striking ``Notwithstanding'' and inserting the
following:
``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Cooperation.--In accordance with section
202(a)(9)(A), an Indian tribe may use amounts described in
subparagraph (A) in cooperation with States, counties, and
other local subdivisions for highway safety purposes.''.
SEC. 5. NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT FEDERAL LANDS AND TRIBAL
PROJECTS PROGRAM.
Section 1123 of the FAST Act (23 U.S.C. 201 note; Public
Law 114-94) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)(3), by inserting ``for a project that
is to be carried out by an eligible entity that is not an
Indian tribe,'' before ``having an''; and
(2) in subsection (g)(1)--
(A) by striking ``shall be up to'' and inserting the
following: ``shall be--
``(A) for a project carried out by an Indian tribe, up to
100 percent; and
``(B) for a project not described in subparagraph (A), up
to''.
SEC. 6. TRIBAL TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior
(referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') shall
establish within the Bureau of Indian Affairs a committee, to
be known as the ``Tribal Transportation Advisory Committee''
(referred to in this section as the ``Committee''), which
shall replace the Tribal Transportation Program Coordinating
Committee established under sections 170.135 through 170.137
of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the
date of enactment of this Act).
(b) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Committee shall be composed of--
(A) the Secretary (or a designee);
(B) representatives of a diverse group of Indian tribes,
including--
(i) not fewer than 1 tribal representative from each region
of the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and
(ii) not more than 3 tribal representatives from any 1
region of the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
(C) State and local representatives;
(D) not fewer than 1 representative of the Bureau of Indian
Affairs;
(E) not fewer than 1 representative of the Department of
Transportation; and
(F) other members, as determined to be appropriate by the
Secretary in consultation with the Committee.
(2) Appointment.--The Secretary shall appoint each member
of the Committee.
(3) Chairperson.--The Secretary (or a designee) shall serve
as chairperson of the Committee.
(c) Terms.--Except for the Secretary, each member of the
Committee shall serve for a term of 3 years.
(d) Vacancies.--Any vacancy occurring in the membership of
the Committee--
(1) shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment was made; and
(2) shall not affect the power of the remaining members to
carry out the duties of the Committee.
[[Page S1225]]
(e) Duties.--
(1) In general.--The Committee shall--
(A) regularly provide advice to the Secretary on and,
subject to the discretion of the Committee, study issues
relating to tribal transportation, including--
(i) the tribal transportation program under section 202 of
title 23, United States Code, including--
(I) the funding formula used to determine tribal shares
under the tribal transportation program; and
(II) the national tribal transportation facility inventory
established under subsection (b)(1) of that section;
(ii) the road maintenance program managed by the Bureau of
Indian Affairs;
(iii) grants awarded to Indian tribes for public
transportation using amounts made available under section
5311(c)(1) of title 49, United States Code;
(iv) transportation safety within tribal reservations,
including--
(I) traffic safety; and
(II) safety partnerships with Federal, State, and local
authorities;
(v) the availability of transportation funding in the event
of a natural disaster; and
(vi) any other policies or procedures related to tribal
transportation, as determined by the Committee; and
(B) carry out the duties of the Tribal Transportation
Program Coordinating Committee established under sections
170.135 through 170.137 of title 25, Code of Federal
Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this
Act).
(2) Best practices and recommendations.--The Committee may,
on a periodic basis, develop and present to the Secretary
best practices and recommendations regarding the issues
described in clauses (i) through (vi) of paragraph (1)(A).
(3) Subcommittees.--The Committee may establish any
subcommittees necessary to carry out the duties of the
Committee.
(f) Report to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after
receiving any recommendations from the Committee under
subsection (e)(2), the Secretary shall submit to the relevant
committees of Congress a report describing those
recommendations.
(g) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--Except as otherwise
provided in this section, the Federal Advisory Committee Act
(5 U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the Committee and each
subcommittee of the Committee.
(h) Detail of Federal Employees.--
(1) In general.--On request of the Committee, the Secretary
may detail, with or without reimbursement, any of the
personnel of the Department of the Interior or, in
consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, the
Department of Transportation, to the Committee to assist the
Committee in carrying out the duties of the Committee.
(2) Civil service status.--Any detail of a Federal employee
under paragraph (1) shall not interrupt or otherwise affect
the civil service status or privileges of the Federal
employee being detailed.
(i) Payment and Expenses.--
(1) Compensation.--Members of the Committee shall serve
without pay.
(2) Travel expenses.--Each member of the Committee shall
receive, for a meeting called by the Secretary, travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in
accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United
States Code.
(j) Termination.--The Committee, including subcommittees of
the Committee, shall terminate on the date that is 10 years
after the date of enactment of this Act.
____________________