[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 158 (Thursday, September 29, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S5733]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 6209. Mrs. GILLIBRAND (for herself, Mr. Blumenthal, and Mrs. 
Blackburn) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment 
SA 5499 submitted by Mr. Reed (for himself and Mr. Inhofe) and intended 
to be proposed to the bill H.R. 7900, to authorize appropriations for 
fiscal year 2023 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 end of subtitle E of title V, add the following:

     SEC. 564. PILOT GRANT PROGRAM TO SUPPLEMENT THE TRANSITION 
                   ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

       (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Defense, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall 
     carry out a pilot grant program under which the Secretary of 
     Defense provides enhanced support and funding to eligible 
     entities to supplement TAP to provide job opportunities for 
     industry recognized certifications, job placement assistance, 
     and related employment services directly to covered 
     individuals.
       (b) Services.--Under the pilot grant program, the Secretary 
     of Defense shall provide grants to eligible entities to 
     provide to covered individuals the following services:
       (1) Using an industry-validated screening tool, assessments 
     of prior education, work history, and employment aspirations 
     of covered individuals to tailor appropriate and employment 
     services.
       (2) Preparation for civilian employment through services 
     like mock interviews and salary negotiations, training on 
     professional networking platforms, and company research.
       (3) Several industry-specific learning pathways--
       (A) with entry-level, mid-level, and senior versions;
       (B) in fields such as project management, cybersecurity, 
     and information technology;
       (C) in which each covered individual works with an academic 
     advisor to choose a career pathway and navigate coursework 
     during the training process; and
       (D) in which each covered individual can earn industry-
     recognized credentials and certifications, at no charge to 
     the covered individual.
       (4) Job placement services.
       (c) Program Organization and Implementation Model.--The 
     pilot grant program shall follow existing economic 
     opportunity program models that combine industry-recognized 
     certification training, furnished by professionals, with 
     online learning staff.
       (d) Consultation.--In carrying out the program, the 
     Secretary of Defense shall seek to consult with private 
     entities to assess the best economic opportunity program 
     models, including existing economic opportunity models 
     furnished through public-private partnerships.
       (e) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
     the pilot grant program, an entity shall--
       (1) follow a job training and placement model;
       (2) have rigorous program evaluation practices;
       (3) have established partnerships with entities (such as 
     employers, governmental agencies, and nonprofit entities) to 
     provide services described in subsection (b);
       (4) have online training capability to reach rural 
     veterans, reduce costs, and comply with new conditions forced 
     by COVID-19; and
       (5) have a well-developed practice of program measurement 
     and evaluation that evinces program performance and 
     efficiency, with data that is high quality and shareable with 
     partner entities.
       (f) Coordination With Federal Entities.--A grantee shall 
     coordinate with Federal entities, including--
       (1) the Office of Transition and Economic Development of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs; and
       (2) the Office of Veteran Employment and Transition 
     Services of the Department of Labor.
       (g) Metrics and Evaluation.--Performance outcomes shall be 
     verifiable using a third-party auditing method and include 
     the following:
       (1) The number of covered individuals who receive and 
     complete skills training.
       (2) The number of covered individuals who secure 
     employment.
       (3) The retention rate for covered individuals described in 
     paragraph (2).
       (4) Median salary of covered individuals described in 
     paragraph (2).
       (h) Site Locations.--The Secretary of Defense shall select 
     five military installations in the United States where 
     existing models are successful.
       (i) Assessment of Possible Expansion.--A grantee shall 
     assess the feasibility of expanding the current offering of 
     virtual training and career placement services to members of 
     the reserve components of the Armed Forces and covered 
     individuals outside the United States.
       (j) Duration.--The pilot grant program shall terminate on 
     September 30, 2026.
       (k) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the termination 
     of the pilot grant program, the Secretary of Defense shall 
     submit to the congressional defense committees a report that 
     includes--
       (1) a description of the pilot grant program, including a 
     description of specific activities carried out under this 
     section; and
       (2) the metrics and evaluations used to assess the 
     effectiveness of the pilot grant program.
       (l) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       (1) In general.--The amount authorized to be appropriated 
     by section 301 for operation and maintenance, as specified in 
     the funding table in section 4301, is increased by 
     $5,000,000, with the amount of such increase to be available 
     for the Army for other personnel support for the purpose of 
     carrying out the pilot grant program under this section.
       (2) Offset.--The amount of the increase specified in 
     paragraph (1) shall be offset by reducing on a pro rata basis 
     the accounts and funds for which amounts are authorized to be 
     appropriated by section 301 for operation and maintenance 
     (other than the other personnel support account of the Army).
       (m) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Covered individual.--The term ``covered individual'' 
     means--
       (A) a member of the Armed Forces participating in TAP; or
       (B) a spouse of a member described in subparagraph (A).
       (2) Military installation.--The term ``military 
     installation'' has the meaning given such term in section 
     2801 of title 10, United States Code.
       (3) TAP.--The term ``TAP'' means the transition assistance 
     program of the Department of Defense under sections 1142 and 
     1144 of title 10, United States Code.
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