[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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