[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 115 (Thursday, July 11, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5129-S5131]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2904. Ms. ROSEN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
her to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2025 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 H of title X, insert the following:

     SEC. 1095. RETURNING SKILLED WORKERS TO THE STEM WORKFORCE.

       (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``STEM 
     Restoring Employment Skills through Targeted Assistance, Re-
     entry, and Training Act'' or the ``STEM RESTART Act''.
       (b) In General.--Subtitle D of title I of the Workforce 
     Innovation and Opportunity Act is amended--
       (1) by redesignating section 172 (29 U.S.C. 3227) as 
     section 173; and
       (2) by inserting after section 171 the following:

     ``SEC. 172. GRANTS TO SUPPORT SKILLED WORKERS IN RETURNING OR 
                   TRANSITIONING TO THE STEM WORKFORCE.

       ``(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       ``(1) The Brookings Institution expects the coronavirus 
     pandemic will have lasting effects on the labor market and 
     could change the composition of available jobs indefinitely, 
     with the ensuing economic decline ushering in a new era of 
     automation. Employers will likely shed less skilled workers 
     and replace them with higher-skilled technology workers, 
     which increases labor productivity as a recession tapers off.
       ``(2) The current pipeline of engineering talent does not 
     include many college graduates from large cohorts of the 
     population.

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     Women represent over 57 percent of college graduates but only 
     22 percent of the engineers entering the workforce. Within 
     the workforce, only 14 percent of engineers are women. Women 
     also leave the engineering profession in greater numbers than 
     men do.
       ``(3) A 2018 Pew Research Center study showed there are 
     wide racial gaps among current STEM workers regarding reasons 
     why so few Black and Hispanic people work in STEM. For 
     example, over 70 percent of Black STEM workers view lack of 
     access to education and discriminatory hiring and promotion 
     practices as reasons there are so few Black men and women in 
     the STEM fields. By comparison, less than 30 percent of White 
     and Asian STEM workers view that lack of access and those 
     practices as barriers to Black people entering the fields. 
     Additionally, 62 percent of Black STEM workers say they have 
     faced discrimination in their jobs compared to just 13 
     percent of White STEM workers.
       ``(4) Among the 25,300,000 United States women ages 25 
     through 54 with a bachelor's degree or higher degree in 2017, 
     4,200,000 were out of the labor force. While some of those 
     women were disabled or retired, the remaining 3,600,000 women 
     may be candidates to return to work.
       ``(5) The Center for Talent Innovation's research shows 
     that while 93 percent of women who left the workforce want to 
     resume their careers, only 74 percent manage to get any kind 
     of job at all and just 40 percent successfully return to work 
     full-time.
       ``(6) Mid-career internship and other returnship programs 
     are an effective way to address the difficulties of former 
     STEM employees seeking to return to work, as the programs 
     provide a probationary period and also an opportunity to 
     obtain mentorship, professional development, and support as 
     the participants transition back to work. Even more 
     important, returnship programs allow an employer to base a 
     hiring decision on an actual work sample instead of a series 
     of interviews. At the same time, the programs give 
     participants an opportunity to return to work together, in a 
     cohort of similarly situated returners.
       ``(7) Fortune 500 companies like Apple, Honeywell, Northrop 
     Grumman, Ingersoll Rand, and The Procter & Gamble Company 
     have taken the initiative to try to close the gender gap 
     among STEM professionals by providing mid-career internships 
     for returning technical professionals. However, a 2008 study 
     by Anthony Breitzman and Diana Hicks for the Office of 
     Advocacy of the Small Business Administration, entitled `An 
     Analysis of Small Business Patents by Industry and Firm 
     Size', found that `Small firms are much more likely to 
     develop emerging technologies than are large firms. This is 
     perhaps intuitively reasonable given theories on small firms 
     effecting technological change, but the quantitative data 
     here support this assertion. Specifically, although small 
     firms account for only 8 percent of patents granted, they 
     account for 24 percent of the patents in the top 100 emerging 
     clusters.'.
       ``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are to--
       ``(1) prioritize expanding opportunities, through high-
     quality internships or other returnships in STEM fields for 
     unemployed or underemployed workers, particularly workers 
     from underrepresented populations and workers from rural 
     areas, who are mid-career skilled workers seeking to return 
     or transition to in-demand industry sectors or occupations 
     within the STEM workforce, at positions and compensation 
     above entry level; and
       ``(2) establish grant funding and other incentives for 
     small-sized and medium-sized companies in in-demand industry 
     sectors or occupations to establish programs that provide on-
     the-job evaluation, education, and training for mid-career 
     skilled workers described in paragraph (1).
       ``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Medium-sized enterprise.--The term `medium-sized', 
     used with respect to an enterprise, means an entity that 
     employs more than 499 and fewer than 10,000 employees.
       ``(2) RESTART grant.--The term `RESTART grant' means a 
     grant made under subsection (d).
       ``(3) Returnship.--The term `returnship' shall mean any 
     internship, apprenticeship, re-entry opportunity, direct 
     hiring opportunity with support, or other similar opportunity 
     designed to provide workers seeking to return or transition 
     to the STEM workforce with positions that--
       ``(A) are above entry level;
       ``(B) provide salaries, stipends, or other payments, and 
     benefits, that are above entry level; and
       ``(C) provide training that leads workers toward full-time 
     careers and provides pathways toward advancement and 
     leadership.
       ``(4) Rural area.--The term `rural area' means an area that 
     is not an urban area (within the meaning of the notice of 
     final program criteria entitled `Urban Area Criteria for the 
     2010 Census' (76 Fed. Reg. 53030 (August 24, 2011))).
       ``(5) Small-sized enterprise.--The term `small-sized', used 
     with respect to an enterprise, means an entity that employs 
     more than 49 and fewer than 500 individuals.
       ``(6) STEM.--The term `STEM' has the meaning given the term 
     in section 2 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 
     2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621 note).
       ``(7) Underrepresented population.--The term 
     `underrepresented population' means a group that is 
     underrepresented in science and engineering, as determined by 
     the Secretary of Education under section 637.4(b) of title 
     34, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of 
     enactment of the STEM RESTART Act).
       ``(8) Unemployed or underemployed individual.--The term 
     `unemployed or underemployed individual' means--
       ``(A) an unemployed or underemployed individual as defined 
     by the Bureau of Labor Statistics; and
       ``(B) a displaced or furloughed worker.
       ``(d) Grant.--
       ``(1) In general.--From the amounts made available to carry 
     out this section, the Secretary shall award grants, on a 
     competitive basis, to eligible entities, to carry out 
     returnship programs that provide opportunities above entry 
     level in STEM fields for mid-career skilled workers, and 
     achieve the purposes described in subsection (b).
       ``(2) Periods.--The Secretary shall award the grants for an 
     initial period of not less than 3 years and not more than 5 
     years.
       ``(3) Amounts.--In awarding grants under this subsection, 
     the Secretary shall award a grant--
       ``(A) for a small-sized enterprise, in an amount so that 
     each annual payment for the grant is not less than $100,000 
     or more than $1,000,000; and
       ``(B) for a medium-sized enterprise or consortium, in an 
     amount so that each annual payment for the grant is not less 
     than $500,000 or more than $5,000,000.
       ``(e) Eligibility.--
       ``(1) Eligible entities.--To be eligible to receive a 
     RESTART grant under this section, an entity shall--
       ``(A)(i) be located in the United States and have 
     significant operations and employees within the United 
     States;
       ``(ii) not be a debtor in a bankruptcy proceeding, within 
     the meaning of section 4003(c)(3)(D)(i)(V) of the CARES Act 
     (15 U.S.C. 9042(c)(3)(D)(i)(V)) or under a State bankruptcy 
     law; and
       ``(iii) be within an in-demand industry sector or 
     occupation in a STEM field; and
       ``(B) be--
       ``(i) a small-sized enterprise;
       ``(ii) a medium-sized enterprise; or
       ``(iii) a consortium of small-sized or medium-sized 
     enterprises.
       ``(2) Eligible providers.--
       ``(A) In general.--An eligible entity that desires to 
     partner with a provider in order to carry out a returnship 
     program under this section shall enter into an arrangement 
     with an eligible provider.
       ``(B) Provider.--To be eligible to enter into such an 
     arrangement, a provider--
       ``(i) may or may not directly employ skilled workers in 
     STEM fields but--

       ``(I) shall have expertise in human resources-related 
     activities, such as identifying or carrying out staffing with 
     skilled workers or underrepresented populations; and
       ``(II) shall be capable of providing high-quality education 
     and training services; and

       ``(ii) may be--

       ``(I)(aa) an institution of higher education (as defined in 
     section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     1001)); or
       ``(bb) a non-degree-granting institution that is governed 
     by the same body that governs an institutions of higher 
     education described in item (aa);
       ``(II) a public, private for-profit, or private nonprofit 
     service provider, approved by the local board;
       ``(III) a joint labor-management organization;
       ``(IV) an eligible provider of adult education and literacy 
     activities under title II; or
       ``(V) an established nonprofit organization that conducts 
     research or provides training on technical, social and 
     emotional, and employability skills and knowledge aligned to 
     the needs of adult learners and workers.

       ``(f) Applications.--
       ``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a RESTART 
     grant to carry out a returnship program, an entity shall 
     submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in 
     such manner as the Secretary may reasonably require.
       ``(2) Contents.--Such an application shall include--
       ``(A) a description of the demand for skilled workers in 
     STEM fields and how the RESTART grant will be used to help 
     meet that demand;
       ``(B) a description of how the program will lead to 
     employment of unemployed or underemployed individuals, 
     particularly workers from underrepresented populations or 
     from rural areas, who seek to return or transition to the 
     STEM workforce;
       ``(C) if the entity has entered into or plans to enter into 
     an arrangement with an eligible provider as described in 
     subsection (e)(2) to carry out a returnship program, 
     information identifying the eligible provider, and a 
     description of how the arrangement will help the entity build 
     the knowledge and skills of skilled workers participating in 
     the program;
       ``(D) a description of how the eligible entity will develop 
     and establish, or expand, a returnship program that adds to 
     the number of full-time employees employed by the entity, but 
     does not displace full-time employees currently (as of the 
     date of submission of the application) employed by the 
     entity;
       ``(E) an assurance that any new or existing returnship 
     program developed and established, or expanded, with the 
     grant funds will last for at least 10 weeks and provide 
     compensation to participants in the form of a

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     salary, stipend, or other payment, and benefits, that are 
     offered to full-time employees with equivalent experience and 
     expertise, such as health care or child care benefits; and
       ``(F) if the returnship program leads to a recognized 
     postsecondary credential, information on the quality of the 
     program that leads to the credential.
       ``(3) Priority.--In making grants under this section, the 
     Secretary shall give priority to entities who are proposing 
     programs that prioritize returnships for workers from 
     underrepresented populations or from rural areas.
       ``(g) Use of Funds.--
       ``(1) In general.--An entity that receives a grant under 
     this section shall use the grant funds to carry out a 
     returnship program, of not less than 10 weeks, through which 
     the entity provides for--
       ``(A) the education and training of returnship 
     participants; and
       ``(B) the services of existing employees (as of the date 
     the program begins) of the entity who are working with 
     returnship participants in an educational, training, or 
     managerial role, to maximize the retention rate and 
     effectiveness of the returnship program.
       ``(2) Specific uses.--The grant funds may be used--
       ``(A) to pay for the evaluation, and entry into the 
     program, and education and training of returnship 
     participants, including payment for the duration of the 
     program for the participants for--
       ``(i) equipment, travel, and (as necessary) housing;
       ``(ii) mentorship and career counseling; and
       ``(iii) salaries, stipends, or payments, and benefits, 
     described in subsection (f)(2)(E);
       ``(B) to supplement, and not supplant, the compensation of 
     those existing employees of the entity who are directly 
     supporting a returnship program through the work described in 
     paragraph (1)(B); and
       ``(C) to enter into an arrangement with an eligible 
     provider to carry out a returnship program.
       ``(3) Existing employees.--Not more than 20 percent of the 
     grant funds may be used to provide compensation for the 
     existing employees performing the work described in paragraph 
     (1)(B).
       ``(4) Coordination with state workforce boards.--An entity 
     that receives a grant under this section shall coordinate 
     activities with the State workforce development board 
     established under section 101, to ensure collaboration and 
     alignment of workforce programs.
       ``(h) Reporting and Evaluation Requirements.--
       ``(1) Report to the secretary.--An entity that receives a 
     grant under this section for a returnship program shall 
     prepare, certify the contents of, and submit to the Secretary 
     an annual report containing data regarding--
       ``(A) the total number of the participants, and the number 
     of such participants disaggregated by sex, race, and 
     ethnicity;
       ``(B) the total number of the participants transitioned 
     into full-time employment, and the number of such 
     transitioned participants disaggregated by sex, race, and 
     ethnicity; and
       ``(C) if the returnship program includes participants in an 
     internship, the conversion rate of the internship 
     participants to employees, for the total number of those 
     participants and the conversion rate of those participants 
     disaggregated by sex, race, and ethnicity.
       ``(2) Evaluation and report by the secretary.--Not later 
     than 180 days after receiving the annual reports from grant 
     recipients under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
       ``(A)(i) prepare a report that presents the data collected 
     through the reports, including data disaggregated by sex, 
     race, and ethnicity, and an evaluation based on that data of 
     the best practices for effectively implementing returnship 
     (including internship) programs; and
       ``(ii) submit the report to the Committee on Education and 
     the Workforce of the House of Representatives, and the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
     Senate; and
       ``(B) post information on a website on best practices 
     described in subparagraph (A)(i).
       ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section 
     $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.''.
       (c) Table of Contents.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating the item relating to section 172 as 
     the item relating to section 173; and
       (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 171 the 
     following:

``Sec. 172. Grants to support skilled workers in returning or 
              transitioning to the STEM workforce.''.
                                 ______