[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16848-16850]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      AMERICAN MANUFACTURING EFFICIENCY AND RETRAINING INVESTMENT 
                  COLLABORATION ACHIEVEMENT WORKS ACT

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4072) to require that certain Federal job training and 
career education programs give priority to programs that provide a 
national industry-recognized and portable credential, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4072

       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 ``American Manufacturing 
     Efficiency and Retraining Investment Collaboration 
     Achievement Works Act'' or the ``AMERICA Works Act''.

     SEC. 2. INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED AND NATIONALLY PORTABLE 
                   CREDENTIALS FOR JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS.

       (a) Workforce Investment Act of 1998.--
       (1) General employment and training activities.--Section 
     134(d)(4)(F) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 
     U.S.C. 2864(d)(4)(F)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(iv) Priority for programs that provide an industry-
     recognized and nationally portable credential.--In selecting 
     and approving training services, or programs of training 
     services, under this section, a one-stop operator and 
     employees of a one-stop center referred to in subsection (c) 
     shall give priority consideration to services and programs 
     (approved by the appropriate State agency and local board in 
     conjunction with section 122) that lead to a credential that 
     is in high demand in the local area served and listed in the 
     registry described in section 3(b) of the AMERICA Works 
     Act.''.
       (2) Youth activities.--Section 129(c)(1)(C) of the 
     Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2854(c)(1)(C)) is 
     amended--
       (A) by redesignating clauses (ii) through (iv) as clauses 
     (iii) through (v), respectively; and
       (B) inserting after clause (i) the following:
       ``(ii) training (with priority consideration given to 
     programs that lead to a credential that is in high demand in 
     the local area served and listed in the registry described in 
     section 3(b) of the AMERICA Works Act, if

[[Page 16849]]

     the local board determines that such programs are available 
     and appropriate);''.
       (b) Career and Technical Education.--
       (1) State plan.--Section 122(c)(1)(B) of the Carl D. 
     Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 
     2342(c)(1)(B)) is amended by striking the semicolon at the 
     end and inserting the following: ``and, with respect to 
     programs of study leading to an industry-recognized 
     credential or certificate, will give priority consideration 
     to programs of study that--
       ``(i) lead to an appropriate (as determined by the eligible 
     agency) skills credential (which may be a certificate) that 
     is in high demand in the area served and listed in the 
     registry described in section 3(b) of the AMERICA Works Act; 
     and
       ``(ii) may provide a basis for additional credentials, 
     certificates, or degrees;''.
       (2) Use of local funds.--Section 134(b) of the Carl D. 
     Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 
     2354(b)) is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (11), by striking ``; and'' and inserting 
     a semicolon;
       (B) in paragraph (12)(B), by striking the period and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(13) describe the career and technical education 
     activities supporting the attainment of industry-recognized 
     credentials or certificates, and how the eligible recipient, 
     in selecting such activities, gave priority consideration to 
     activities supporting high-demand registry skill credentials 
     described in section 122(c)(1)(B)(i).''.
       (3) Tech-prep programs.--Section 203(c)(2)(E) of the Carl 
     D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 
     U.S.C. 2373(c)(2)(E)) is amended by striking ``industry-
     recognized credential, a certificate,'' and inserting 
     ``industry-recognized credential or certificate (such as a 
     high-demand registry skill credential described in section 
     122(c)(1)(B)(i)),''.

     SEC. 3. SKILL CREDENTIAL REGISTRY.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Covered provision.--The term ``covered provision'' 
     means any of sections 129 and 134 of the Workforce Investment 
     Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2854, 2864) and section 122(c)(1)(B) 
     of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 
     2006 (20 U.S.C. 2342(c)(1)(B)).
       (2) Industry-recognized.--The term ``industry-recognized'', 
     used with respect to a credential, means a credential that--
       (A) is sought or accepted by companies within the industry 
     sector involved as recognized, preferred, or required for 
     recruitment, screening, or hiring; and
       (B) is endorsed by a nationally recognized trade 
     association or organization representing a significant part 
     of the industry sector.
       (3) Nationally portable.--The term ``nationally portable'', 
     used with respect to a credential, means a credential that is 
     sought or accepted by companies within the industry sector 
     involved, across multiple States, as recognized, preferred, 
     or required for recruitment, screening, or hiring.
       (4) Workforce investment activities.--The term ``workforce 
     investment activities'' has the meaning given the term in 
     section 101 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 
     U.S.C. 2801).
       (b) Registry.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor (referred to in 
     this section as the ``Secretary'') shall create a registry of 
     skill credentials (which may be certificates), for purposes 
     of enabling programs that lead to such a credential to 
     receive priority under a covered provision.
       (2) Registry.--The Secretary shall--
       (A) list the credential in the registry if the credential 
     is required by Federal or State law for an occupation (such 
     as a credential required by a State law regarding 
     qualifications for a health care occupation);
       (B) list the credential in the registry if the credential 
     is a credential from the Manufacturing Institute-Endorsed 
     Manufacturing Skills Certification System; and
       (C) list the credential, and list an updated credential, in 
     the registry if the credential involved is an industry-
     recognized, nationally portable credential that is consistent 
     with the Secretary's established industry competency models 
     and is consistently updated through third party validation to 
     reflect changing industry competencies.
       (c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be 
     construed to require an entity with responsibility for 
     selecting or approving an education, training, or workforce 
     investment activities program with regard to a covered 
     provision, to select a program with a credential listed in 
     the registry described in subsection (b).

     SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, take effect 
     120 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Cassidy) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Hawaii.


                             General Leave

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H.R. 
4072 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. HIRONO. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4072, the American 
Manufacturing Efficiency and Retraining Investment Collaboration Act, 
or AMERICA Works Act. This bill would direct the use of the Workforce 
Investment Act funds for programs that provide a national industry-
recognized and portable credential certificate or degree.
  It would also encourage industry-recognized credentials that are 
nationally recognized and portable under the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
Technical Education Act.
  Since May, the jobless rate has stayed about the same and economists 
predict unemployment will remain high for months to come. Despite 
current unemployment, employers continue to report a skills gap. 
Manufacturing, healthcare, and energy sectors in particular are finding 
it difficult to match workers with skills and industry-recognized 
credentials with employers that have job openings. As the economic 
outlook continues to stabilize, we must continue to take measures to 
bring about a full recovery, including investments in strengthening our 
Nation's workforce.
  One of the best ways to prepare today's workforce for today's fast-
paced changing global economy is to offer training in industry 
recognized skills. This bill invests in training towards industry-
recognized portable credentials, to help students build the skill sets 
needed to fill specialized in-demand jobs.
  Industry-recognized credentials exist in many sectors of our economy. 
In manufacturing, industry leaders all across this sector have endorsed 
a system of skills certification for entry level workers. According to 
the president of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank, addressing the 
current skills mismatch could reduce national unemployment from 9.6 
percent to as low as 6.5 percent. This bill complements current sector 
approaches that modernize our workforce system, aligning job training 
strategies that help individuals improve their skills to find good jobs 
and employers hire skilled workers.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Representative Minnick and the 
cosponsors of H.R. 4072 for bringing this bill forward. I urge my 
colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4072, the American 
Manufacturing Efficiency and Retraining Investment Collaboration Act, 
or the AMERICA Works Act.
  H.R. 4072 amends provisions in the Workforce Investment Act, or WIA, 
and in the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act to highlight 
industry-recognized credentialing, especially those in high-demand 
professions.
  This bill would require One-Stop Career Centers to give priority to 
training programs that result in participants receiving an industry-
recognized credential for a high-demand profession in the locality 
these centers serve. This bill also requires schools to include in 
their career and technical education plans a description of how the 
Career and Technical Education Program will assist students in earning 
an industry-recognized credential or certification.
  This bill makes some positive steps towards encouraging students and 
job seekers to pursue training that leads to industry-recognized 
credentials which could increase participants' chances of obtaining a 
job in a given profession.
  However, H.R. 4072 amends only a very small portion of the Workforce 
Investment Act, which is 8 years overdue for reauthorization. This bill 
would amend a provision without reauthorizing other important aspects 
of the law. Considering these changes within the context of a larger 
reauthorization discussion is important to ensuring the future of the 
American workforce. We need to take a comprehensive approach to 
workforce development and not approach these problems in a piecemeal 
fashion.
  I reserve the balance of my time.

[[Page 16850]]


  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Minnick).
  Mr. MINNICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4072, the AMERICA 
Works Act. This is a bill that would direct the use of already-
appropriated funds within the Carl Perkins Vocational Technical 
Education Act to prepare American workers with the skills necessary to 
qualify for the increasingly high-tech jobs available in the 21st 
century. It would do so by making available Federal funds from these 
programs to obtain nationally recognized industry credentials 
acceptable anywhere in the country.
  Under this bill, training would continue to be done by technical 
schools, universities, and union-sponsored journeyman programs in 
coordination with companies and business groups. A welder trained in a 
junior college in Maryland would have a certificate qualifying him to 
work in a machine shop in Idaho. An AmeriCorps trained diesel mechanic 
in my State could get an auto mechanic's job in yours.
  American workers are the best in the world. They are resilient, 
innovative and hardworking, but they must be properly trained and have 
widely accepted and understood credentials making them employable 
anywhere. This bill will ensure that Federal job training is used to 
provide hardworking Americans desiring training with the certificates, 
degrees, and credentials American industry needs to fill the 
sophisticated technical jobs available in today's business world.
  I thank my colleague from Louisiana for his support and the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii for her leadership, and urge my colleagues to 
support this bipartisan commonsense legislation.
  Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to promote 
America's workforce competitiveness by calling for measures that 
modernize our job training programs and prepare workers with the skills 
they need to succeed in the 21st century global economy. The bill 
before us, the AMERICA Works Act, H.R. 4072, would develop the 
technical workforce necessary to strengthen and attract in-demand 
industries in the United States, and create good jobs in regional 
economies across the country.
   Our Nation's economic recovery remains extremely fragile. According 
to last month's jobs report, 42 percent of the nearly 15 million people 
have been unemployed for 6 months or longer. Despite large numbers of 
individuals looking for jobs, the staffing firm Manpower, Inc., found 
in a recent survey that one in five employers have left positions 
unfilled because they did not believe qualified candidates existed. 
Especially employers in key industries such as manufacturing, 
healthcare, and energy report difficulty finding workers with 
appropriate skill sets. With unemployment rates expected to remain high 
for months to come, investing in targeted job training that matches 
labor market demand is an economic strategy needed for a strong and 
sustained recovery.
  Employers rely on a pipeline of skilled workers to drive innovation, 
increase productivity, and remain globally competitive. At the same 
time, individuals need the skills and credentials to fill these jobs. 
According to the Virginia Council on Advanced Technology Skills, which 
include companies such as Micron Technology, Inc., and Boehringer 
Ingelheim Chemicals, more than 40,000 manufacturing jobs could open up 
in the region over the next few years. The industry group is currently 
developing an assessment to determine what skills employers require and 
help students learn what skills they need to increase their job 
prospects and increase their salary when they are hired. The goal is to 
be able to match workers with the core skills and industry-recognized 
credentials for employers that have job openings. Addressing the 
current skills mismatch, according to the president of the Minneapolis 
Federal Reserve Bank, could reduce national unemployment from 9.6 
percent to as low as 6.5 percent.
  The AMERICA Works Act will help workers and employers like the 
industry group in Viriginia as well as other industry-sector 
partnerships fill the skills gap by honing in on the importance of 
industry-recognized, portable credentials. Specifically, the bill would 
direct the use of public funds for designated programs within the Carl 
D. Perkins Vocational-Technical Education Act and the Workforce 
Investment Act to prepare individuals with the core skills necessary to 
obtain good, middle-class jobs. This bill complements other efforts, 
including sector strategies, which support local partnerships between 
business, labor, the workforce system, and education and training 
providers to ensure that workers have the skills employers need to 
compete in the global marketplace.
   Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Minnick and Congressman Lee 
for introducing this legislation that invests in the skills of 
America's workers. I urge my colleagues to continue to advance 
education and training measures that build America's workforce and 
strengthen the economy.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would once again urge my 
colleagues to support the AMERICA Works Act. At a time when 
unemployment is high, we need to do everything we can to enable our 
workers not only to be trained, but to be able to utilize that training 
anywhere in our country.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 4072, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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