WORKER Act — H. R. 594, 117th Congress, 1st Session (To advance STEM education, provide for improved worker training)
Summary
House bill 594, the WORKER Act, was introduced January 28, 2021 by Mr. RYAN and referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, with additional committees named in the heading. Its stated purpose is to advance STEM education and provide for improved worker training, retention, and advancement. The table of contents lists Title I, Advancing STEM Education; Title II, Worker Training, Retention, and Advancement; Title III, Establishment of the Distressed Community Investment Agency; and Title IV, Authorization of Appropriations. Section 401 authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education of such sums as may be necessary.
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“WORKER Act — H. R. 594, 117th Congress, 1st Session (To advance STEM education, provide for improved worker training).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/bills-bills-117hr594ih-bills-117hr594ih/
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I
117TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 594
To advance STEM education, provide for improved worker training, retention,
and advancement, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 28, 2021
Mr. RYAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and
Means, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Transportation and
Infrastructure, Science, Space, and Technology, Natural Resources, Over-
sight and Reform, Foreign Affairs, and the Judiciary, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee con-
cerned
A BILL
To advance STEM education, provide for improved worker
training, retention, and advancement, and for other purposes.
1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Working On Reward-
5 ing and Keeping Employees Resilient Act’’ or the
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6 ‘‘WORKER Act’’.
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1 SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
2 The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
TITLE I—ADVANCING STEM EDUCATION
Subtitle A—Expansion of Engineering Programs at Elementary and
Secondary Schools
Sec. 101. Grant program.
Sec. 102. Table of contents.
Subtitle B—Expansion of Maker Education and Makerspaces
Sec. 110. Definitions.
Sec. 111. Local uses of funds.
Sec. 112. Effective date.
TITLE II—WORKER TRAINING, RETENTION, AND ADVANCEMENT
Subtitle A—Leveraging Effective Apprenticeships To Rebuild National Skills
Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Definitions.
PART 1—PROMOTING REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS
Sec. 211. Promoting registered apprenticeship programs.
Sec. 212. Promoting integration with postsecondary education.
PART 2—PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND ENHANCEMENT
Sec. 221. Expanding registered apprenticeship programs.
Subtitle B—Reemployment
Sec. 231. Requirement to provide reemployment bonus program under State
unemployment compensation law.
Sec. 232. Coordinating State unemployment compensation programs with the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
Sec. 233. Permissible use of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds
for wage insurance.
Sec. 234. Training vouchers.
Sec. 235. Authorization of appropriations.
TITLE III—ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DISTRESSED COMMUNITY
INVESTMENT AGENCY
Sec. 301. Definitions.
Sec. 302. Distressed Community Investment Agency.
Sec. 303. Redesignation of Department of Commerce to Department of Innova-
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tion and Investment.
Sec. 304. Redesignation of Secretary of Commerce to Secretary of Innovation
and Investment.
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TITLE IV—AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS
Sec. 401. Authorization of appropriations.
1 TITLE I—ADVANCING STEM
2 EDUCATION
3 Subtitle A—Expansion of Engineer-
4 ing Programs at Elementary
5 and Secondary Schools
6 SEC. 101. GRANT PROGRAM.
7 Part F of title IV of the Elementary and Secondary
8 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7251 et seq.) is amend-
9 ed—
10 (1) in section 4601—
11 (A) in subsection (a), in the matter pre-
12 ceding paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘(other than
13 subpart 5)’’ before ‘‘part’’; and
14 (B) by adding at the end the following:
15 ‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR SUB-
16 PART 5.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry
17 out subpart 5—
18 ‘‘(1) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022
19 and 2023; and
20 ‘‘(2) $21,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024
21 and 2025.’’; and
22 (2) by adding at the end the following:
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1 ‘‘Subpart 5—Engineering Education
2 ‘‘SEC. 4651. GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
3 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—From amounts appropriated
4 under section 4601(c), the Secretary shall award grants,
5 on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to implement
6 formal and informal engineering education programs in el-
7 ementary schools and secondary schools to—
8 ‘‘(1) teach students the overall analytical and
9 experimental approaches used in engineering and en-
10 gineering technology; and
11 ‘‘(2) increase participation of under-represented
12 student groups in the engineering and engineering
13 technology pipeline.
14 ‘‘(b) MAXIMUM GRANT AMOUNT.—A grant awarded
15 under this subpart may not exceed $1,000,000.
16 ‘‘(c) MATCHING FUNDS.—An eligible entity receiving
17 a grant under this subpart shall provide non-Federal
18 funds in amount equal to the grant amount. Such non-
19 Federal funds may include in-kind support (such as equip-
20 ment, supplies, materials, and participation of personnel
21 in the development and implementation of activities to be
22 carried out under the grant).
23 ‘‘(d) USES OF FUNDS.—
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24 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity receiving
25 a grant under this subpart shall use such funds to
26 carry out a program that—
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1 ‘‘(A) provides engineering instructional
2 materials based on review and analysis of the
3 effectiveness of existing formal, or informal re-
4 search-based and evidenced-based locally rel-
5 evant instructional materials;
6 ‘‘(B) provides professional development for
7 pre-service and in-service teachers to teach en-
8 gineering;
9 ‘‘(C) provides instructions on engineering
10 and engineering technology during normal
11 classroom hours or after school;
12 ‘‘(D) incorporates evidence-based practices
13 to increase diversity of student groups partici-
14 pating in the program;
15 ‘‘(E) encourages participation of engineers
16 from local private and public organizations to
17 mentor the teachers and students; and
18 ‘‘(F) encourages engineering faculty and
19 students from institutions of higher education
20 as mentors for the elementary school or sec-
21 ondary school students, and teachers as appro-
22 priate.
23 ‘‘(2) PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.—Each
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24 eligible entity awarded a grant under this subpart
25 shall be encouraged to carry out the program funded
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1 under the grant in partnership with one or more of
2 the following:
3 ‘‘(A) Elementary schools or secondary
4 schools receiving assistance under this subpart.
5 ‘‘(B) Institutions of higher education.
6 ‘‘(C) Private sector businesses.
7 ‘‘(D) Nonprofit organizations.
8 ‘‘(E) Community-based organizations.
9 ‘‘(F) Public or private entities with dem-
10 onstrated record of success in delivering edu-
11 cational support.
12 ‘‘(G) Summer school programs.
13 ‘‘(e) APPLICATIONS.—An application for a grant
14 under this subpart submitted by an eligible entity shall
15 demonstrate long-term commitment for the proposed pro-
16 gram through—
17 ‘‘(1) providing laboratory and instructional
18 space;
19 ‘‘(2) establishing ongoing professional training
20 programs for pre-service and in-service teachers and
21 teachers in-residence; and
22 ‘‘(3) commitment to scaling successful pro-
23 grams for engineering and engineering technology
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24 education in elementary schools and secondary
25 schools under the jurisdiction of the eligible entity.
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1 ‘‘(f) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this sub-
2 part, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities
3 that serve under-represented minorities in engineering.
4 ‘‘(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
5 ‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en-
6 tity’ means—
7 ‘‘(A) a consortia of local educational agen-
8 cies; or
9 ‘‘(B) a local educational agency that is not
10 receiving a subgrant under this subpart for the
11 fiscal year for which the agency is applying for
12 a grant under this subpart.
13 ‘‘(2) INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS.—The term
14 ‘instructional materials’ means materials that—
15 ‘‘(A) emphasize—
16 ‘‘(i) engineering fundamentals and
17 concepts, problem-based learning; and
18 ‘‘(ii) essential skills such as systems
19 thinking, creativity, teamwork, communica-
20 tion, and ethical considerations;
21 ‘‘(B) are designed to introduce students to
22 modern engineering and engineering technology
23 tools such as computer-aided design, computer-
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24 aided manufacturing, statistical analysis, codes
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1 and standards, human factors, and reliability
2 analysis; and
3 ‘‘(C) are aligned with and integrated into
4 relevant science, engineering, and mathematics
5 standards that may exist in the applicable State
6 or may be developed.
7 ‘‘SEC. 4652. ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.
8 ‘‘Not later than 1 year after the first grant is award-
9 ed under this subpart, and annually thereafter, the Sec-
10 retary shall provide a report to Congress on activities and
11 results under this subpart. Such reports shall describe—
12 ‘‘(1) the total number of grant applications re-
13 ceived for the preceding each year;
14 ‘‘(2) the number and geographic distribution of
15 the grants for such year and for all grants awarded
16 under this subpart;
17 ‘‘(3) participation of minority-serving institu-
18 tions of higher education, such as historically Black
19 colleges and universities and Hispanic-serving insti-
20 tutions;
21 ‘‘(4) participation of under-represented and eco-
22 nomically disadvantaged student groups;
23 ‘‘(5) plans for collaboration among eligible enti-
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24 ties receiving a grant under this subpart;
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1 ‘‘(6) overall program outcomes and issues of
2 concern; and
3 ‘‘(7) recommendations for program revisions to
4 achieve the desired program outcome.’’.
5 SEC. 102. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
6 The table of contents in section 2 of the Elementary
7 and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by in-
8 serting after the item relating to section 4644 the fol-
9 lowing:
‘‘SUBPART 5—ENGINEERING EDUCATION
‘‘4651. Grant program authorized.
‘‘4652. Annual report to Congress.’’.
10 Subtitle B—Expansion of Maker
11 Education and Makerspaces
12 SEC. 110. DEFINITIONS.
13 Section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Tech-
14 nical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302) is amended
15 by adding at the end the following:
16 ‘‘(56) MAKER EDUCATION.—The term ‘maker
17 education’ means a hands-on learning approach that
18 encourages students to imagine, create, innovate,
19 tinker, and collaborate through the process of manu-
20 facturing, testing, and demonstrating their ideas.
21 ‘‘(57) MAKERSPACE.—The term ‘makerspace’
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22 means a community space that provides access to
23 tools, technology, and knowledge for learners and
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1 entrepreneurs, that result in the prototyping or cre-
2 ation of physical goods, and which supports the de-
3 velopment of educational opportunities for personal
4 growth, workforce training, and early stage business
5 ventures.’’.
6 SEC. 111. LOCAL USES OF FUNDS.
7 Section 135(b)(2)(I) of the Carl D. Perkins Career
8 and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C.
9 2355(b)(2)(I)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, the application
10 of maker education,’’ after ‘‘makerspaces’’.
11 SEC. 112. EFFECTIVE DATE.
12 The amendments made by this subtitle shall take ef-
13 fect on July 1, 2021, and as if enacted as part of the
14 Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the
15 21st Century Act.
16 TITLE II—WORKER TRAINING,
17 RETENTION, AND ADVANCE-
18 MENT
19 Subtitle A—Leveraging Effective
20 Apprenticeships To Rebuild Na-
21 tional Skills
22 SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.
23 This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Leveraging Effec-
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24 tive Apprenticeships to Rebuild National Skills Act’’ or the
25 ‘‘LEARNS Act’’.
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1 SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS.
2 In this subtitle:
3 (1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
4 trator’’ means the Administrator of the Office of Ap-
5 prenticeship appointed under section 211(a).
6 (2) CAREER PATHWAY.—The term ‘‘career
7 pathway’’ has the meaning given the term in section
8 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
9 (29 U.S.C. 3102).
10 (3) EDUCATIONAL SERVICE AGENCY.—The
11 term ‘‘educational service agency’’—
12 (A) has the meaning given the term in sec-
13 tion 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary
14 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801); and
15 (B) includes a collaborative of those agen-
16 cies.
17 (4) HIGH SCHOOL.—The term ‘‘high school’’
18 means a nonprofit institutional day or residential
19 school that—
20 (A) provides secondary education, as deter-
21 mined under State law;
22 (B) grants a diploma, as defined by the
23 State; and
24 (C) includes, at least, grade 12.
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25 (5) IN-DEMAND INDUSTRY SECTOR OR OCCUPA-
26 TION.—The term ‘‘in-demand industry sector or oc-
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1 cupation’’ has the meaning given the term in section
2 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
3 (29 U.S.C. 3102).
4 (6) LOCAL AND STATE WORKFORCE DEVELOP-
5 MENT BOARDS.—The terms ‘‘local workforce devel-
6 opment board’’ and ‘‘State workforce development
7 board’’ have the meanings given the terms ‘‘local
8 board’’ and ‘‘State board’’, respectively, in section 3
9 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
10 (29 U.S.C. 3102).
11 (7) NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM.—The
12 term ‘‘national apprenticeship system’’ means the
13 collective group of registered apprenticeship pro-
14 grams and pre-apprenticeship programs in the Na-
15 tion (including the rules and regulations governing
16 the 2 types of programs).
17 (8) POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITU-
18 TION.—The term ‘‘postsecondary educational institu-
19 tion’’ means an institution of higher education, as
20 defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act
21 of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002).
22 (9) PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.—The
23 term ‘‘pre-apprenticeship program’’ means a pro-
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24 gram or set of strategies that—
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1 (A) is designed to prepare individuals to
2 enter and succeed in a registered apprenticeship
3 program;
4 (B) is carried out by an eligible entity de-
5 scribed in section 211(b)(2)(C) that has an ap-
6 plication approved under section 211(b)(3) and
7 that has a documented partnership with at least
8 1 sponsor of a registered apprenticeship pro-
9 gram; and
10 (C) includes each of the following elements:
11 (i) Training (including a curriculum
12 for the training), aligned with industry
13 standards and reviewed and approved an-
14 nually by sponsors of the registered ap-
15 prenticeships within the documented part-
16 nership, that will prepare individuals by
17 teaching the skills and competencies need-
18 ed to enter one or more registered appren-
19 ticeship programs.
20 (ii) Provision of hands-on training and
21 theoretical education to individuals that—
22 (I) accurately simulates the in-
23 dustry and occupational conditions of
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24 the registered apprenticeship program
25 described in subparagraph (B);
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1 (II) is carried out in a manner
2 that includes proper observation of su-
3 pervision and safety protocols; and
4 (III) is carried out in a manner
5 that does not displace a paid em-
6 ployee.
7 (iii) A formal agreement with a spon-
8 sor of a registered apprenticeship program
9 that would enable participants who suc-
10 cessfully complete the pre-apprenticeship
11 program to enter directly into the reg-
12 istered apprenticeship program (if a place
13 in the program is available), and includes
14 agreements concerning earning credit rec-
15 ognized by a postsecondary educational in-
16 stitution for skills and competencies ac-
17 quired during the pre-apprenticeship pro-
18 gram.
19 (10) RECOGNIZED POSTSECONDARY CREDEN-
20 TIAL.—The term ‘‘recognized postsecondary creden-
21 tial’’ has the meaning given the term in section 3 of
22 the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
23 U.S.C. 3102).
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24 (11) REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PRO-
25 GRAM.—The term ‘‘registered apprenticeship pro-
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1 gram’’ means a program registered under the Act of
2 August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the ‘‘National
3 Apprenticeship Act’’; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29
4 U.S.C. 50 et seq.).
5 (12) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’
6 means the Secretary of Labor, acting through the
7 Administrator.
8 (13) SPONSOR.—The term ‘‘sponsor’’ means an
9 employer, joint labor-management partnership, trade
10 association, professional association, labor organiza-
11 tion, or other entity that administers a registered
12 apprenticeship program.
13 PART 1—PROMOTING REGISTERED
14 APPRENTICESHIPS
15 SEC. 211. PROMOTING REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PRO-
16 GRAMS.
17 (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OFFICE OF APPREN-
18 TICESHIP.—
19 (1) OFFICE.—There is established, in the Em-
20 ployment and Training Administration of the De-
21 partment of Labor, an Office of Apprenticeship.
22 (2) ADMINISTRATOR.—The Office shall be
23 headed by an Administrator of the Office of Appren-
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24 ticeship appointed by the Assistant Secretary for
25 Employment and Training. The Assistant Secretary
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1 shall appoint an individual who has the dem-
2 onstrated knowledge of registered apprenticeship
3 programs necessary to serve as the Administrator.
4 (3) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Administrator,
5 through the Office of Apprenticeship, shall carry out
6 responsibilities including—
7 (A) determining whether an apprenticeship
8 program meets the requirements to become a
9 registered apprenticeship program and main-
10 tains the standards necessary to remain a reg-
11 istered apprenticeship program;
12 (B) managing the national apprenticeship
13 system;
14 (C) carrying out activities under subsection
15 (b) to promote effective pre-apprenticeship pro-
16 grams;
17 (D) promoting awareness about registered
18 apprenticeship programs, including carrying out
19 activities under subsection (c);
20 (E) engaging in regular updates of the reg-
21 istration process, ensuring that such process is
22 easily accessible and efficient for use by spon-
23 sors of registered apprenticeship programs;
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24 (F) regularly engaging with the National
25 Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships and en-
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1 sure that the required reports of the Committee
2 are submitted to the Secretary and transmitted
3 to Congress;
4 (G) promoting greater diversity in reg-
5 istered apprenticeship programs and pre-ap-
6 prenticeship programs, including by promoting
7 outreach to underrepresented populations,
8 youth, and veterans and supporting the develop-
9 ment of apprenticeship models;
10 (H) providing for evaluations and research,
11 as described in subsection (e);
12 (I) providing technical assistance to spon-
13 sors of registered apprenticeship programs, en-
14 tities who are interested in developing and be-
15 coming sponsors of registered apprenticeship
16 programs, and eligible entities carrying out pre-
17 apprenticeship programs; and
18 (J) coordinating and aligning registered
19 apprenticeship programs with other Federal
20 education and training programs, including
21 those authorized under the Workforce Innova-
22 tion and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et
23 seq.) and the Carl D. Perkins Career and Tech-
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24 nical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301
25 et seq.).
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1 (b) SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRE-AP-
2 PRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.—
3 (1) SUPPORT.—The Secretary shall support the
4 development of pre-apprenticeship programs.
5 (2) GRANTS.—
6 (A) IN GENERAL.—Using funds available
7 under subsection (f), the Secretary shall make
8 grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities
9 to provide the Federal share of the cost of car-
10 rying out projects that support that develop-
11 ment.
12 (B) PERIOD.—The Secretary shall make
13 initial grants under this paragraph for periods
14 of not more than 3 years, except that if an eli-
15 gible entity demonstrates satisfactory perform-
16 ance under paragraph (6) by the end of that
17 third year, the Secretary may extend the grant
18 period up to an additional 1 year for that enti-
19 ty.
20 (C) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—To be eligible to
21 receive a grant from the Secretary under this
22 subsection, an entity shall be a public-private
23 partnership consisting of—
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24 (i) a local educational agency, high
25 school, area career and technical education
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1 school (as defined in section 3 of the Carl
2 D. Perkins Career and Technical Edu-
3 cation Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302)),
4 educational service agency (as defined in
5 section 8101 of the Elementary and Sec-
6 ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
7 7801)), 2- or 4-year postsecondary edu-
8 cational institution, or collaborative of such
9 entities;
10 (ii) in a State with a State entity rec-
11 ognized by the Secretary of Labor to reg-
12 ister apprenticeship programs in that
13 State, that entity;
14 (iii) an industry or business, con-
15 sisting of an employer, a group of employ-
16 ers, a trade association, a professional as-
17 sociation, or an entity that sponsors a reg-
18 istered apprenticeship program;
19 (iv) a State workforce development
20 board or local workforce development
21 board; and
22 (v) to the maximum extent prac-
23 ticable—
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24 (I) a labor organization associ-
25 ated with the industry or occupation
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1 related to the pre-apprenticeship pro-
2 gram involved; and
3 (II) a community-based organiza-
4 tion that provides pre-apprenticeship
5 programs, as appropriate.
6 (3) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to receive a
7 grant from the Secretary under this subsection, an
8 entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at
9 such time, in such manner, and containing such in-
10 formation as the Secretary may require, including—
11 (A) a description of the training and cur-
12 riculum described in section 203(9)(C)(i), and
13 how the proposed pre-apprenticeship program
14 makes individuals who successfully complete the
15 pre-apprenticeship program qualified to enter
16 into an established registered apprenticeship
17 program;
18 (B) evidence that there are or will be suffi-
19 cient openings available in the registered ap-
20 prenticeship program referenced in subpara-
21 graph (A) to enable the registered apprentice-
22 ship program sponsor to place into a cor-
23 responding registered apprenticeship those indi-
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24 viduals who successfully complete the pre-ap-
25 prenticeship program;
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1 (C) information about the entity that dem-
2 onstrates the existence of an active, advisory
3 partnership between the partners described in
4 paragraph (2)(C) and the capacity, of a train-
5 ing and education provider in the entity, to pro-
6 vide the training and education services nec-
7 essary for a pre-apprenticeship program; and
8 (D) information about the proposed pre-
9 apprenticeship program that demonstrates—
10 (i) that the program is in an in-de-
11 mand industry or occupation in the region
12 in which the project is located;
13 (ii) the use of integrated work-based
14 and academic learning that may include
15 training in the workplace;
16 (iii) the inclusion of career exploration
17 focused activities, such as job shadowing,
18 career information activities, and résumé
19 preparation, in the program;
20 (iv) if the entity carrying out the
21 project includes a high school, that the
22 model to be used for the program leads to
23 a high school diploma for participants
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24 without such a diploma;
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1 (v) how the pre-apprenticeship pro-
2 gram is aligned with and leverages re-
3 sources of career and technical education
4 programs, programs and services author-
5 ized under the Workforce Innovation and
6 Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.),
7 or activities of entities that provide sup-
8 portive services for participants in pre-ap-
9 prenticeship programs; and
10 (vi) that the project aligns with an es-
11 tablished registered apprenticeship pro-
12 gram, including that the model used for
13 the program leads to the attainment of
14 skills and competencies necessary for en-
15 trance into the registered apprenticeship
16 program for participants.
17 (4) USE OF FUNDS.—
18 (A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity that
19 receives a grant under this subsection shall use
20 the grant funds to carry out a project that im-
21 plements a pre-apprenticeship program.
22 (B) REQUIRED ACTIVITIES.—The eligible
23 entity shall use the grant funds—
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1 (i) to pay for the cost of training or
2 education associated with the pre-appren-
3 ticeship program;
4 (ii) for curriculum development that
5 align with the requirements of the appro-
6 priate registered apprenticeship programs
7 and learning assessments;
8 (iii) to maintain a connection between
9 the pre-apprenticeship program and reg-
10 istered apprenticeship program;
11 (iv) for assessments of potential par-
12 ticipants for, and enrollment of the partici-
13 pants in, the pre-apprenticeship program;
14 and
15 (v) to conduct evaluations described in
16 paragraph (6)(B).
17 (C) ALLOWABLE ACTIVITIES.—The eligible
18 entity may use the grant funds for—
19 (i) teacher training, including pro-
20 viding externship opportunities for teachers
21 to learn about the skill needs of the indus-
22 try or occupation that the pre-apprentice-
23 ship program focuses on;
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24 (ii) stipends for participants during
25 work-based training in the program; or
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1 (iii) coordination of activities under
2 this subsection with activities carried out
3 under the Carl D. Perkins Career and
4 Technical Education Act of 2006 (20
5 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.) or the Workforce In-
6 novation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C.
7 3101 et seq.).
8 (5) FEDERAL SHARE.—
9 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Federal share of
10 the cost described in paragraph (2)(A) shall be
11 75 percent.
12 (B) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—The eligible
13 entity may contribute the non-Federal share of
14 the cost in cash or in-kind, fairly evaluated, in-
15 cluding plant, equipment, or services.
16 (6) PERFORMANCE.—
17 (A) MEASURES.—The Secretary shall iden-
18 tify a set of common measures that, at a min-
19 imum, include measures of entry into a reg-
20 istered apprenticeship program and that are
21 aligned with performance accountability meas-
22 ures described in section 116(c) of the Work-
23 force Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
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24 U.S.C. 3141(c)) for the local workforce develop-
25 ment area (meaning a local area, as defined in
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25
1 section 3 of that Act) and with corresponding
2 measures under the Carl D. Perkins Career and
3 Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C.
4 2301 et seq.), as appropriate.
5 (B) EVALUATIONS.—Each eligible entity
6 that receives a grant to carry out a project
7 under this subsection shall arrange for another
8 qualified entity to conduct an evaluation, or
9 shall participate in a Department of Labor
10 sponsored evaluation, of the project using the
11 identified common measures, and shall, to the
12 extent practicable, cooperate with the evaluator
13 in any evaluations of activities carried out
14 under this section.
15 (C) EXTENSIONS.—The Secretary shall
16 use the results of an evaluation for a project to
17 determine whether to extend the grant period,
18 or renew a grant, for the project under para-
19 graph (2)(B).
20 (c) PROMOTING AWARENESS OF REGISTERED AP-
21 PRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.—
22 (1) IN GENERAL.—To promote awareness about
23 registered apprenticeship programs, the Secretary,
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24 in cooperation with the Secretary of Education and
25 the Secretary of Commerce, shall ensure that timely,
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1 current information about the value of registered ap-
2 prenticeship programs in the labor market is made
3 available through a range of widely accessible for-
4 mats and venues. The information shall be made
5 available to businesses, trade associations, profes-
6 sional associations, students, parents, workers, edu-
7 cational institutions, workforce and economic devel-
8 opment organizations, and State and local elected of-
9 ficials.
10 (2) INFORMATION FOR STATE AND LOCAL
11 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARDS.—To promote
12 awareness about registered apprenticeship programs
13 within the workforce development system, the Sec-
14 retary shall disseminate information on the value of
15 registered apprenticeship programs, to State and
16 local workforce development boards described in sub-
17 section (b)(2)(C)(iv), which information shall in-
18 clude—
19 (A) a list of registered apprenticeship pro-
20 grams in the State involved;
21 (B) guidance for training staff of the
22 workforce development system within the State
23 on the value of registered apprenticeship pro-
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24 grams, including relevant placement, retention
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1 and earnings information, as a training option
2 for participants;
3 (C) guidance on how individual training
4 accounts under section 134(c)(3) of the Work-
5 force Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
6 U.S.C. 3174(c)(3)) could be used by partici-
7 pants for a registered apprenticeship program;
8 and
9 (D) guidance on how performance account-
10 ability measures under section 116 of the
11 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
12 U.S.C. 3141) apply to participants in registered
13 apprenticeship programs, including relevant
14 placement, retention and earnings information.
15 (3) INFORMATION FOR EMPLOYERS, TRADE AS-
16 SOCIATIONS, PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, INDUS-
17 TRY GROUPS AND LABOR ORGANIZATIONS.—To pro-
18 mote awareness about registered apprenticeship pro-
19 grams to workers and employers, the Secretary, in
20 cooperation with the Secretary of Commerce, shall
21 provide information about the value of registered ap-
22 prenticeship programs, including relevant placement,
23 retention and earnings information, through the one-
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24 stop delivery systems described in section 121 of the
25 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
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1 U.S.C. 3151), to employers, trade associations, pro-
2 fessional associations, industry groups, and labor or-
3 ganizations, which information shall include, at a
4 minimum—
5 (A) a list of registered apprenticeship pro-
6 grams in the State;
7 (B) information on how to develop a reg-
8 istered apprenticeship program; and
9 (C) information on financial resources
10 available to assist with the establishment and
11 implementation of registered apprenticeship
12 programs.
13 (4) INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS AND
14 SCHOOLS.—To promote awareness about registered
15 apprenticeship programs among students and school
16 staff, the Secretary, in cooperation with the Sec-
17 retary of Education, shall disseminate information
18 on the value of registered apprenticeship programs,
19 including relevant placement, retention and earnings
20 information, to high schools, area career and tech-
21 nical education schools (as defined in subsection
22 (b)(2)(C)(i)), 2- and 4-year postsecondary edu-
23 cational institutions, and educational service agen-
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24 cies, to enable, at a minimum—
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1 (A) parents to understand registered ap-
2 prenticeship programs and their value in post-
3 secondary education and career pathways;
4 (B) students to understand registered ap-
5 prenticeship programs and their value in career
6 pathways;
7 (C) career and academic counselors to un-
8 derstand registered apprenticeship programs as
9 a valuable postsecondary education option for
10 students leading to job placement in in-demand
11 industries and occupations; and
12 (D) school administrators, workforce and
13 economic development coordinators, and teach-
14 ers and faculty to assist with the development,
15 implementation, and continuation of registered
16 apprenticeship programs.
17 (d) SECRETARY’S NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
18 ON APPRENTICESHIPS.—
19 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—
20 (A) IN GENERAL.—There is established in
21 the Department of Labor a National Advisory
22 Committee on Apprenticeships, referred to in
23 this section as the ‘‘Advisory Committee’’.
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24 (B) COMPOSITION.—The Advisory Com-
25 mittee shall have—
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1 (i) 21 voting members appointed by
2 the Secretary, composed of—
3 (I) 7 representatives of employers
4 who participate in a registered ap-
5 prenticeship program, including em-
6 ployers who participate in a registered
7 apprenticeship program sponsored by
8 a joint labor-management partnership;
9 (II) 7 representatives of labor or-
10 ganizations who have responsibility
11 for the administration of a registered
12 apprenticeship program sponsored by
13 a joint labor-management partnership;
14 (III) 7 representatives of State
15 apprenticeship agencies, community
16 organizations with significant experi-
17 ence with a registered apprenticeship
18 program, and 2- or 4-year postsec-
19 ondary educational institutions with
20 at least one articulation agreement
21 with the entity administering a reg-
22 istered apprenticeship program; and
23 (ii) members who are ex officio non-
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24 voting representatives from the Depart-
25 ments of Labor, Commerce, Education,
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1 Energy, Housing and Urban Development,
2 and Health and Human Services.
3 (C) QUALIFICATIONS.—The members shall
4 be selected upon the basis of their experience
5 and competence concerning apprenticeships.
6 (D) TERMS.—The Secretary shall appoint
7 the members for terms of 4 years.
8 (2) CHAIRPERSON.—The Secretary shall des-
9 ignate one of the members of the Advisory Com-
10 mittee to serve as Chairperson of the Advisory Com-
11 mittee.
12 (3) MEETINGS.—The Advisory Committee shall
13 hold not fewer than 2 meetings during each calendar
14 year. All meetings of the Advisory Committee shall
15 be open to the public. A transcript shall be kept of
16 each meeting and made available for public inspec-
17 tion.
18 (4) DUTIES.—The Advisory Committee shall
19 advise, consult with, and make recommendations to
20 the Secretary on matters relating to the administra-
21 tion of this part and the Act of August 16, 1937
22 (commonly known as the ‘‘National Apprenticeship
23 Act’’; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et
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24 seq.).
25 (5) PERSONNEL.—
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1 (A) PROCUREMENT.—
2 (i) IN GENERAL.—The Chairperson of
3 the Advisory Committee may procure the
4 temporary and intermittent services of vot-
5 ing members of the Advisory Committee
6 under section 3109(b) of title 5, United
7 States Code, at rates for individuals that
8 do not exceed the daily equivalent of the
9 annual rate of basic pay prescribed for
10 level V of the Executive Schedule under
11 section 5316 of such title.
12 (ii) OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES OF THE
13 UNITED STATES.—All members of the Ad-
14 visory Committee who are officers or em-
15 ployees of the United States shall serve
16 without compensation in addition to that
17 received for their services as officers or
18 employees of the United States.
19 (B) STAFF.—The Secretary shall supply
20 the Committee with an executive secretary and
21 provide such secretarial, clerical, and other
22 services as the Secretary determines to be nec-
23 essary to enable the Advisory Committee to
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24 conduct its business.
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1 (6) PERMANENT COMMITTEE.—Section 14 of
2 the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C.
3 App.) shall not apply to the advisory committee.
4 (e) EVALUATIONS AND RESEARCH.—
5 (1) EVALUATIONS OF PROGRAMS AND ACTIVI-
6 TIES CARRIED OUT UNDER THIS PART.—For the
7 purpose of improving the management and effective-
8 ness of the programs and activities carried out
9 under this part, the Secretary shall provide for the
10 continuing evaluation, by an independent entity, of
11 the programs and activities, including activities car-
12 ried out under subsection (a)(3)(C). Such evalua-
13 tions shall address—
14 (A) the general effectiveness of such pro-
15 grams and activities in relation to their cost, in-
16 cluding the extent to which the programs and
17 activities—
18 (i) improve the skill and employment
19 competencies of participants in comparison
20 to comparably situated individuals who did
21 not participate in such programs and ac-
22 tivities; and
23 (ii) to the extent feasible, increase the
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24 level of total employment and recognized
25 postsecondary credential attainment over
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1 the level that would have existed in the ab-
2 sence of such programs and activities;
3 (B) the impact of the programs and activi-
4 ties for the participants, sponsors, and employ-
5 ers;
6 (C) the return on investment of Federal,
7 State, local, sponsor, employer, and other fund-
8 ing for registered apprenticeships to capture the
9 full level of investment in, and impact of, reg-
10 istered apprenticeships;
11 (D) the longitudinal outcomes for partici-
12 pants in the programs and activities; and
13 (E) the impact of specific policies on the
14 general effectiveness of such programs and ac-
15 tivities.
16 (2) RESEARCH.—The Secretary may conduct,
17 through an independent entity, research on best
18 practices in registered apprenticeship programs and
19 pre-apprenticeship programs and other issues relat-
20 ing to such programs.
21 (3) TECHNIQUES.—Evaluations and research
22 conducted under this subsection shall utilize appro-
23 priate methodology and research designs.
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24 (4) REPORTS.—The independent entity carrying
25 out the evaluations described in paragraph (1) or re-
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1 search described in paragraph (2) shall prepare and
2 submit to the Secretary a final report containing the
3 results of the evaluations or research, respectively,
4 and including policy recommendations. The final re-
5 port shall be made available for public inspection.
6 Not later than 36 months after the date of enact-
7 ment of this Act, the Secretary shall produce a final
8 report related to the return on investment described
9 in paragraph (1)(C).
10 (5) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Not later than
11 60 days after the completion of all the final reports
12 described in paragraph (4), the Secretary shall
13 transmit the final reports to the Committee on Edu-
14 cation and the Workforce of the House of Rep-
15 resentatives and the Committee on Health, Edu-
16 cation, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.
17 (6) PUBLIC ACCESS.—The Secretary shall de-
18 velop a mechanism to make research developed
19 under this part publically available in a timely man-
20 ner.
21 (f) RESERVATION.—The Secretary shall reserve not
22 less than 10 percent of the funds appropriated under sub-
23 section (g) for each fiscal year for grants to States. A
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24 State that receives such a grant shall use the grant funds
25 for the purpose of assisting the Administrator in carrying
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1 out the activities under this section, and may use the grant
2 funds to support the voluntary establishment of a State
3 apprenticeship office, if no such office exists in the State.
4 (g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is
5 authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section
6 $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2022 and each subsequent
7 year.
8 SEC. 212. PROMOTING INTEGRATION WITH POSTSEC-
9 ONDARY EDUCATION.
10 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
11 (1) COLLABORATIVE.—The term ‘‘Collabo-
12 rative’’ means the Registered Apprenticeship-College
13 Collaborative established under subsection (b)(1).
14 (2) SECRETARIES.—The term ‘‘Secretaries’’
15 means the Secretary of Labor, acting through the
16 Administrator, working jointly with the Secretary of
17 Education, acting through the Assistant Secretary
18 for the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Edu-
19 cation.
20 (b) COLLABORATIVE WITH 2- AND 4-YEAR POSTSEC-
21 ONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.—
22 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretaries shall
23 establish and maintain a voluntary Registered Ap-
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24 prenticeship-College Collaborative. The Collaborative
25 shall consist of the sponsors carrying out registered
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1 apprenticeship programs, 2- or 4-year postsecondary
2 educational institutions, and organizations that rep-
3 resent such programs or institutions, that agree to
4 meet certain criteria in order to support the pur-
5 poses described in paragraph (2).
6 (2) PURPOSES.—The Collaborative shall sup-
7 port the purposes of—
8 (A) promoting stronger connections be-
9 tween the registered apprenticeship programs
10 involved and participating 2- and 4-year post-
11 secondary educational institutions;
12 (B) promoting the translation of experi-
13 ence in a registered apprenticeship program to
14 academic credit at participating 2- and 4-year
15 postsecondary educational institutions;
16 (C) facilitating the enrollment of an indi-
17 vidual who has completed a registered appren-
18 ticeship program (referred to in this section as
19 an ‘‘apprentice’’) at a participating 2- or 4-year
20 postsecondary educational institution for the
21 purpose of attaining academic credit toward an
22 associate’s or more advanced degree;
23 (D) advancing the attainment of associ-
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24 ate’s and more advanced degrees by appren-
25 tices;
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1 (E) promoting the attainment of recog-
2 nized postsecondary credentials with value in
3 the labor market; and
4 (F) expanding awareness about the value
5 of registered apprenticeship programs as a
6 postsecondary education option.
7 (3) PARTICIPANT REQUIREMENTS.—The Secre-
8 taries shall establish criteria that any interested 2-
9 or 4-year postsecondary educational institution or
10 sponsor shall meet in order to participate in the Col-
11 laborative, which criteria shall include, at a min-
12 imum—
13 (A) for a 2- or 4-year postsecondary edu-
14 cational institution—
15 (i) agreement to recognize and accept
16 the academic credit (as assessed under
17 subparagraph (B)(i)) earned by an appren-
18 tice for, and the assessment of the appren-
19 tice’s learning in, a registered apprentice-
20 ship program at another participating in-
21 stitution;
22 (ii) agreement to have a formal ar-
23 ticulation agreement with a participating
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24 sponsor of a registered apprenticeship pro-
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1 gram, other than a 2- or 4-year postsec-
2 ondary educational institution; and
3 (iii) agreement to provide certain in-
4 formation, as determined by the Secre-
5 taries, to the Collaborative; and
6 (B) for a sponsor—
7 (i) agreement to participate in third-
8 party evaluations of the quality and rigor
9 of the program offerings in order to deter-
10 mine the value of academic credit for
11 learning during a registered apprenticeship
12 program;
13 (ii) agreement to have a formal ar-
14 ticulation agreement with a participating
15 2- or 4-year postsecondary educational in-
16 stitution; and
17 (iii) agreement to provide certain in-
18 formation, as determined by the Secre-
19 taries, to the Collaborative.
20 (4) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.—
21 (A) IN GENERAL.—In order to participate
22 in the Collaborative, interested 2- or 4-year
23 postsecondary educational institutions and
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24 sponsors shall agree to meet certain conditions
25 determined by the Secretaries.
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1 (B) CONDITIONS.—Such conditions shall
2 address, at a minimum—
3 (i) how learning during a registered
4 apprenticeship program, including related
5 instruction and on-the-job training, will be
6 assessed for academic credit;
7 (ii) how programs and procedures, es-
8 pecially those related to admissions, credit
9 transfer, and recognition of such learning
10 will be structured to support accessibility
11 for apprentices;
12 (iii) how the structure and scheduling
13 of courses will be developed in a way that
14 supports the matriculation of apprentices;
15 and
16 (iv) how residency requirements will
17 support the transferability of credit earned
18 by apprentices.
19 (5) PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION.—The
20 Secretaries shall maintain a publicly accessible
21 website identifying, at a minimum—
22 (A) the participating members of the Col-
23 laborative in each State;
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1 (B) a model for articulation agreements,
2 and copies of some exemplary articulation
3 agreements for illustrative purposes; and
4 (C) such other information as the Secre-
5 taries determine to be necessary to promote
6 awareness of the Collaborative and its members.
7 (6) USE OF FUNDS.—
8 (A) ADMINISTRATIVE.—The Secretaries
9 shall use 30 percent of the funds appropriated
10 under subsection (c) to establish and maintain
11 the Collaborative and the website referred to in
12 paragraph (5), to support the advisory com-
13 mittee referred to in paragraph (6), and for
14 technical assistance, evaluation, and research
15 activities.
16 (B) FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.—The
17 Secretaries shall use 70 percent of the appro-
18 priated funds to carry out, directly or by grant
19 or contract with an eligible entity, activities
20 consisting of—
21 (i) providing funding to Collaborative
22 participants to support the development of
23 articulation agreements with other Collabo-
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24 rative participants;
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1 (ii) providing funding to the Collabo-
2 rative to support the assessment of learn-
3 ing during a registered apprenticeship pro-
4 gram, for academic credit;
5 (iii) providing funding to the Collabo-
6 rative to support third-party evaluations of
7 the quality and rigor of program offerings,
8 referred to in paragraph (3)(B)(i), which
9 evaluations shall be conducted by an entity
10 that meets minimum criteria as established
11 by the Secretaries;
12 (iv) providing curriculum develop-
13 ment, for participating institutions and
14 sponsors; and
15 (v) carrying out other purposes that
16 will help participating 2- and 4-year post-
17 secondary educational institutions and
18 sponsors meet the requirements of para-
19 graphs (3) and (4).
20 (C) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—To be eligible to
21 receive a grant or contract under subparagraph
22 (B), an entity shall be a partnership comprised
23 of—
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1 (i) at least 1-, 2-, or 4-year postsec-
2 ondary educational institution participating
3 in the Collaborative; and
4 (ii) at least 1 sponsor of a registered
5 apprenticeship program participating in
6 the Collaborative.
7 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is
8 authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section
9 $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2022 and each subsequent year.
10 PART 2—PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND
11 ENHANCEMENT
12 SEC. 221. EXPANDING REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PRO-
13 GRAMS.
14 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide pay-
15 ments of assistance for eligible sponsors of new (as of the
16 date of submission of an application under subsection (b))
17 registered apprenticeship programs, or for eligible spon-
18 sors of existing registered apprenticeship programs that
19 add employers as new (as of such date) partners, which
20 may include joint labor-management registered appren-
21 ticeship programs.
22 (b) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to receive pay-
23 ments under this section for a registered apprenticeship
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24 program, a sponsor shall submit an application to the Sec-
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1 retary including information demonstrating that (as of the
2 date of submission)—
3 (1)(A) for a new registered apprenticeship pro-
4 gram, the program received recognition as a reg-
5 istered apprenticeship program within the 36
6 months preceding that date; or
7 (B) for an existing registered apprenticeship
8 program (which may include joint labor-management
9 registered apprenticeship programs), employers were
10 added as new partners within the 36 months pre-
11 ceding that date;
12 (2) the sponsor offered jobs that lead to eco-
13 nomic self-sufficiency, as determined by a local
14 workforce development board located in the same
15 local workforce development area (meaning a local
16 area, as defined in section 3 of the Workforce Inno-
17 vation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102));
18 (3) the sponsor has demonstrated success in en-
19 rolling, instructing, advancing, and graduating indi-
20 viduals in the relevant registered apprenticeship pro-
21 gram, and in the employment of such individuals
22 after completion of the program; and
23 (4) the sponsor had not received a payment
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24 under subsection (d) for that registered apprentice-
25 ship program.
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1 (c) USE OF FUNDS.—In providing assistance under
2 this section, the Secretary shall arrange to provide pay-
3 ments as described in subsection (a) for eligible sponsors,
4 as funds are available under this section. Funds made
5 available through such a payment shall be used to reim-
6 burse an eligible sponsor for the allowable costs of estab-
7 lishing or expanding the registered apprenticeship pro-
8 gram involved. The maximum total payment to any one
9 sponsor may not exceed $25,000 or 50 percent of the al-
10 lowable costs.
11 (d) DISBURSEMENT.—The Secretary shall enter into
12 arrangements with State workforce development boards to
13 make disbursements through the local workforce develop-
14 ment boards described in subsection (b)(2) to provide the
15 payments to the eligible sponsors.
16 (e) EVALUATIONS.—Sponsors receiving grants under
17 this section shall, to the extent practicable, cooperate with
18 the Secretary in the conduct of evaluations of the activities
19 carried out under this section.
20 (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—
21 (1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be
22 appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000
23 for fiscal year 2022 and each subsequent year.
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24 (2) RESERVATION.—The Secretary may reserve
25 5 percent of the amount appropriated under para-
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1 graph (1) for a fiscal year for distribution to the
2 State workforce development boards and local work-
3 force development boards, to pay for the costs of the
4 boards associated with making determinations under
5 subsection (b)(2) and disbursements under sub-
6 section (d), and as funds remain available, other
7 costs of administration and management, technical
8 assistance, research, and evaluation under this sub-
9 title.
10 Subtitle B—Reemployment
11 SEC. 231. REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE REEMPLOYMENT
12 BONUS PROGRAM UNDER STATE UNEMPLOY-
13 MENT COMPENSATION LAW.
14 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 303 of the Social Security
15 Act (42 U.S.C. 503) is amended by adding at the end the
16 following:
17 ‘‘(n)(1) For purposes of subsection (a), the State law
18 of a State must provide for a reemployment bonus pro-
19 gram, to be approved by the Secretary of Labor, under
20 which a reemployment bonus, in an amount specified
21 under paragraph (2), shall be paid, immediately following
22 the end of the 16-week period described in subparagraph
23 (B), to any individual described in paragraph (3) who—
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24 ‘‘(A) becomes employed by an employer other
25 than the individual’s most recent employer not later
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1 than 12 weeks after the date of the individual’s ini-
2 tial claim for unemployment compensation; and
3 ‘‘(B) remains employed by such employer for a
4 period of at least 16 consecutive weeks.
5 ‘‘(2) The amount of a reemployment bonus paid to
6 an individual under paragraph (1) shall be an amount
7 equal to 1⁄2 of the difference between the total amount of
8 regular compensation that would be payable to the indi-
9 vidual during the benefit year under the State law if the
10 individual were not employed in any week of such benefit
11 year and the total amount of such regular compensation
12 paid to the individual during the benefit year prior the
13 week in which the individual becomes employed as de-
14 scribed in paragraph (1)(A).
15 ‘‘(3) An individual described in this paragraph is an
16 individual who—
17 ‘‘(A) is eligible for unemployment compensation
18 for the week before the week in which the individual
19 becomes employed as described in paragraph (1)(A);
20 and
21 ‘‘(B) has been identified under subsection (j) as
22 an individual likely to exhaust regular compensation.
23 ‘‘(4) In this subsection, the terms ‘regular compensa-
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24 tion’ and ‘benefit year’ have the meanings given such
25 terms in section 205 of the Federal-State Extended Un-
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1 employment Compensation Act of 1970 (26 U.S.C. 3304
2 note).’’.
3 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by
4 subsection (a) shall, with respect to a State, apply to cer-
5 tifications for payment under section 302(a) of the Social
6 Security Act in years beginning after the end of the 26-
7 week period beginning on the first day of the first regu-
8 larly scheduled session of the State legislature beginning
9 on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
10 SEC. 232. COORDINATING STATE UNEMPLOYMENT COM-
11 PENSATION PROGRAMS WITH THE WORK-
12 FORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT.
13 (a) REFERRALS TO WIOA SERVICES.—Section
14 303(j)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
15 503(j)(1)(B)) is amended by striking ‘‘job search assist-
16 ance services’’ and inserting ‘‘job search assistance, train-
17 ing assistance, job relocation support, and income support
18 services,’’.
19 (b) REEMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND ELIGIBILITY AS-
20 SESSMENTS.—Section 306(b)(3) of the Social Security Act
21 (42 U.S.C. 306(b)(3)) is amended by striking ‘‘program
22 integration and service delivery’’ and inserting ‘‘program
23 integration, service delivery, support services, and avail-
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24 ability of training assistance’’.
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1 SEC. 233. PERMISSIBLE USE OF WORKFORCE INNOVATION
2 AND OPPORTUNITY ACT FUNDS FOR WAGE
3 INSURANCE.
4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of subtitle B of title
5 I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
6 U.S.C. 3171 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end
7 the following:
8 ‘‘SEC. 135. PERMISSIBLE USE OF FUNDS FOR WAGE INSUR-
9 ANCE.
10 ‘‘(a) WAGE INSURANCE FOR STATE UNEMPLOYMENT
11 COMPENSATION RECIPIENTS.—A State may use funds al-
12 lotted to the State under this chapter to provide a wage
13 insurance program for individuals who file a claim under
14 any State unemployment compensation law.
15 ‘‘(b) BENEFITS.—The wage insurance program pro-
16 vided for in subsection (a) may pay, for a period not to
17 exceed 2 years, to a worker described in subsection (c),
18 up to 50 percent of the difference between—
19 ‘‘(1) the average of the wages received by the
20 worker over the last twelve months of employment;
21 and
22 ‘‘(2) the wages received by the worker from re-
23 employment.
24 ‘‘(c) INDIVIDUAL ELIGIBILITY.—The benefits de-
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25 scribed in subsection (b) may be paid to an individual who
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1 is a claimant for unemployment compensation at the time
2 such individual obtains reemployment and who—
3 ‘‘(1) is at least 50 years of age, or 45 years of
4 age if such individual lives in a distressed commu-
5 nity;
6 ‘‘(2) earns not more than $50,000 per year in
7 wages from reemployment;
8 ‘‘(3) is employed on a full-time basis as defined
9 by the law of the State; and
10 ‘‘(4) is not employed by the employer from
11 which the individual was last separated.
12 ‘‘(d) TOTAL AMOUNT OF PAYMENTS.—A State shall
13 establish a maximum amount of payments per individual
14 for purposes of payments described in subsection (b) dur-
15 ing the eligibility period described in such subsection. An
16 employee shall report an increase in wages during the two-
17 year period of participating in the wage insurance pro-
18 gram and their total amount of payments shall reflect any
19 modification.
20 ‘‘(e) NON-DISCRIMINATION REGARDING WAGES.—
21 An employer shall not pay a worker described in sub-
22 section (c) less than such employer pays to another worker
23 in the same or substantially equivalent position.
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1 ‘‘(f) DISTRESSED COMMUNITY DEFINED .—The term
2 ‘distressed community’ means a geographic unit, as de-
3 fined by the Secretary of Commerce, with—
4 ‘‘(1) a low per capita income;
5 ‘‘(2) an unemployment rate below the national
6 average; or
7 ‘‘(3) actual or threatened severe unemployment
8 or economic adjustment problems.’’.
9 (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section
10 136 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
11 U.S.C. 3181) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
12 lowing:
13 ‘‘(d) WAGE INSURANCE ACTIVITIES.—There are au-
14 thorized to be appropriated to carry out the activities de-
15 scribed in section 135 such sums as may be necessary for
16 fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter.’’.
17 SEC. 234. TRAINING VOUCHERS.
18 (a) REFERENCE.—In this section, any reference to
19 a section or other provision shall be a reference to the
20 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C.
21 3101 et seq.).
22 (b) FUNCTIONS OF THE STATE BOARD.—Section
23 101(d)(3) (29 U.S.C. 3111(d)(3)) is amended—
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24 (1) in subparagraph (F), by striking ‘‘; and’’
25 and inserting a semicolon;
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1 (2) in subparagraph (G), by striking the semi-
2 colon and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
3 (3) by adding at the end the following:
4 ‘‘(H) the development of strategies to pro-
5 mote the integration of workforce development
6 services to unemployment insurance claim-
7 ants.’’.
8 (c) PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES IN STATE PLANS.—
9 Section 103(a)(2) (29 U.S.C. 3113(a)(2)) is amended by
10 adding at the end the following:
11 ‘‘(L) The employment and training assist-
12 ance authorized in this Act.
13 ‘‘(M) The job search support services au-
14 thorized in this Act.’’.
15 (d) LOCAL PLANS.—Section 108(b) is amended—
16 (1) in paragraph (21), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and
17 inserting a semicolon;
18 (2) in paragraph (22), by striking the period
19 and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
20 (3) by adding at the end the following:
21 ‘‘(23) a description of how training assistance
22 will be administered.’’.
23 (e) REQUIRED LOCAL EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
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24 ACTIVITIES FOR ADULTS AND DISLOCATED WORKERS.—
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1 (1) TRAINING VOUCHERS.—Section 134(c)(3)
2 (29 U.S.C. 3174(c)(3)) is amended—
3 (A) in subparagraph (A)(i)—
4 (i) by inserting ‘‘a voucher for’’ after
5 ‘‘used to provide’’; and
6 (ii) by redesignating subclauses (II),
7 (III), and (IV) as subclauses (III), (IV),
8 and (V), and after subclause (I) the fol-
9 lowing:
10 ‘‘(II) who select programs of
11 training services that are linked to
12 employment opportunities.’’;
13 (B) in subparagraph (F)—
14 (i) in clause (iii), by deleting the
15 clause heading and inserting ‘‘TRAINING
16 VOUCHERS.—’’ and by striking ‘‘through
17 an individual training account’’ and insert-
18 ing ‘‘through a training voucher’’; and
19 (ii) in clause (iv), by striking ‘‘coordi-
20 nate funding for individual training ac-
21 counts with funding from other Federal,
22 State, local, or private job training pro-
23 grams or sources’’ and inserting ‘‘and ar-
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24 range for payment for such services
25 through a training voucher. Such payments
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1 may not exceed $8,000 for up to two
2 years.’’; and
3 (C) in subparagraph (G)(i), by striking
4 ‘‘individual training accounts’’ and inserting
5 ‘‘training vouchers’’.
6 (2) INCOME SUPPORT.—Section 134(d)(1)(B)
7 (29 U.S.C. 3174(d)(1)(B)) is amended—
8 (A) in clause (i), by inserting ‘‘provide in-
9 come support for those adults and dislocated
10 workers participating in a training program’’
11 after ‘‘enhancing employment’’; and
12 (B) by adding at the end the following:
13 ‘‘(iii) DURATION AND AMOUNTS.—The
14 income support provided under clause (i)
15 to individuals who are enrolled in training
16 a weekly income stipend for up to 78
17 weeks after such individual exhausts unem-
18 ployment insurance benefits, to help cover
19 training-related costs like childcare or
20 transportation. A participant’s weekly sti-
21 pend will be equal to 100 percent or 50
22 percent of their unemployment insurance
23 weekly benefit amount depending on
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24 whether, at the time of participation, their
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1 household income is below or above 130
2 percent of the Federal poverty level.’’.
3 SEC. 235. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
4 Section 136 of the Workforce Innovation and Oppor-
5 tunity Act (29 U.S.C. 2872), as amended by section
6 233(b) of this subtitle, is further amended—
7 (1) in subsection (b)—
8 (A) by striking ‘‘and’’ after ‘‘2019,’’; and
9 (B) by inserting before the period at the
10 end the following: ‘‘, and such sums as may be
11 necessary for each of fiscal years 2023, 2024,
12 and 2025’’; and
13 (2) in subsection (c)—
14 (A) by striking ‘‘and’’ after ‘‘2019,’’; and
15 (B) by inserting before the period at the
16 end the following: ‘‘, and such sums as may be
17 necessary for each of fiscal years 2023, 2024,
18 and 2025’’.
19 TITLE III—ESTABLISHMENT OF
20 THE DISTRESSED COMMU-
21 NITY INVESTMENT AGENCY
22 SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS.
23 In this title:
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1 (1) AGENCY.—The term ‘‘agency’’ has the
2 meaning given that term in section 551 of title 5,
3 United States Code.
4 (2) DISTRESSED COMMUNITY.—The term ‘‘dis-
5 tressed community’’ means a geographic unit, as de-
6 fined by the Secretary of Commerce, with—
7 (A) a low per capita income;
8 (B) an unemployment rate below the na-
9 tional average; or
10 (C) actual or threatened severe unemploy-
11 ment or economic adjustment problems.
12 (3) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The
13 term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the
14 meaning given that term in section 101(a) of the
15 Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
16 (4) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means any
17 State of the United States, the District of Columbia,
18 the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Is-
19 lands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth
20 of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any possession
21 of the United States.
22 SEC. 302. DISTRESSED COMMUNITY INVESTMENT AGENCY.
23 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is established the Dis-
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24 tressed Community Investment Agency within the Depart-
25 ment of Commerce one year after the date of the enact-
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1 ment of this Act with the mission of promoting, estab-
2 lishing, and strengthening venture capital investment in
3 distressed communities, including expenses of grants, con-
4 tracts, and other agreements with public or private enti-
5 ties.
6 (b) FUNCTIONS.—The Distressed Community Invest-
7 ment Agency shall—
8 (1) coordinate the plans, programs, and oper-
9 ations of the Federal Government which affect or
10 may contribute to the promotion, establishment, and
11 strengthening of venture capital investment in dis-
12 tressed communities;
13 (2) promote the mobilization of activities and
14 resources of State and local governments, businesses
15 and trade associations, institutions of higher edu-
16 cation, foundations, professional organizations, and
17 volunteer and other groups towards the promotion,
18 establishment, and strengthening of venture capital
19 investment in distressed communities;
20 (3) facilitate the coordination of the efforts of
21 groups described in paragraph (2) with those of
22 agencies;
23 (4) establish satellite centers in distressed com-
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24 munities across the United States for the develop-
25 ment, collection, summarization, and dissemination
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1 of information helpful to persons, State and local
2 governments, businesses and trade associations, in-
3 stitutions of higher education, foundations, profes-
4 sional organizations, and volunteer and other groups
5 in undertaking or promoting venture capital invest-
6 ment in distressed communities;
7 (5) make grants, including contracts and coop-
8 erative agreements, to any State government or any
9 agency thereof, any regional entity, any State-char-
10 tered development, any institution of higher edu-
11 cation, or to any entity formed by two or more of
12 the above entities to assist in establishing the sat-
13 ellite centers described in paragraph (4);
14 (6) provide technical and management assist-
15 ance to public or private entities or organizations en-
16 gaged in promoting, establishing, and strengthening
17 venture capital investment in distressed communities
18 through workforce development and retention, at-
19 tracting businesses and industries, fostering innova-
20 tion, accelerating entrepreneurship and business
21 growth, and marketing local, State, and regional
22 ecosystems; and
23 (7) defray all or part of the costs of pilot or
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24 demonstration projects conducted by public or pri-
25 vate entities or organizations which are designed to
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1 overcome the unique challenge of promoting, estab-
2 lishing, and strengthening venture capital invest-
3 ment in distressed communities, or otherwise to fur-
4 ther the purposes of this Act.
5 (c) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SECRETARY OF COM-
6 MERCE.—The Secretary of Commerce, to enable the Dis-
7 tressed Community Investment Agency to better execute
8 the functions described in this section and with the partici-
9 pation of the Economic Development Administration and
10 other agencies, as appropriate, shall—
11 (1) develop comprehensive plans and specific
12 program goals for the Distressed Community Invest-
13 ment Agency;
14 (2) establish regular performance monitoring
15 and reporting systems to assure that goals are being
16 achieved;
17 (3) evaluate the impact of Federal support in
18 achieving the objectives established by this title;
19 (4) require a coordinated review of all proposed
20 Federal training and technical assistance activities
21 in support of promoting, establishing, and strength-
22 ening venture capital investment in distressed com-
23 munities to assure consistency with the program
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24 goals of the Distressed Community Investment
25 Agency and to avoid duplication;
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1 (5) convene, for purposes of coordination, meet-
2 ings of the heads of agencies, or their designees,
3 whose programs and activities may affect or con-
4 tribute to the purposes of this title;
5 (6) convene economic development organiza-
6 tions, venture capitalists, startup founders, entre-
7 preneurs, chambers of commerce, and other rep-
8 resentatives of the private sector who are engaged in
9 growing venture capital investment in distressed
10 communities or who could contribute to this growth
11 to propose, evaluate, and coordinate governmental
12 and private activities in furtherance of the objectives
13 of this title;
14 (7) confer with and advise officials of State and
15 local governments;
16 (8) provide the managerial and organizational
17 framework through which joint or collaborative un-
18 dertakings with agencies or private organizations
19 can be planned and implemented; and
20 (9) recommend appropriate legislative or execu-
21 tive actions.
22 (d) RESPONSIBILITIES OF OTHER AGENCIES.—
23 (1) COOPERATION.—The head of each agency,
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24 or a representative designated by such head, when
25 and in the manner so requested by the Secretary of
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1 Commerce, shall furnish information, assistance, and
2 reports to, and shall otherwise cooperate with, the
3 Distressed Community Investment Agency.
4 (2) DESIGNATION OF AGENCY CONTACT.—The
5 head of each agency shall, when so requested by the
6 Secretary of Commerce, designate the official to
7 have primary and continuing responsibility for the
8 participation and cooperation of that agency in mat-
9 ters related to promoting, establishing, and strength-
10 ening venture capital investment in distressed com-
11 munities.
12 (3) AGENCY CONTACT DUTIES.—Each official
13 designated pursuant to paragraph (2), when so re-
14 quested, shall keep the Secretary of Commerce in-
15 formed of all proposed budgets, plans, and programs
16 of the agency of that official related to promoting,
17 establishing, and strengthening venture capital in-
18 vestment in distressed communities.
19 (4) CONTINUING ROLE OF AGENCIES.—Each
20 agency shall continue all efforts to promote, estab-
21 lish, and strengthen venture capital investment in
22 distressed communities, and shall cooperate with the
23 Secretary of Commerce in increasing the total Fed-
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24 eral effort.
25 (e) REPORTS.—
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1 (1) REPORTS REQUIRED BY SATELLITE CEN-
2 TERS.—Not later than September 30 of each year,
3 each satellite center shall submit to the Secretary of
4 Commerce a report on the activities of the center,
5 including the following:
6 (A) The center’s performance in imple-
7 menting the plans and meeting the specific pro-
8 gram goals set for the prior fiscal year.
9 (B) The plans and specific program goals
10 of the center for the next fiscal year.
11 (C) Completed and ongoing joint and col-
12 laborative undertakings with the groups de-
13 scribed in subsection (b)(2).
14 (D) The services most used by the center.
15 (E) Recommendations for improving the
16 quality, utility, and delivery of services offered
17 by the Distressed Community Investment Agen-
18 cy.
19 (F) Any other information requested by
20 the Secretary of Commerce.
21 (2) REPORTS BY THE SECRETARY OF COM-
22 MERCE.—Not later than one year after the date of
23 the enactment of this title and every March 31
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24 thereafter, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit
25 to Congress a report on the following:
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1 (A) The activities of the Distressed Com-
2 munity Investment Agency.
3 (B) The location of new and existing sat-
4 ellite centers.
5 (C) The performance of the Distressed
6 Community Investment Agency in implementing
7 the plans and meeting the specific program
8 goals set for the prior fiscal year.
9 (D) The plans and specific program goals
10 for the next fiscal year.
11 (E) Expenses of grants, contracts, and
12 other agreements with public or private entities.
13 (F) Completed and ongoing joint or col-
14 laborative undertakings with agencies and the
15 groups described in subsection (b)(2).
16 (G) Meetings convened by the Secretary
17 with heads of agencies, representatives of the
18 private sector, or officials of State and local
19 governments.
20 (H) A review and evaluation of the impact
21 of Federal support in achieving the objectives
22 established by this title.
23 (I) Recommendations for legislation or
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24 other action determined to be desirable to pro-
25 mote the purposes of this title.
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1 (3) REPORTS BY OTHER AGENCIES.—The head
2 of each agency shall—
3 (A) develop and implement systematic data
4 collection processes to provide the Distressed
5 Community Investment Agency current data
6 helpful in evaluating efforts to promote, estab-
7 lish, and strengthen venture capital investment
8 in distressed communities; and
9 (B) not later than September 30 of each
10 year, submit to the Secretary of Commerce a
11 report on efforts to promote, establish, and
12 strengthen venture capital investment in dis-
13 tressed communities through workforce develop-
14 ment and retention, attracting businesses and
15 industries, fostering innovation, accelerating en-
16 trepreneurship and business growth, and mar-
17 keting local, State, and regional ecosystems.
18 (f) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—
19 Section 12 of the Act of February 14, 1903 (15 U.S.C.
20 1511), is amended—
21 (1) in paragraph (4), by inserting a semicolon
22 at the end;
23 (2) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and
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1 (3) by redesignating paragraph (6) as para-
2 graph (7); and
3 (4) by inserting after paragraph (5) the fol-
4 lowing new paragraph:
5 ‘‘(6) Distressed Community Investment Agency;
6 and’’.
7 SEC. 303. REDESIGNATION OF DEPARTMENT OF COM-
8 MERCE TO DEPARTMENT OF INNOVATION
9 AND INVESTMENT.
10 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Department of Commerce is
11 hereby redesignated the Department of Innovation and In-
12 vestment.
13 (b) REFERENCES.—Any reference to the Department
14 of Commerce in any law, rule, regulation, certificate, di-
15 rective, instruction, or other official paper in force on the
16 date of the enactment of this title shall be considered to
17 refer and apply to the Department of Innovation and In-
18 vestment.
19 SEC. 304. REDESIGNATION OF SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
20 TO SECRETARY OF INNOVATION AND INVEST-
21 MENT.
22 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Commerce is
23 hereby redesignated the Secretary of Innovation and In-
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1 (b) REFERENCES.—Any reference to the Secretary of
2 Commerce in any law, rule, regulation, certificate, direc-
3 tive, instruction, or other official paper in force on the
4 date of the enactment of this title shall be considered to
5 refer and apply to the Secretary of Innovation and Invest-
6 ment.
7 TITLE IV—AUTHORIZATION OF
8 APPROPRIATIONS
9 SEC. 401. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
10 There is authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
11 retary of Labor and the Secretary of Education such sums
12 as may be necessary to carry out each’s responsibilities
13 to carry out this Act.
Æ
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