Offshore Wind Jobs and Opportunity Act

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 998 To establish an offshore wind career training grant program, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 11, 2021 Mr. KEATING (for himself, Ms. PINGREE, Mr. PAPPAS, Mr. TONKO, Mr. CARBAJAL, Ms. TLAIB, Mr. MCNERNEY, Mr. NORCROSS, Mr. HUFFMAN, Ms. BARRAGA´N, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. MCEACHIN, Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts, Mr. KHANNA, Mr. NEAL, Ms. KUSTER, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mrs. TRAHAN, Mr. SIRES, and Mr. KIM of New Jersey) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, 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 concerned A BILL To establish an offshore wind career training grant program, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Offshore Wind Jobs 4 and Opportunity Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:14 Mar 08, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H998.IH H998 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 998 IH SEC. 2. OFFSHORE WIND CAREER TRAINING GRANT PRO- 1 GRAM. 2 The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 3 1331 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the fol- 4 lowing: 5 ‘‘SEC. 33. OFFSHORE WIND CAREER TRAINING GRANT PRO- 6 GRAM. 7 ‘‘(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—Beginning 360 days 8 after the date of the enactment of this section, the Sec- 9 retary may award offshore wind career training grants to 10 eligible entities for the purpose of developing, offering, or 11 improving educational or career training programs that 12 provide individuals in such programs skills necessary for 13 employment in the offshore wind industry. 14 ‘‘(b) ALLOCATION OF GRANTS.— 15 ‘‘(1) LIMITATION ON GRANT QUANTITY AND 16 SIZE.—An eligible entity may not be awarded— 17 ‘‘(A) more than one grant under this sec- 18 tion for which the eligible entity is the lead ap- 19 plicant; or 20 ‘‘(B) a grant under this section in excess 21 of $2,500,000. 22 ‘‘(2) ALLOCATION TO COMMUNITY COLLEGES.— 23 Not less than 25 percent of the total amount award- 24 ed under this section for a fiscal year shall be 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:14 Mar 08, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H998.IH H998 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 998 IH awarded to eligible entities that are community col- 1 leges. 2 ‘‘(c) PARTNERSHIPS.—An eligible entity seeking to 3 receive a grant under this section may partner with one 4 or more of the following: 5 ‘‘(1) Another eligible entity (including an eligi- 6 ble entity that is a community college). 7 ‘‘(2) A State or local government. 8 ‘‘(3) A nonprofit organization. 9 ‘‘(d) USE OF GRANT.—An eligible entity may use a 10 grant awarded under this section for the following activi- 11 ties: 12 ‘‘(1) Occupational skills training, including cur- 13 riculum development, on-the-job training, and class- 14 room training. 15 ‘‘(2) Safety and health training. 16 ‘‘(3) The provision of basic skills, English as a 17 second language, and job readiness training. 18 ‘‘(4) Individual referral and tuition assistance 19 for a community college training program or simi- 20 larly situated training program operated by a non- 21 profit organization leading to a recognized postsec- 22 ondary credential (as such term is defined in section 23 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 24 (29 U.S.C. 3102)). 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:14 Mar 08, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H998.IH H998 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 998 IH ‘‘(5) Internship programs in a field related to 1 offshore wind energy. 2 ‘‘(6) Customized training in conjunction with 3 an existing registered apprenticeship program or 4 labor-management partnership. 5 ‘‘(7) Incumbent worker and career ladder train- 6 ing and skill upgrading and retraining. 7 ‘‘(8) The implementation of transitional jobs 8 strategies. 9 ‘‘(9) Curriculum development at the under- 10 graduate and postgraduate levels. 11 ‘‘(10) Development and support of offshore 12 wind energy major, minor, or certificate programs. 13 ‘‘(11) Such other activities, as determined by 14 the Secretary, to meet the purposes of this section. 15 ‘‘(e) GRANT PROPOSALS.— 16 ‘‘(1) SUBMISSION PROCEDURE FOR GRANT PRO- 17 POSALS.—An eligible entity seeking to receive a 18 grant under this section shall submit a grant pro- 19 posal to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 20 and containing such information as the Secretary 21 may require. 22 ‘‘(2) CONTENT OF GRANT PROPOSALS.—A 23 grant proposal submitted to the Secretary under this 24 section shall include a detailed description of— 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:14 Mar 08, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H998.IH H998 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 998 IH ‘‘(A) the specific project for which the 1 grant proposal is submitted, including the man- 2 ner in which the grant will be used to develop, 3 offer, or improve an educational or career train- 4 ing program that will provide individuals in 5 such program skills necessary for employment 6 in the offshore wind industry; 7 ‘‘(B) any previous experience of the eligible 8 entity in providing such educational or career 9 training programs; and 10 ‘‘(C) the extent to which such project will 11 meet the educational or career training needs 12 identified under subsection (i). 13 ‘‘(f) CRITERIA FOR AWARD OF GRANTS.— 14 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to appropriations, 15 the Secretary shall award grants under this section 16 based on an evaluation of— 17 ‘‘(A) the merits of the grant proposal; 18 ‘‘(B) the likely employment opportunities 19 available to individuals who complete the edu- 20 cational or career training program that the eli- 21 gible entity proposes to develop, offer, or im- 22 prove; 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:14 Mar 08, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H998.IH H998 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 6 •HR 998 IH ‘‘(C) prior demand for such educational or 1 career training programs in the community 2 served by the eligible entity; and 3 ‘‘(D) the availability and capacity of exist- 4 ing educational or career training programs in 5 the community to meet future demand for such 6 programs. 7 ‘‘(2) PRIORITY.—Priority in awarding grants 8 under this section shall be given to an eligible entity 9 that— 10 ‘‘(A) is— 11 ‘‘(i) an institute of higher education 12 that has formed a partnership with a labor 13 organization; or 14 ‘‘(ii) a labor organization that has 15 formed a partnership with an institute of 16 higher education; 17 ‘‘(B) has entered into a memorandum of 18 understanding with an employer in the offshore 19 wind industry to foster workforce development; 20 ‘‘(C) is located in an economically dis- 21 tressed area; 22 ‘‘(D) focuses on individuals who are— 23 ‘‘(i) displaced workers (particularly 24 workers displaced from the offshore oil and 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:14 Mar 08, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H998.IH H998 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 7 •HR 998 IH gas, onshore fossil fuel, nuclear energy, or 1 fishing industries); 2 ‘‘(ii) veterans, members of the reserve 3 components of the Armed Forces, or 4 former members of such reserve compo- 5 nents; 6 ‘‘(iii) unemployed; 7 ‘‘(iv) seeking employment pathways 8 out of poverty and into economic self-suffi- 9 ciency; 10 ‘‘(v) at-risk youth; or 11 ‘‘(vi) formerly incarcerated, adju- 12 dicated, nonviolent offenders; or 13 ‘‘(E) with respect to an eligible entity that 14 is an institution of higher education, has a high 15 percentage or number of low-income or minority 16 students. 17 ‘‘(3) GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.—The Sec- 18 retary shall, to the extent practicable, award grants 19 under this section in a manner that provides for a 20 reasonable geographic distribution, except that the 21 Secretary shall not be required to award grants 22 equally among different regions of the United 23 States. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:14 Mar 08, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H998.IH H998 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 8 •HR 998 IH ‘‘(g) MATCHING REQUIREMENTS.—A grant awarded 1 under this section may not be used to satisfy any non- 2 Federal funds matching requirement under any other pro- 3 vision of law. 4 ‘‘(h) GRANTEE DATA COLLECTION.— 5 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A grantee, with respect to 6 the educational or career training program for which 7 the grantee received a grant under this section, shall 8 collect and report to the Secretary on an annual 9 basis the following: 10 ‘‘(A) The number of participants enrolled 11 in the educational or career training program. 12 ‘‘(B) The number of participants that have 13 completed the educational or career training 14 program. 15 ‘‘(C) The services received by such partici- 16 pants, including a description of training, edu- 17 cation, and supportive services. 18 ‘‘(D) The amount spent by the grantee per 19 participant. 20 ‘‘(E) The rate of job placement of partici- 21 pants in the offshore wind industry or related 22 fields. 23 ‘‘(F) The rate of employment retention— 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:14 Mar 08, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H998.IH H998 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 9 •HR 998 IH ‘‘(i) if the eligible entity is not an in- 1 stitution of higher education, 1 year after 2 completion of the educational or career 3 training program; or 4 ‘‘(ii) if the eligible entity is an institu- 5 tion of higher education, 1 year after com- 6 pletion of the educational or career train- 7 ing program or 1 year after the participant 8 is no longer enrolled in such institution of 9 higher education, whichever is later. 10 ‘‘(2) DISAGGREGATION OF DATA.—The data 11 collected and reported under this subsection shall be 12 disaggregated by— 13 ‘‘(A) race; 14 ‘‘(B) low-income status; 15 ‘‘(C) disability; and 16 ‘‘(D) English language proficiency. 17 ‘‘(3) ASSISTANCE FROM SECRETARY.—The Sec- 18 retary shall assist grantees in the collection of data 19 under this subsection by making available, where 20 practicable, low-cost means of tracking the labor 21 market outcomes of participants and by providing 22 standardized reporting forms, where appropriate. 23 ‘‘(i) IDENTIFICATION OF EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER 24 TRAINING NEEDS.—Not later than 120 days after the 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:14 Mar 08, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H998.IH H998 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 10 •HR 998 IH date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary, in 1 consultation with the offshore wind industry, eligible enti- 2 ties, including eligible entities that are community col- 3 leges, State and local governments, labor organizations, 4 and nonprofit organizations, shall identify the educational 5 and career training needs of such industry, including 6 needs related to construction and installation, engineering, 7 manufacturing, operation, and maintenance activities rel- 8 evant to the offshore wind industry. 9 ‘‘(j) GUIDELINES.—Not later than 240 days after the 10 date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall— 11 ‘‘(1) promulgate guidelines for the submission 12 of grant proposals under this section, including a list 13 of the educational and career training needs identi- 14 fied under subsection (i); and 15 ‘‘(2) publish and maintain such guidelines on a 16 public website of the Secretary. 17 ‘‘(k) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 18 18 months after the date of the enactment of this section, 19 and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit 20 a report to the Committee on Natural Resources of the 21 House of Representatives, the Committee on Energy and 22 Natural Resources of the Senate, the Committee on Edu- 23 cation and Labor of the House of Representatives, and 24 the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pen- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:14 Mar 08, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H998.IH H998 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 11 •HR 998 IH sions of the Senate on the grant program established by 1 this section. The report shall include a description of the 2 grantees and the activities for which grantees used a grant 3 awarded under this section. 4 ‘‘(l) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 5 are authorized to be appropriated for purposes of this sec- 6 tion $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 7 2026. 8 ‘‘(m) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 9 ‘‘(1) COMMUNITY COLLEGE.—The term ‘com- 10 munity college’ has the meaning given the term ‘jun- 11 ior or community college’ in section 312(f) of the 12 Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058(f)). 13 ‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en- 14 tity’ means an entity that is— 15 ‘‘(A) an institution of higher education, as 16 such term is defined in section 101 of the High- 17 er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001); or 18 ‘‘(B) a labor organization. 19 ‘‘(3) GRANTEE.—The term ‘grantee’ means an 20 eligible entity that has received a grant under this 21 section. 22 ‘‘(4) LEAD APPLICANT.—The term ‘lead appli- 23 cant’ means the eligible entity that is primarily re- 24 sponsible for the preparation, conduct, and adminis- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:14 Mar 08, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H998.IH H998 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 12 •HR 998 IH tration of the project for which the grant was award- 1 ed. 2 ‘‘(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means 3 the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with 4 the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Education, 5 and the Secretary of Labor.’’. 6 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:14 Mar 08, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H998.IH H998 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS