Protecting Workers for a Clean Future Act

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1817 To direct the Secretary of Labor to establish a renewable energy transition grant program and to establish a National Employment Corps, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 11, 2021 Mr. DESAULNIER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor A BILL To direct the Secretary of Labor to establish a renewable energy transition grant program and to establish a Na- tional Employment Corps, 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 ‘‘Protecting Workers 4 for a Clean Future Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 6 Congress finds the following: 7 (1) The fossil fuel and fossil fuel-dependent in- 8 dustries have been major drivers of employment and 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:22 May 03, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1817.IH H1817 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 1817 IH economic growth in regions throughout California. 1 Yet, despite the success of these industries, many 2 local residents are unemployed or live in poverty. In 3 addition, nearby communities often suffer from pol- 4 lution, poor air and water quality, and other health 5 hazards. The goal of community transition grants is 6 to develop a vision for a future economy based on 7 equity, sustainability, and shared prosperity. A re- 8 gional approach requires bringing together a diverse 9 set of stakeholders that represent the whole commu- 10 nity. This coalition must be capable of developing 11 and implementing strategies to support workers and 12 communities that will be affected by the transition 13 away from fossil fuels. To be effective, coalitions 14 should work closely with high road employers and in- 15 dustry leaders to identify in-demand skills and work- 16 force strategies that promote emerging and expand- 17 ing sectors of the regional economy. 18 (2) These strategies should provide pathways 19 for impacted workers to transition to other sustain- 20 able jobs and careers. They should also include the 21 frontline communities who have historically been ex- 22 cluded from the economic benefits of the fossil fuel 23 industry, while bearing the greatest costs of pollu- 24 tion and ecological damage. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:22 May 03, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1817.IH H1817 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 1817 IH (3) Partnerships should include organizations 1 representing workers and communities impacted by 2 the fossil fuel industry and the transition to a car- 3 bon-constrained economy. Workers, residents, and 4 community leaders have inherent knowledge of re- 5 gional dynamics, issues, and needs, and should func- 6 tion at the center of developing regional solutions. 7 (4) In addition, coalitions should be diverse and 8 represent a wide range of regional interests and 9 stakeholders, including organizations representing 10 labor, environmental justice, industry, economic de- 11 velopment, local tribal and municipal government, 12 and educational institutions. 13 (5) As the United States and global economies 14 shift from fossil fuels to more sustainable sources of 15 energy, the fossil fuel workforce cannot be left be- 16 hind. They must be part of the conversation and 17 have a role in shaping the transition. 18 SEC. 3. RENEWABLE ENERGY TRANSITION GRANT PRO- 19 GRAM. 20 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Labor, in con- 21 sultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall establish a 22 grant program for local governments for the purpose of 23 developing a plan to transition workers from employment 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:22 May 03, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1817.IH H1817 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 1817 IH in fossil fuel industries to employment in sustainable in- 1 dustries. 2 (b) ELIGIBILITY.—The Secretary of Labor may 3 award grants under subsection (a) to a local or Tribal gov- 4 ernment that— 5 (1) establishes industry or sector partnerships 6 (as defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation 7 and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102)); 8 (2) is in a locality that the Secretary of Energy 9 determines to have a percentage of traditional en- 10 ergy sector jobs that is average or above average rel- 11 ative to the United States; and 12 (3) certifies that such local or Tribal govern- 13 ment will develop the transition plan described in 14 subsection (a) in consultation with relevant State 15 and other experts, including experts in energy labor, 16 green economy policies, and energy policy, and with 17 relevant State officials, if applicable. 18 (c) DETERMINATION OF PERCENTAGE OF TRADI- 19 TIONAL ENERGY SECTOR JOBS.—In making the deter- 20 mination under subsection (b)(2), the Secretary of Labor 21 shall take into consideration information from the report 22 entitled ‘‘U.S. Energy and Employment Report’’ issued by 23 the Secretary in January, 2017. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:22 May 03, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1817.IH H1817 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 1817 IH (d) USE OF FUNDS.—Funds under subsection (a) 1 may be used for the following purposes: 2 (1) To develop a transition plan described in 3 subsection (a). 4 (2) To support an existing apprenticeship pro- 5 gram for apprenticeable occupation or, if in a non- 6 traditional industry, to develop an apprenticeship 7 program. 8 (3) To train individuals who are new to the 9 workforce for jobs in sustainable industries, includ- 10 ing but not limited to, manufacturing, autonomous 11 vehicles, electric vehicles, renewable energy, 12 CERCLA remediation, and may include a partner- 13 ship or agreements with employers to provide jobs 14 for trainees. 15 (e) TRANSITION PLAN REQUIREMENTS.—A transi- 16 tion plan funded under subsection (a)— 17 (1) shall include assistance for accessing all ex- 18 isting applicable Federal and State aid for displaced 19 workers, including unemployment insurance, job 20 transition training, and community services for the 21 affected community as well as trade adjustment as- 22 sistance and other programs, if applicable; and 23 (2) may also include assistance to supplement 24 existing Federal and State aid, including funds for 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:22 May 03, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1817.IH H1817 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 6 •HR 1817 IH bridges to retirement for older workers, wage insur- 1 ance for workers who find employment in lower wage 2 jobs, and funding for significant career change train- 3 ing for workers who wish to change careers, includ- 4 ing case management and career path counseling. 5 (f) AUTHORIZATION.—There are authorized to be ap- 6 propriated such sums as necessary to carry out this sec- 7 tion. 8 SEC. 4. NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT CORPS. 9 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within 10 the Department of Labor a National Employment Corps. 11 (b) JOB GUARANTEE GRANTS.— 12 (1) IN GENERAL.—If local government or Tribe 13 described in section 3(b) executes a plan under sec- 14 tion 2 in good faith, but all workers described in sec- 15 tion 3(a) are not successfully transitioned, the Sec- 16 retary of Labor, acting through the National Em- 17 ployment Corps, shall establish a program (herein- 18 after referred to as the ‘‘program’’) to provide 19 grants to local and Tribal governments to provide di- 20 rect employment projects for the purpose of guaran- 21 teeing a job and job training to any eligible worker 22 not successfully transitioned under such plan. 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:22 May 03, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1817.IH H1817 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 7 •HR 1817 IH (2) USE OF FUNDS.—The grants under para- 1 graph (1) shall cover wage, benefits, and material 2 expenses of eligible workers. 3 (3) ELIGIBLE WORKER.—In this section, the 4 term ‘‘eligible worker’’ means any individual who 5 loses a job or reasonably anticipates losing a job due 6 to a transition from traditional energy sources to 7 sustainable energy sources. 8 (c) COORDINATION OF FEDERAL EFFORTS.—The 9 Corps shall work with Federal agencies to identify areas 10 of needed investment in the United States economy, in- 11 cluding infrastructure, energy efficiency, retrofitting, elder 12 care, child care, job training, education, and health serv- 13 ices. 14 (d) FEDERAL COMPONENT.— 15 (1) IN GENERAL.—If projects funded under the 16 program under subsection (b) are inadequate to 17 maintain full employment in the locality or Tribe, 18 the Secretary shall intervene in the locality or Tribe 19 to provide adequate employment opportunities to 20 guarantee employment to workers described in such 21 subsection. 22 (2) ADDITIONAL SERVICES.—The Corps shall 23 also offer the following services to eligible workers: 24 (A) Supportive services. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:22 May 03, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1817.IH H1817 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 8 •HR 1817 IH (B) Wrap-around services, including: 1 (i) Transportation. 2 (ii) Childcare. 3 (iii) Job preparation services. 4 (iv) Counseling. 5 (C) Adult edcation and literacy activities. 6 (D) Activities to assist justice-involved in- 7 dividuals. 8 (3) WEBSITE AND DATABASE.—To assist with 9 an individual’s move from the job guarantee to other 10 employment opportunities under a National Employ- 11 ment Corps, the Secretary shall establish a website 12 and database listing individuals employed under the 13 program as available for, and seeking, employment. 14 Individuals shall be allowed up to one day (8 hours) 15 per employed month to seek alternative employment 16 and for professional development. 17 (e) COORDINATION OF LOCAL EFFORTS.—Any local 18 or Tribal government that receives a grant shall develop 19 employment proposals in coordination with community 20 leaders, labor organizations, and local residents to ensure 21 the proposals will serve the needs of the constituents and 22 available pool of labor. The employment proposals may not 23 be used to employ individuals who will replace or speed 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:22 May 03, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1817.IH H1817 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 9 •HR 1817 IH the displacement of existing employees or individuals who 1 would otherwise perform similar work. 2 (f) EMPLOYMENT PROTECTIONS.— 3 (1) COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNITS.— Partici- 4 pants shall be included in an established bargaining 5 unit and covered by any applicable collective bar- 6 gaining agreement upon the establishment of such 7 agreement. 8 (2) WAGES UNDER THE PROGRAM.—Wage vari- 9 ation shall be built into the program, as determined 10 by the Secretary of Labor, to account for workers’ 11 previous experience, education, and region of resi- 12 dence, as well as the prospect of promotion within 13 the National Employment Corps. 14 (3) WEBSITE.—To manage projects past, 15 present, and future, the National Employment Corps 16 shall create a website where all projects will be list- 17 ed. 18 (4) MINIMUM WAGE.—Any individual employed 19 using funds under this section shall be paid wages 20 at a rate that is not less than $15.00 per hour and 21 that are comparable wages in the region, plus bene- 22 fits, and indexed for inflation. 23 (g) APPRENTICESHIP DEFINED.—In this section, the 24 term ‘‘apprenticeship’’ means an apprenticeship program 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:22 May 03, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1817.IH H1817 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 10 •HR 1817 IH registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly 1 known as the ‘‘National Apprenticeship Act’’) (50 Stat. 2 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.), including any 3 requirement, standard, or rule promulgated under such 4 Act, as such requirement, standard, or rule was in effect 5 on December 30, 2019. 6 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:22 May 03, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H1817.IH H1817 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS