,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #iea ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,march #e1 #bjac ,mr4 ,polis 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,de,lauro1 ,mr4 ,conyers1 ,ms4 ,de,gette1 ,mr4 ,grijalva1 ,ms4 ,moore1 ,ms4 ,norton1 ,mr4 ,langevin1 ,ms4 ,wasserman ,schultz1 ,ms4 ,brown of ,florida1 ,mr4 ,sires1 ,mr4 ,blumenauer1 ,ms4 ,roybal-,allard1 ,mr4 ,lewis1 ,ms4 ,wilson of ,florida1 ,mr4 ,hastings of ,florida1 ,ms4 ,slaughter1 ,mr4 ,ellison1 ,mr4 ,garamendi1 ,mr4 ,cicilline1 ,mr4 ,moran1 and ,ms4 ,waters7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and the ,workforce ,a ,,bill ,to promote the economic self-sufficiency of low-income women through their increased participation in high-wage1 high-demand occupations where they currently represent #be percent or less of the workforce4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,women and ,workforce ,investment for ,nontraditional ,jobs or ,women ,,win ,jobs4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,according to the ,council of ,economic ,advisors1 occupations requiring higher educational attainment are projected to grow much faster than those with lower education requirements between #bjjf and #bjaf1 with the fastest growth among occupations that require an associate's degree or a post-secondary vocational award4 ,some of the occupations cited in the report include electricians1 plumbers1 aircraft mechanics and service technicians1 electrical power line installers and repairers1 and environmental engineering technicians1 all of which are nontraditional occupations for women1 as defined under the ,carl ,t4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf4 7#b7 ,only #f4b percent of employed women worked in nontraditional occupations in #bjjh4 7#c7 ,more than one-half of all working women are clustered in #be of #ejd job categories tracked by the ,bureau of ,labor ,statistics4 ,excluding teachers and nurses1 most of these categories are among the lowest-paid occupations4 ,in general1 women working in nontraditional fields earn #bj to #cj percent more than women in traditionally female fields4 7#d7 ,the ,national ,association of ,manufacturers estimates a need for #aj million new workers by #bjbj due to the aging of the current workforce4 ,moreover1 #ij percent of manufacturers are experiencing a shortage of qualified employees including machinists1 operators1 craft workers1 distributors1 and technicians4 ,women hold only #d4g percent of welding1 soldering1 and brazing jobs4 7#e7 ,women make up #gc4g percent of cashiers1 whose hourly wage averages #i4eb1 but only #j4d percent of electrical power-line installers and repairers1 who earn an average hourly wage of #bg4fe1 and only #g4e percent of telecommunications line installers and repairers1 who earn an average hourly wage of #bd4jh4 7#f7 ,women comprise #ga4a percent of wait staff1 whose hourly wage averages #i4ii1 but only #j4f percent of ,,hvac mechanics and installers1 who make an average hourly wage of #ba4eg4 7#g7 ,women make up #id4g percent of child care workers1 whose hourly wage averages #aj4ae1 but only #a4e percent of electricians1 who make an average hourly wage of #bd4ia4 7#h7 ,women comprise #ib4g percent of receptionists and information clerks1 whose hourly wage averages #ab4fc1 but only #aj4i percent of surveying and mapping technicians who make an average hourly wage of #ai4da4 7#i7 ,women make up #hd4b percent of office clerks1 whose hourly wage averages #ac4eh1 but only #aa percent of computer1 ,,atm1 and office machine repairers1 who make an average hourly wage of #ah4gi1 and only #b4c percent of aircraft mechanics who earn an average hourly wage of #be4fb4 7#aj7 ,girls comprise only #ae percent of students enrolled in high school courses leading to nontraditional occupations4 ,this proportion has stayed relatively constant for the past #cj years4 7#aa7 ,an independent study conducted in #bjja found that when programs1 such as those under the ,women in ,apprenticeship and ,nontraditional ,occupations 7,,wanto7 ,act of #aiib1 were implemented in an area1 local women were #be percent more likely to hold a nontraditional job and were more likely to hold these jobs years after the intervention4 7#ab7 ,more than half of the individuals receiving training services under the ,workforce ,investment ,act are women4 ,however1 males who complete training are #aa times more likely to be employed in the occupational category farming1 fishing1 forestry1 construction and extraction and #g times more likely in the area installation1 repair1 production1 transportation1 and material moving4 ,in #bjji1 earnings of females who completed training were #bd percent lower than the earnings of males in the first quarter after completing the training4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act-- 7#a7 the term designated region has the meaning given such term in section #aaf7;c77#e77;,a7 of the ,workforce ,investment ,act of #aiih 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhca7;c77#e7;,a772 7#b7 the term eligible entity means a partnership-- 7,a7 among-- 7i7 a community-based organization experienced in serving women2 7ii7 #a or more employers or a business association2 7iii7 a registered apprenticeship program if available in a designated region2 and 7iv7 a public postsecondary education institution2 and 7,b7 in addition to the required partners described in subparagraph 7,a71 that may include business and trade associations1 labor unions1 high schools1 and workforce and economic development agencies2 7#c7 the term self-sufficiency standard means a measure of how much income families need to cover their basic costs without subsidies1 as determined or recognized by the ,state for an applicable local area using a consistent methodology that calculates the costs of living and working 7including taxes7 based upon sub-,state geographic location and family size and composition2 7#d7 the term non-traditional occupations means those occupations in which women make up less than #be percent of the workforce 7as defined in section #c of the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcjb772 7#e7 the term public postsecondary education institution means-- 7,a7 a junior or community college1 as defined in section #cab7;f7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajeh7;f772 or 7,b7 an area technical school1 as defined in section #c of the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcjb72 7#f7 the term registered apprenticeship program means a program registered under the ,act of ,august #af1 #aicg 7commonly known as the ,national ,apprenticeship ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #ej note772 and 7#g7 the term ,state has the meaning given such term in section #c of the of the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcjb74 #d4 ,grants to ,states 7a7 ,allocation of funds 7#a7 ,in general ,in any fiscal year in which the total amount appropriated under section #aa exceeds #ej1jjj1jjj1 the ,secretary of ,labor shall1 from the amount appropriated under section #aa to carry out this section1 allocate funds to ,states using a formula based on each ,state's share of the national population of women from families with an income of less than #bjj percent of the poverty threshold1 according to the most recent data available by the ,bureau of the ,census4 7#b7 ,reallocation ,if a ,state does not receive funds under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall reallocate such funds to other ,states in the same proportion funds are allocated under such paragraph4 7b7 ,submission of ,state plan 7#a7 ,in general ,in order to receive an allocation of funds under subsection 7a71 the ,governor of a ,state shall submit a ,state ,plan that describes how the ,state plans to-- 7,a7 distribute such funds to eligible entities located in the ,state to increase women's participation in high-wage1 high-demand occupations in which women are currently underrepresented in the ,state's workforce in accordance with section #e2 and 7,b7 use such funds to carry out the statewide activities described in subsection 7c74 7#b7 ,administration of ,state ,plan ,the ,state ,plan described in paragraph 7#a7 shall be administered by a ,state workforce development board 7as referred to in the ,workforce ,investment ,act of #aiih 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhja et seq4771 in consultation with a ,state entity 7as defined in section #aah7;c7 of the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcbh774 7#c7 ,review of plan ,the ,secretary of ,labor shall review each ,state plan submitted pursuant to this subsection within #fj days of receipt4 7c7 ,use of ,funds ,the designated ,state entity may reserve not more than #ae percent of the grant for statewide activities to-- 7#a7 provide technical assistance to eligible entities receiving funding under this ,act and to ,state registered apprenticeship programs and sponsors and joint apprenticeship training councils on meeting their enrollment goal for women in nontraditional occupations2 7#b7 develop institutional and cross-agency policies and protocols such as memoranda of understanding that set goals for the hiring of specific percentages of women served under this ,act into registered apprenticeships and permanent employment openings in publicly assisted projects2 7#c7 engage in public education and outreach activities1 to overcome stereotypes about women in nontraditional occupations1 including the development of educational and marketing materials2 and 7#d7 provide training and technical assistance to overcome gender inequity among employers1 registered apprenticeship programs1 and ,state equal employment opportunity and affirmative action agencies4 #e4 ,state grants to partnerships 7a7 ,in general 7#a7 ,allocations authorized ,a ,state receiving funds under section #d shall allocate the funds not reserved to carry out the statewide activities described in section #d7;c7 to eligible entities in the ,state to support the recruitment1 training1 placement1 and retention of women in nontraditional occupations4 7#b7 ,allocation duration ,an allocation under this section to an eligible entity shall be made for not more than #b years with the possibility of a multi-year renewal upon submission of a renewal application containing information-- 7,a7 about the effectiveness of the services and activities provided under subsection 7d77#a7 using the funds made available under the first allocation2 and 7,b7 any such additional information as the ,secretary may require4 7#c7 ,allocation amount ,an allocation under this section to an eligible entity shall be of sufficient size and scope to support the effective implementation of the services and activities described in subsection 7d77#a74 7b7 ,application ,process ,an eligible entity that desires to receive funds under this section shall submit an application to the designated ,state agency4 ,such application shall provide a plan detailing the roles and responsibilities of partnership members and how funds will be used in conjunction with funding from other public or private sources to carry out the activities described in subsection 7d74 7c7 ,priorities ,in allocating funds under this section1 a ,state agency shall give priority to eligible entities that-- 7#a7 include entities with demonstrated success in recruiting and preparing low-income women for nontraditional occupations1 and local workforce boards established under the ,workforce ,investment ,act2 or 7#b7 leverage additional public and private resources to fund training programs1 including cash or in-kind matches from employers4 7d7 ,use of funds 7#a7 ,services and activities ,an eligible entity receiving funds under this section shall-- 7,a7 conduct public education and outreach designed to overcome stereotypes and develop family support and encouragement2 7,b7 recruit low-income women for careers in nontraditional occupations and provide comprehensive career guidance and counseling1 including regional labor market information and projections about nontraditional jobs and salary information2 7,c7 conduct individual assessments and employment counseling1 including instruction on the use of online job search databases2 7,d7 assist low-income women to access programs leading to a degree1 industry recognized certificate or credential1 and apprenticeship programs that will prepare them for high-demand1 high-skill occupations1 including providing information about-- 7i7 the quality and cost of the programs2 7ii7 available financial aid2 and 7iii7 the use of self-sufficiency calculators where available2 7,e7 conduct education and pre-apprenticeship and pre-employment skill development activities including basic skills1 education1 literacy1 including financial literacy1 and training2 7,f7 coordinate with public secondary education institutions to improve the transition of participants into-- 7i7 an institution of higher education 7as defined in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja772 7ii7 a program of study 7as described in section #abb7;c77#a77;,a7 of the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcdb7;c77#a77;,a7772 or 7iii7 a registered apprenticeship program2 7,g7 engage in necessary activities for the recruitment1 preparation1 placement1 and retention of participants in registered apprenticeships1 and postsecondary training programs1 and permanent employment2 7,h7 provide access to pre- and post-placement supportive services such as child care1 transportation1 tools1 application fees1 dues1 needs-based payments or stipends1 and mentorships as may be necessary to complete training and retain employment2 7,i7 develop or obtain curricula1 handbooks1 tools and equipment2 7,j7 build capacity through staff training1 organizational development and technology upgrades2 7,k7 engage in activities requested by the national clearinghouse established pursuant to section #i2 7,l7 develop incentives for employers and sponsors of registered apprenticeship program to retain women in nontraditional occupations for more than #f months2 7,m7 provide technical assistance to employers on how to create a safe and healthy workplace environment designed to retain and advance women1 including best practices for addressing sexual harassment2 7,n7 provide post-placement assistance to participants in order to promote employment retention1 including exit interviews1 mentoring1 networking and leadership development for women employed in the field2 and 7,o7 develop and collect data1 consistent with the requirements of the ,workforce ,investment ,act of #aiih1 to track women by race1 ethnicity1 and age throughout the process and establish benchmarks such as numbers contacted through outreach1 placement into training and completion rates1 and employment outcomes1 including earnings progression4 7#b7 ,target participants ,in providing services and activities described in paragraph 7#a71 eligible entities shall target women with family incomes below the local self-sufficiency standard1 when available1 or women in families with income of less than #bjj percent of the poverty threshold 7as determined by the ,bureau of the ,census74 7e7 ,supplement1 not supplant ,funds provided under this section shall supplement and not supplant other ,federal1 ,state1 or local funds that would1 in the absence of funds provided under this section1 be available for the purposes described in this section4 #f4 ,allocations to eligible entities 7a7 ,allocations 7#a7 ,in general ,in any year in which the total amount appropriated under section #aa is an amount less than #ej1jjj1jjj1 the ,secretary of ,labor shall1 from the amount appropriated under section #aa to carry out this section1 allocate funds to eligible entities to support the recruitment1 training1 placement1 and retention of women in nontraditional occupations4 7#b7 ,allocation duration ,an allocation under this section shall be made to an eligible entity for not more than #b years with the possibility of multi-year renewals upon submission of a renewal application containing information-- 7,a7 about the effectiveness of the services and activities provided under section 7#e77;d77#a7 using the funds made available under the first allocation2 and 7,b7 any such additional information as the ,secretary may require4 7#c7 ,allocation amount ,an allocation under this section to an eligible entity shall be of sufficient size and scope to support the effective implementation of the services and activities described in subsection 7d74 7b7 ,application ,an eligible entity desiring to receive an allocation under this section shall submit an application to the ,secretary of ,labor at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 ,an application shall provide a plan detailing the roles and responsibilities of partnership members and how funds will be used in conjunction with funding from other public or private sources to carry out the services and activities described in subsection 7d74 7c7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretary of ,labor shall give priority to eligible entities that-- 7#a7 include entities with demonstrated success in recruiting and preparing low-income women for nontraditional occupations1 and local workforce boards created under the ,workforce ,investment ,act2 or 7#b7 leverage additional public and private resources to fund training programs1 including cash or in-kind matches from participating employers4 7d7 ,uses of funds ,an eligible entity receiving funds under this section shall uses such funds to carry out the services and activities described in section #e7;d74 7e7 ,supplement1 not supplant ,funds provided under this section shall supplement and not supplant other ,federal1 ,state1 or local funds that would1 in the absence of funds provided under this section1 be available for the purposes described in this section4 #g4 ,national commission on the status of women in high-demand and high-wage nontraditional occupations 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,labor1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,education1 shall convene a national commission 7in this section referred to as the ,commission7 for the purpose of examining and making recommendations for improving the status of women in high-demand1 high-wage nontraditional occupations4 7b7 ,membership ,the ,commission shall include #cj members1 of which #ae members shall be appointed by the ,president1 #e members by the ,speaker and #c members by the minority leader of the ,house of ,representatives1 and #d members by the majority leader and #c members by the minority leader of the ,senate4 ,members shall include representatives from-- 7#a7 business or trade associations in industries with high-wage1 high-demand nontraditional occupations and sponsors of registered apprenticeship program2 7#b7 women's organizations and other nonprofit organizations serving low-income women2 7#c7 labor unions and labor-management organizations2 7#d7 high school and public postsecondary education institutions2 7#e7 ,state workforce and economic development agencies or agencies responsible for the ,workforce ,investment ,act and the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act2 and 7#f7 academics1 researchers1 and other stakeholders4 ,a minimum of #aj members must have demonstrated experience in serving low-income women4 7c7 ,duties ,the duties of the ,commission shall be to-- 7#a7 develop a #e-year plan to encourage the full participation of women in high-wage1 high-demand nontraditional occupations2 7#b7 hold hearings on the national and regional levels on the goal of ending gender segregation in occupations1 particularly the underrepresentation of women in high-demand1 high-wage occupations2 7#c7 recommend policies and programs1 including the establishment of sanctions and bonuses for ,federal contractors in designated sectors and the use of on-site equal opportunity monitors on all large federally funded projects2 and 7#d7 submit its progress report and policy recommendations to ,congress and related ,federal agencies not later than #a year after the ,commission is convened and every #b years thereafter4 #h4 ,data collection and reporting ,the ,bureau of ,labor ,statistics shall collect data on the status of women's participation in underrepresented sectors of the economy and shall examine the status of women in relation to that of men4 ,such data shall include-- 7#a7 the gender1 race1 age of participants1 including cross tabulations of those three2 7#b7 occupation2 7#c7 geography2 7#d7 advancement salary2 7#e7 pay equity within categories within occupations2 and 7#f7 assignment disparity measured as through income and hours worked4 ,the ,bureau shall collect such information on an annual basis and submit it to relevant ,federal agencies 7including the ,departments of ,labor1 ,education1 ,commerce1 the commission established under section #f1 and to ,congress4 ,the ,bureau shall also make such information available to the public on the ,bureau's ,web site4 #i4 ,national clearinghouse ,the ,secretary of ,labor1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,education1 shall establish a national clearinghouse to collect and distribute best practices4 ,the clearinghouse shall-- 7#a7 convene national and regional meetings and conferences to bring together stakeholders at all levels2 7#b7 collect and disseminate best practices of collaborative models for the recruitment1 preparation1 placement and retention of women in nontraditional employment2 7#c7 provide legal1 policy and technical assistance in order to sustain and advance the promotion1 employment and retention of women in high-wage1 high-demand nontraditional occupations2 and 7#d7 develop and conduct a national training program1 including through distance learning1 for staff1 partners and board members of grantees and subgrantees4 #aj4 ,evaluation 7a7 ,evaluation ,beginning #b years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall conduct an independent1 comprehensive1 and scientifically sound evaluation1 by grant or contract and using the highest quality research design available1 of the impact of activities carried out under this ,act in promoting the economic self-sufficiency of low-income women through their increased participation in high-wage1 high-demand occupations where they currently represent #be percent or less of the workforce4 7b7 ,report ,not later than #d years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and biannually thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report on the results of the evaluation described in subsection 7a74 #aa4 ,authorization of ,appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated #ajj1jjj1jjj to the ,secretary of ,labor to carry out this ,act1 of which a minimum of #c1jjj1jjj is authorized to be used to carry out sections #h and #i4