,,ii #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #afai ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,october #cj1 #bjac,mr4 ,donnelly 7for himself and ,mr4 ,heller7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,labor to develop a strategy report to address the skills gap by providing recommendations to increase on-the-job training and apprenticeship opportunities1 increase employer participation in education and workforce training1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,skills ,gap ,strategy ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,strategy report 7a7 ,strategy report required ,the ,secretary shall develop and submit to ,congress a strategy report to address the skills gap by providing analysis and recommendations to increase on-the-job training and apprenticeship opportunities and increase employer participation in education and workforce training4 7b7 ,goals of the strategy report ,the strategy report required by subsection 7a7 shall include specific recommendations to achieve the following goals3 7#a7 ,to increase the aggregate number of employers and employees participating in on-the-job training and apprenticeships4 7#b7 ,to determine ways in which the ,department of ,labor can increase employer outreach to encourage new and expanded employer participation in education and workforce training4 7#c7 ,to identify and prioritize industry-recognized postsecondary credentials that are nationally portable and aligned with in-demand occupations in industries such as construction1 manufacturing1 and others that are emerging4 7#d7 ,to determine ways in which the ,department of ,labor can better address the skills gap by maximizing existing resources1 programs1 and personnel4 7c7 ,analysis required ,as part of the strategy report under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall1 at a minimum1 include the following3 7#a7 ,a comparison of ,united ,states on-the-job training and apprenticeship policies and strategies with the policies and strategies of other countries where employers play a larger role in education and workforce training4 7#b7 ,an assessment of the ,department of ,labor's ,registered ,apprenticeship program to determine how it can be better utilized to appeal to more industries and to boost the goals described in subsection 7b74 7#c7 ,an evaluation of any existing or potential opportunities within the ,department of ,labor to refocus or repurpose resources and personnel to better support on-the-job training and apprenticeship goals4 7#d7 ,an analysis of the specific barriers preventing the domestic workforce from acquiring the skills desired by domestic employers1 including an assessment of opportunities to reduce those barriers by-- 7,a7 improving coordination between ,federal agencies that administer employment and training programs2 and 7,b7 modifying ,federal employment and training programs to enable ,states to better utilize ,federal employment and training funds4 7d7 ,recommendations ,the ,secretary shall include in the skills gap strategy report required under subsection 7a7 recommendations for achieving the goals included in the strategy pursuant to subsection 7b74 ,such recommendations may include proposals as follows3 7#a7 ,actions that may be taken by the ,federal ,government1 ,congress1 ,state1 local and territorial governments1 the private sector1 universities1 industry associations1 and other stakeholders to improve policies1 coordination1 and interaction between such entities1 including strategies and best practices to-- 7,a7 boost public-private partnerships and employer-led partnerships2 and 7,b7 help establish regional industry partnerships4 7#b7 ,adoption of strategies that have been implemented and proven successful in key industries and regions in the ,united ,states and in other countries4 7#c7 ,in coordination with the ,secretary of ,commerce and the ,secretary of ,education1 develop plans that identify strategies-- 7,a7 for increased employer participation in career and technical education2 7,b7 to better align career and technical education curriculums and programs with fast growing industry sectors2 7,c7 to encourage more pre-apprenticeship and college credit courses in secondary schools2 7,d7 to improve school-to-work transitions and connections2 and 7,e7 to assist employers in partnering with ,k-#ab schools1 community colleges1 and service providers4 7e7 ,submittal of strategy report ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress the strategy report developed under this section4 7f7 ,implementation ,the ,secretary may implement the recommendations under subsection 7d7 as the ,secretary determines appropriate1 if otherwise permitted under law4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,industry recognized ,the term industry-recognized1 as used with respect to a credential1 means a credential that-- 7,a7 is sought or accepted by employers within the industry sector involved as recognized1 preferred1 or required for recruitment1 screening1 hiring1 or advancement2 7,b7 is endorsed by a recognized trade or professional association or organization1 representing a significant part of the industry sector2 and 7,c7 is a nationally portable credential that is sought or accepted across multiple ,states1 as described in subparagraph 7,a74 7#b7 ,recognized postsecondary credential ,the term recognized postsecondary credential means a credential consisting of an industry-recognized credential for postsecondary training1 a certificate that meets the requirements of subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,c7 of paragraph 7#a7 for postsecondary training1 a certificate of completion of a postsecondary apprenticeship through a program described in section #abb7;a77#b77;,b7 of the ,workforce ,investment ,act of #aiih 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhdb7;a77#b77;,b771 or an associate degree or baccalaureate degree awarded by an institution of higher education 7as defined in section #aja7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;a7774 7#c7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,labor4 7#d7 ,skills gap ,the term skills gap refers to the difference1 or gap1 between the current supply of labor and skills of the workforce and that which is desired by employers4