,,ii #aadth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bjec ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #ag1 #bjae,mr4 ,vitter 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,baldwin1 and ,mr4 ,kaine7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,secretary of ,energy to award grants to expand programs in maritime and energy workforce technical training1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,maritime and ,energy ,workforce ,technical ,training ,enhancement ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,appropriate ,federal agency ,the term appropriate ,federal agency means-- 7,a7 the ,department of ,defense2 7,b7 the ,department of ,energy2 7,c7 the ,department of ,homeland ,security2 7,d7 the ,department of ,transportation2 or 7,e7 the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs4 7#b7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja74 7#c7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,energy4 7#d7 ,veteran ,the term veteran has the meaning given the term in section #aja of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 #c4 ,maritime and energy workforce technical training enhancement 7a7 ,in general 7#a7 ,grants authorized ,the ,secretary shall award grants to eligible institutions to expand on existing programs in maritime and energy workforce technical training1 including by-- 7,a7 admitting more students to the program2 7,b7 training faculty2 7,c7 expanding facilities2 7,d7 creating new maritime career pathways1 including a pathway from an associate degree to a baccalaureate degree2 7,e7 awarding credit for prior learning experience2 and 7,f7 increasing cooperation with1 as applicable-- 7i7 an appropriate ,federal agency2 or 7ii7 the ,national ,science ,foundation4 7#b7 ,eligible institutions ,to be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph 7#a71 an institution shall be an institution of higher education that-- 7,a7 is a community college or other public postsecondary educational institution2 7,b7 is located in close proximity to marine or port facilities in the ,gulf of ,mexico1 ,atlantic ,ocean1 ,pacific ,ocean1 or ,great ,lakes2 7,c7 offers a maritime training and education program2 and 7,d7 has an established association with-- 7i7 a port authority or other established seaport or inland port facility2 and 7ii7 an appropriate ,federal agency4 7#c7 ,priority ,the ,secretary shall give priority in awarding grants under this subsection to eligible institutions that have entered into a partnership with an appropriate ,federal agency4 7#d7 ,grant amounts ,grants awarded under this subsection shall be in amounts of not less than #a1jjj1jjj and not more than #a1ejj1jjj4 7b7 ,requests for applications 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter for #b years1 the ,secretary shall issue a request for applications from eligible institutions for grants under subsection 7a74 7#b7 ,applications ,an eligible institution seeking a grant under subsection 7a7 shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require1 including-- 7,a7 demonstration of a willingness and ability to participate in a partnership described in subsection 7a77#c72 and 7,b7 a commitment and demonstration of an ability to maintain maritime and energy workforce technical training programs after the end of the grant period4 7c7 ,grant uses 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible institution awarded a grant under subsection 7a7 shall use grant amounts to carry out-- 7,a7 training relating to maritime or energy transportation1 logistics1 and supply chain management2 7,b7 training relating to shipbuilding and ship repair2 7,c7 enhancement of academic and workforce training programs providing training for maritime and energy employment1 including certifications and apprenticeships2 7,d7 salary supplementation for faculty in maritime or energy training and education2 7,e7 operation and maintenance of maritime or energy-related equipment and technology for use in instructional programs2 7,f7 acquisition of marine vessels1 safety equipment1 ship simulators1 electronic navigation devices1 fire suppression equipment1 physical and chemical measuring instruments1 sampling devices1 and other assets and equipment for use in maritime or energy training and education2 7,g7 renovation or construction of buildings to house maritime or energy training and education programs2 or 7,h7 tuition reimbursement for successful completion of a maritime or energy course1 program1 or certification4 7#b7 ,limitation on construction ,an eligible institution awarded a grant under subsection 7a7 may not use greater than #ej percent of the grant amount to carry out paragraph 7#a77;,g74 7#c7 ,admissions preference ,to the maximum extent practicable1 an eligible institution awarded a grant under subsection 7a7 shall give preference to veterans in admission to maritime or energy training and education programs4 7#d7 ,grant period ,an eligible institution awarded a grant under subsection 7a7 may use the grant funds for the #c-year period following the award of the grant4 7d7 ,grant for development of grant program 7#a7 ,in general ,in developing the grant program under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary may award a grant to an eligible nonprofit organization to provide assistance to the ,secretary in carrying out this section4 7#b7 ,eligibility ,to be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph 7#a71 a nonprofit organization shall have not fewer than #aj years of experience in working with eligible institutions on developing workforce development programs4 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out this section #ab1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjaf through #bjah4 #d4 ,centers of ,excellence in ,maritime and ,energy ,workforce ,technical ,training 7a7 ,in general 7#a7 ,grants authorized ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,transportation and the ,secretary of ,labor1 shall award grants to not more than #aj eligible institutions-- 7,a7 to establish within each eligible institution receiving a grant a center1 to be known as a ,center of ,excellence in ,maritime and ,energy ,workforce ,technical ,training 7referred to in this section as a ,center72 and 7,b7 through the ,center established under subparagraph 7,a71 to improve and expand maritime and energy workforce training opportunities for veterans1 members of the ,armed ,forces1 ,federal employees1 and civilians by-- 7i7 implementing new training programs1 including training programs in-- 7,i7 port-related transportation systems2 7,,ii7 maritime and energy logistics and supply chain management2 7,,iii7 small vessel repair2 7,,iv7 maintenance of navigation and deck cargo systems2 7,v7 maintenance of sophisticated training equipment2 7,,vi7 port-related transportation1 logistics1 and supply chain management2 7,,vii7 shipbuilding and ship repair2 and 7,,viii7 operation and maintenance of equipment and technology for use in maritime and energy employment training2 and 7ii7 providing job placement services in maritime and energy employment fields4 7#b7 ,eligible institutions ,to be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph 7#a71 an institution shall be an institution of higher education that-- 7,a7 is a community college or other public postsecondary educational institution2 7,b7 operates an existing maritime or energy workforce training program2 7,c7 offers accredited programs in academic areas relevant to maritime or energy-related workforce training1 including-- 7i7 port-related transportation1 logistics1 and supply chain management2 and 7ii7 shipbuilding and ship repair2 7,d7 is well-recognized in the field of maritime workforce training2 and 7,e7 has an established association with-- 7i7 a port authority or other established seaport or inland port facility2 and 7ii7 an appropriate ,federal agency4 7#c7 ,priority 7,a7 ,in general ,subject to subparagraph 7,b71 the ,secretary shall give priority in awarding grants under this section to eligible institutions that have entered into1 or demonstrate the willingness and ability to enter into-- 7i7 a memorandum of understanding with an appropriate ,federal agency2 or 7ii7 a cooperative agreement with an appropriate private entity1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7,b7 ,memorandum of understanding and cooperative agreement described ,a memorandum of understanding or cooperative agreement referred to in subparagraph 7,a7 shall provide for-- 7i7 the provision of resources1 whether in cash or in-kind1 to the ,center2 or 7ii7 assistance to the ,center for-- 7,i7 building maritime or energy training capacity2 or 7,,ii7 training ,federal employees in maritime fields4 7#d7 ,grant amount ,grants awarded under paragraph 7#a7 shall be in amounts of not more than #a1ejj1jjj per eligible institution4 7b7 ,requests for applications 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall issue a request for applications from eligible institutions for a grant under subsection 7a74 7#b7 ,applications ,an eligible institution seeking a grant under subsection 7a7 shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7c7 ,grant uses 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible institution awarded a grant under this section shall use the grant amount-- 7,a7 to develop an agenda for maritime and energy training and education2 7,b7 to fund expansion of maritime and energy training and education2 or 7,c7 to publish or otherwise disseminate findings relating to best practices in maritime and energy training and education4 7#b7 ,grant period ,an eligible institution awarded a grant under subsection 7a7 may use the grant funds for the #e-year period following the award of the grant4 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out this section #ab1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjaf through #bjah4