,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bcdf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,january #be1 #bjah,mr4 ,booker 7for himself and ,mrs4 ,capito7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to establish an innovative water infrastructure workforce development program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,water infrastructure and workforce investment 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 utilities and local governments invest significant resources in planning1 designing1 constructing1 operating1 and maintaining water1 wastewater1 and stormwater systems-- 7,a7 to ensure a safe and reliable water supply for customers2 and 7,b7 to maintain public health1 safety1 and quality2 7#b7 during the #aj-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this ,act1 #cj of the largest water and wastewater utilities in the ,united ,states will-- 7,a7 invest #bcc1jjj1jjj1jjj in operating and capital spending2 and 7,b7 support #bhi1jjj jobs annually2 7#c7 every #a1jjj1jjj1jjj in ,federal investment in water and wastewater infrastructure creates on average an estimated #af1jjj jobs2 7#d7 jobs in the water and wastewater sector1 including apprenticeship positions1 can pay more than #c times the minimum wage2 7#e7 the median age of water sector workers is #dh years old1 which is #f years older than the national median age of workers2 7#f7 water and wastewater utilities anticipate unprecedented workforce replacement needs over the #aj-year period described in paragraph 7#b7 because #cg percent of water utility workers and #ca percent of wastewater utility workers will retire during that period2 7#g7 during the period described in paragraph 7#f71 workforce replacement needs in the water sector will exceed the #bc-percent nationwide replacement need of the total workforce2 and 7#h7 water infrastructure projects and permanent water utility jobs can offer access to stable1 high-quality jobs with competitive wages and benefits4 7b7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 water and wastewater utilities provide a unique opportunity for access to stable1 high-quality careers2 7#b7 as water and wastewater utilities make critical investments in infrastructure1 water and wastewater utilities can invest in the development of local workers and local small businesses to strengthen communities and ensure a strong pipeline of skilled and diverse workers for today and tomorrow2 and 7#c7 to further the goal of ensuring a strong pipeline of skilled and diverse workers in the water and wastewater utilities sector1 ,congress urges-- 7,a7 increased collaboration among ,federal1 ,state1 and local governments2 and 7,b7 institutions of higher education1 apprentice programs1 high schools1 and other community-based organizations to align workforce training programs and community resources with water and wastewater utilities to accelerate career pipelines and provide access to workforce opportunities4 7c7 ,definition of intractable water system ,in this section1 the term intractable water system means a community water system or a noncommunity water system 7as those terms are defined in section #adja of the ,safe ,drinking ,water ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;f77 that-- 7#a7 serves fewer than #a1jjj individuals2 and 7#b7 the owner or operator of which-- 7,a7 is unable or unwilling to provide safe and adequate service to those individuals2 7,b7 has abandoned or effectively abandoned the community water system or noncommunity water system1 as applicable2 7,c7 has defaulted on a financial obligation relating to the community water system or noncommunity water system1 as applicable2 7,d7 fails to maintain the facilities of the community water system or noncommunity water system1 as applicable1 in a manner so as to prevent a potential public health hazard2 or 7,e7 is in significant noncompliance with the ,safe ,drinking ,water ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;f et seq47 or any regulation promulgated pursuant to that ,act4 7d7 ,innovative water infrastructure workforce development program 7#a7 ,grants authorized ,the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency 7referred to in this ,act as the ,administrator7 and the ,secretary of the ,army 7referred to in this ,act as the ,secretary7 shall establish a competitive grant program to assist the development of innovative activities relating to workforce development in the water utility sector4 7#b7 ,selection of grant recipients ,in awarding grants under paragraph 7#a71 the ,administrator or the ,secretary1 as applicable1 shall1 to the maximum extent practicable1 select-- 7,a7 water utilities that-- 7i7 are geographically diverse2 7ii7 address the workforce and human resources needs of large and small public water and wastewater utilities2 7iii7 address the workforce and human resources needs of urban and rural public water and wastewater utilities2 7iv7 advance training relating to construction1 utility operations1 treatment and distribution1 green infrastructure1 customer service1 maintenance1 and engineering2 and 7v7 7,i7 have a high retiring workforce rate2 or 7,,ii7 are located in areas with a high unemployment rate2 or 7,b7 intractable water systems4 7#c7 ,use of funds ,grants awarded under paragraph 7#a7 may be used for activities such as-- 7,a7 targeted internship1 apprenticeship1 preapprenticeship1 and post-secondary bridge programs for mission-critical skilled trades1 in collaboration with labor organizations1 community colleges1 and other training and education institutions that provide-- 7i7 on-the-job training2 7ii7 soft and hard skills development2 7iii7 test preparation for skilled trade apprenticeships2 or 7iv7 other support services to facilitate post-secondary success2 7,b7 kindergarten through #abth grade and young adult education programs that-- 7i7 educate young people about the role of water and wastewater utilities in the communities of the young people2 7ii7 increase the career awareness and exposure of the young people to water utility careers through various work-based learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom2 and 7iii7 connect young people to post-secondary career pathways related to water utilities2 7,c7 regional industry and workforce development collaborations to identify water utility employment needs1 map existing career pathways1 support the development of curricula1 facilitate the sharing of resources1 and coordinate candidate development1 staff preparedness efforts1 and activities that engage and support-- 7i7 water utilities employers2 7ii7 educational and training institutions2 7iii7 local community-based organizations2 7iv7 public workforce agencies2 and 7v7 other related stakeholders2 7,d7 integrated learning laboratories embedded in high schools or other secondary educational institutions that provide students with-- 7i7 hands-on1 contextualized learning opportunities2 7ii7 dual enrollment credit for post-secondary education and training programs2 and 7iii7 direct connection to industry employers2 and 7,e7 leadership development1 occupational training1 mentoring1 or cross-training programs that ensure that incumbent water and wastewater utilities workers are prepared for higher-level supervisory or management-level positions4 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this ,act4