,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cih ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #i1 #bjai,mr4 ,norcross 7for himself and ,mr4 ,mc,kinley7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,secretary of ,energy to establish a pilot competitive grant program for the development of a skilled energy workforce1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the #bast ,century ,energy ,workforce ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 the energy sector is the third-largest industry in the ,united ,states2 7#b7 #a1ejj1jjj new skilled workers will be needed in the energy sector over the next #ae years2 and 7#c7 a skilled workforce is a critical component of ensuring the growth of the energy sector in the ,united ,states4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,apprenticeship program ,the term apprenticeship program means-- 7,a7 an apprenticeship program registered with the ,department of ,labor as of the date of enactment of this ,act that has a completion rate for participants of not less than #fj percent2 or 7,b7 an apprenticeship program not registered with the ,department of ,labor as of the date of enactment of this ,act1 but that the ,secretary determines should be eligible for a grant under section #e4 7#b7 ,board ,the term ,board means the ,national ,center of ,excellence for the #bast ,century ,workforce ,advisory ,board established under section #d7;a74 7#c7 ,community college ,the term community college means a junior or community college 7as defined in section #cab7;f7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajeh7;f7774 7#d7 ,program ,the term program means the pilot program established under section #e7;a74 7#e7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,energy4 7#f7 ,veterans service organization ,the term veterans service organization means an organization recognized by the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs for the representation of veterans under section #eijb of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 #d4 ,national ,center of ,excellence for the #bast ,century ,workforce 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish a nationwide advisory board1 to be known as the ,national ,center of ,excellence for the #bast ,century ,workforce ,advisory ,board1 to foster strategic vision1 guidance1 and networks for the energy industry4 7b7 ,representatives ,the members of the ,board shall consist of energy sector stakeholders1 including-- 7#a7 representatives of relevant industries2 7#b7 experts in labor1 economics1 and workforce development2 7#c7 representatives of ,states and units of local government2 7#d7 representatives of elementary and secondary education and postsecondary education2 and 7#e7 representatives of labor organizations4 7c7 ,purposes ,the purposes of the ,board are-- 7#a7 to support and develop training and science education programs that-- 7,a7 meet the industry and labor needs of the energy sector2 and 7,b7 provide opportunities for students to become qualified for placement in traditional and clean energy sector jobs2 7#b7 to align apprenticeship programs and industry certifications to further develop succession planning in the energy sector2 7#c7 to integrate educational standards to develop foundational skills for elementary and secondary education and postsecondary education to create a pipeline between education and career2 and 7#d7 to support the replication of existing model energy curricula4 #e4 ,energy workforce pilot grant program 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,labor and the ,secretary of ,education1 shall establish a pilot program to award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities for job training to obtain an industry-recognized credential4 7b7 ,eligibility ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an entity shall be a public or nonprofit organization that-- 7#a7 includes an advisory board of proportional participation1 as determined by the ,secretary1 of relevant organizations1 including-- 7,a7 relevant energy industry organizations1 including public and private employers2 7,b7 labor organizations2 and 7,c7 elementary and secondary education and postsecondary education organizations2 7#b7 demonstrates experience in implementing and operating job training and education programs2 7#c7 demonstrates the ability to recruit and support individuals who plan to work in the energy industry in the successful completion of relevant job training and education programs2 and 7#d7 provides students who complete the job training and education program with an industry-recognized credential4 7c7 ,applications ,eligible entities desiring a grant under this section shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7d7 ,priority ,in selecting eligible entities to receive grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall prioritize applicants that-- 7#a7 house the job training and education programs in-- 7,a7 a community college or institution of higher education that includes basic science and math education in the curriculum of the community college1 institution of higher education2 or 7,b7 an apprenticeship program1 and with respect to such apprenticeship programs described in section #c7a77;,b71 the ,secretary shall further prioritize such programs that can demonstrate to the ,secretary a completion rate for participants of not less than #fj percent2 7#b7 work with the ,secretary of ,defense or veterans organizations to transition members of the ,armed ,forces and veterans to careers in the energy sector2 7#c7 apply as a ,state or regional consortia to leverage best practices already available in the ,state or region in which the community college or institution of higher education is located2 7#d7 have a ,state-supported entity included in the application2 7#e7 include an apprenticeship program as part of the job training and education program2 7#f7 develop a mentorship program for energy professionals and elementary and secondary education students2 7#g7 provide support services and career coaching2 7#h7 provide introductory energy workforce development training2 or 7#i7 provide industry-affiliated pre-apprenticeship programs1 including intensive skill-building programs and intensive short-term programs4 7e7 ,additional consideration ,in making grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall consider regional diversity4 7f7 ,limitation on applications ,an eligible entity may not submit1 either individually or as part of a joint application1 more than #a application for a grant under this section during any #a fiscal year4 7g7 ,limitations on amount of grant ,the amount of a grant for any #a year shall not exceed #a1jjj1jjj4 7h7 ,costs 7#a7 ,federal share ,the ,federal share of the cost of a job training and education program carried out using a grant under this section shall be not greater than #fe percent4 7#b7 ,non-,federal share 7,a7 ,in general ,the non-,federal share of the cost of a job training and education program carried out using a grant under this section shall consist of not less than #ej percent cash4 7,b7 ,limitation ,not greater than #ej percent of the non-,federal contribution of the total cost of a job training and education program carried out using a grant under this section shall be in the form of in-kind contributions of goods or services fairly valued4 7i7 ,reduction of duplication ,prior to submitting an application for a grant under this section1 each applicant shall consult with the applicable agencies of the ,federal ,government and coordinate the proposed activities of the applicant with existing ,state and local programs4 7j7 ,technical assistance ,the ,secretary shall provide technical assistance and capacity building to national and ,state energy partnerships1 including the entities described in subsection 7b77#a71 to leverage the existing job training and education programs of the ,department of ,energy4 7k7 ,report ,the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress and make publicly available on the website of the ,department of ,energy an annual report on the program established under this section1 including a description of-- 7#a7 the entities receiving grants2 7#b7 the activities carried out using the grants2 7#c7 best practices used to leverage the investment of the ,federal ,government2 7#d7 the rate of employment for participants after completing a job training and education program carried out using a grant2 and 7#e7 an assessment of the results achieved by the program4 7l7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #bj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd4