,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #dfgg  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,septemb] #bc1 #bjbj   
,ms4 ,ros5 7= h]self & ,mrs4            
,hyde-,smi?7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2   
:i* 0 read twice & ref]r$ to !          
,committee on ,heal?1 ,education1       
,labor1 & ,p5sions  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d 
! ,work=ce ,innovation & ,opportunity   
,act to create a new national program to
 support mid-c>e] work]s1 includ+ work]s
 f und]repres5t$ populations1 9 re5t]+ !
 ,,/em work=ce1 by provid+ fund+ to     
small- & m$ium-siz$ ,,/em bus9esses s ! 
bus9esses c (f] paid int]n%ips or o!r   
return%ips t lead to positions above    
entry level4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act 
may be cit$ z ! ,,/em ,re/or+ ,employm5t
 ,skills ?r\gh ,t>get$ ,assi/ance1      
,re-entry1 & ,tra9+ ,act or ! ,,/em     
,,re/>t ,act4  #b4 ,return+ skill$      
work]s to ! ,,/em work=ce  7a7 ,9 g5]al 
,subtitle ,d ( title ,i ( ! ,work=ce    
,innovation & ,opportunity ,act is      
am5d$--  7#a7 by r$esignat+ section #agb

 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cbbg7 z section #agc2 &
  7#b7 by ins]t+ aft] section #aga !    
foll[+3  #agb4 ,grants to support skill$
 work]s 9 return+ or transition+ to !   
,,/em work=ce  7a7 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds
 ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,! ,brook+s ,in/itution 
expects ! coronavirus p&emic w h la/+   
effects on ! labor m>ket & c\ld *ange ! 
composition ( available jobs            
indef9itely1 ) ! ensu+ economic decl9e  
u%]+ 9 a new era ( automation4 ,employ]s
 w likely %$ less skill$ work]s &       
replace !m ) high]-skill$ te*nology     
work]s1 :i* increases labor productivity
 z a recession tap]s (f4  7#b7 ,! curr5t
 pipel9e ( eng9e]+ tal5t does n include 
_m college graduates f l>ge cohorts ( ! 
population4 ,wom5 repres5t ov] #eg p]c5t
 ( college graduates b only #bb p]c5t ( 
! eng9e]s ent]+ ! work=ce4 ,)9 !        
work=ce1 only #ad p]c5t ( eng9e]s are   
wom54 ,wom5 also leave ! eng9e]+        
pr(ession 9 great] numb]s ?an m5 d4     
7#c7 ,a #bjah ,pew ,rese>* ,c5t] /udy   
%[$ !re are wide racial gaps among      

curr5t ,,/em work]s reg>d+ reasons :y s 
few ,black & ,hispanic p "w 9 ,,/em4 ,= 
example1 ov] #gj p]c5t ( ,black ,,/em   
work]s view lack ( access to education &
 discrim9atory hir+ & promotion         
practices z reasons !re are s few ,black
 m5 & wom5 9 ! ,,/em fields4 ,by        
comp>ison1 less ?an #cj p]c5t ( ,:ite & 
,asian ,,/em work]s view t lack ( access
 & ^? practices z b>ri]s to ,black p    
ent]+ ! fields4 ,additionally1 #fb p]c5t
 ( ,black ,,/em work]s say !y h fac$    
discrim9ation 9 _! jobs comp>$ to j #ac 
p]c5t ( ,:ite ,,/em work]s4  7#d7 ,among
 ! #be1cjj1jjj ,unit$ ,/ates wom5 ages  
#be ?r\gh #ed ) a ba*elor's degree or   
high] degree 9 #bjag1 #d1bjj1jjj 7 out (
 ! labor =ce4 ,:ile "s ( ^? wom5 7      
disabl$ or retir$1 ! rema9+ #c1fjj1jjj  
wom5 may be c&idates to return to "w4   
7#e7 ,! ,c5t] = ,tal5t ,innovation's    
rese>* %[s t :ile #ic p]c5t ( wom5 :o   
left ! work=ce want to resume _! c>e]s1 
only #gd p]c5t manage to get any k9d (  
job at all & j #dj p]c5t successfully   

return to "w full-"t4  7#f7 ,mid-c>e]   
int]n%ip & o!r return%ip programs are an
 effective way to address ! difficulties
 ( =m] ,,/em employees seek+ to return  
to "w1 z ! programs provide a           
probation>y p]iod & also an opportunity 
to obta9 m5tor%ip1 pr(essional          
developm5t1 & support z ! p>ticipants   
transition back to "w4 ,ev5 m important1
 return%ip programs all[ an employ] to  
base a hir+ decision on an actual "w    
sample in/ead ( a s]ies ( int]views4 ,at
 ! same "t1 ! programs give p>ticipants 
an opportunity to return to "w toge!r1 9
 a cohort ( simil>ly situat$ return]s4  
7#g7 ,=tune #ejj companies l ,apple1    
,honeywell1 ,nor?rop ,grumman1 ,+]soll  
,r&1 & ,! ,proct]  ,gamble ,company h   
tak5 ! initiative to try to close ! g5d]
 gap among ,,/em pr(essionals by provid+
 mid-c>e] int]n%ips = return+ te*nical  
pr(essionals4 ,h[ev]1 a #bjjh /udy by   
,an?ony ,breitzman & ,diana ,hicks = !  
,(fice ( ,advocacy ( ! ,small ,bus9ess  
,adm9i/ration1 entitl$ ,an ,analysis (  

,small ,bus9ess ,pat5ts by ,indu/ry &   
,firm ,size1 f\nd t ,small firms are mu*
 m likely to develop em]g+ te*nologies  
?an are l>ge firms4 ,?is is p]haps      
intuitively reasonable giv5 !ories on   
small firms effect+ te*nological *ange1 
b ! quantitative data "h support ?is    
ass]tion4 ,specifically1 al?\gh small   
firms acc\nt = only #h p]c5t ( pat5ts   
grant$1 !y acc\nt = #bd p]c5t ( ! pat5ts
 9 ! top #ajj em]g+ clu/]s44  7b7       
,purposes ,! purposes ( ?is section are 
to-- 7#a7 prioritize exp&+              
opportunities1 ?r\gh high-quality       
int]n%ips or o!r return%ips 9 ,,/em     
fields = unemploy$ or und]employ$       
work]s1 p>ticul>ly work]s f             
und]repres5t$ populations & work]s f    
rural areas1 :o are mid-c>e] skill$     
work]s seek+ to return or transition to 
9-dem& indu/ry sectors or occupations )9
 ! ,,/em work=ce1 at positions &        
comp5sation above entry level2 &  7#b7  
e/abli% grant fund+ & o!r inc5tives =   
small-siz$ & m$ium-siz$ companies 9     

9-dem& indu/ry sectors or occupations to
 e/abli% programs t provide on-!-job    
evaluation1 education1 & tra9+ =        
mid-c>e] skill$ work]s describ$ 9       
p>agraph 7#a74  7c7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is  
section3  7#a7 ,m$ium-siz$ ent]prise ,! 
t]m m$ium-siz$1 us$ ) respect to an     
ent]prise1 means an entity t employs m  
?an #dii & few] ?an #aj1jjj employees4  
7#b7 ,,re/>t grant ,! t]m ,,re/>t grant 
means a grant made "u subsection 7d74   
7#c7 ,return%ip ,! t]m return%ip %all   
mean any int]n%ip1 appr5tice%ip1        
re-entry opportunity1 direct hir+       
opportunity ) support1 or o!r simil>    
opportunity design$ to provide work]s   
seek+ to return or transition to ! ,,/em
 work=ce ) positions t-- 7,a7 are above 
entry level2  7,b7 provide sal>ies1     
/ip5ds1 or o!r paym5ts1 & b5efits1 t are
 above entry level2 &  7,c7 provide     
tra9+ t leads work]s t[>d full-"t c>e]s 
& provides pa?ways t[>d advancem5t &    
lead]%ip4  7#d7 ,rural area ,! t]m rural
 area means an area t is n an urban area

 7)9 ! mean+ ( ! notice ( f9al program  
crit]ia entitl$ ,urban ,area ,crit]ia = 
! #bjaj ,c5sus 7#gf ,f$4 ,reg4 #ecjcj   
7,augu/ #bd1 #bjaa7774  7#e7 ,small-siz$
 ent]prise ,! t]m small-siz$1 us$ )     
respect to an ent]prise1 means an entity
 t employs m ?an #di & few] ?an #ejj    
individuals4  7#f7 ,,/em ,! t]m ,,/em   
has ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9 section #b ( ! 
,am]ica ,,competes ,reau?orization ,act 
( #bjaj 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ffba note74     
7#g7 ,und]repres5t$ population ,! t]m   
und]repres5t$ population means a gr\p t 
is und]repres5t$ 9 sci5ce & eng9e]+1 z  
det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y ( ,education "u  
section #fcg4d7;b7 ( title #cd1 ,code ( 
,f$]al ,regulations 7z 9 effect on !    
date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act74  7#h7      
,unemploy$ or und]employ$ individual ,! 
t]m unemploy$ or und]employ$ individual 
means-- 7,a7 an unemploy$ or und]employ$
 individual z def9$ by ! ,bureau (      
,labor ,/ati/ics2 &  7,b7 a displac$ or 
furl\gh$ work]4  7d7 ,grant  7#a7 ,9    
g5]al ,f ! am\nts made available to c>ry

 out ?is section1 ! ,secret>y %all aw>d 
grants1 on a competitive basis1 to      
eligible entities1 to c>ry out return%ip
 programs t provide opportunities above 
entry level 9 ,,/em fields = mid-c>e]   
skill$ work]s1 & a*ieve ! purposes      
describ$ 9 subsection 7b74  7#b7 ,p]iods
 ,! ,secret>y %all aw>d ! grants = an   
initial p]iod ( n less ?an #c ye>s & n m
 ?an #e ye>s4  7#c7 ,am\nts ,9 aw>d+    
grants "u ?is subsection1 ! ,secret>y   
%all aw>d a grant--  7,a7 = a small-siz$
 ent]prise1 9 an am\nt s t ea* annual   
paym5t = ! grant is n less ?an #ajj1jjj 
or m ?an #a1jjj1jjj2 &  7,b7 = a        
m$ium-siz$ ent]prise or consortium1 9 an
 am\nt s t ea* annual paym5t = ! grant  
is n less ?an #ejj1jjj or m ?an         
#e1jjj1jjj4  7e7 ,eligibility  7#a7     
,eligible entities ,to be eligible to   
receive a ,,re/>t grant "u ?is section1 
an entity %all-- 7,a7 7i7 be locat$ 9 ! 
,unit$ ,/ates & h significant op]ations 
& employees )9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates2  7ii7 n 
be a debtor 9 a bankruptcy proce$+1 )9 !

 mean+ ( section                        
#djjc7;c77#c77;,d77i77,v7 ( ! ,,c>es    
,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4                     
#ijdb7;c77#c77;,d77i77,v77 or "u a ,/ate
 bankruptcy law2 &  7iii7 be )9 an      
9-dem& indu/ry sector or occupation 9 a 
,,/em field2 &  7,b7 be-- 7i7 a         
small-siz$ ent]prise2  7ii7 a m$ium-siz$
 ent]prise2 or  7iii7 a consortium (    
small-siz$ or m$ium-siz$ ent]prises4    
7#b7 ,eligible provid]s  7,a7 ,9 g5]al  
,an eligible entity t desires to p>tn] )
 a provid] 9 ord] to c>ry out a         
return%ip program "u ?is section %all   
ent] into an arrangem5t ) an eligible   
provid]4  7,b7 ,provid] ,to be eligible 
to ent] into su* an arrangem5t1 a       
provid]--  7i7 may or may n directly    
employ skill$ work]s 9 ,,/em fields b-- 
7,i7 %all h exp]tise 9 human            
res\rces-relat$ activities1 su* z       
id5tify+ or c>ry+ out /aff+ ) skill$    
work]s or und]repres5t$ populations2 &  
7,,ii7 %all be capable ( provid+        
high-quality education & tra9+ s]vices2 

&  7ii7 may be--  7,i7  7aa7 an         
in/itution ( high] education 7z def9$ 9 
section #aja ( ! ,high] ,education ,act 
( #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja772 or  7bb7
 a non-degree-grant+ in/itution t is    
gov]n$ by ! same body t gov]ns an       
in/itutions ( high] education describ$ 9
 item 7aa72  7,,ii7 a public1 private   
=-pr(it1 or private nonpr(it s]vice     
provid]1 approv$ by ! local bo>d2       
7,,iii7 a jo9t labor-managem5t          
organization2  7,,iv7 an eligible       
provid] ( adult education & lit]acy     
activities "u title ,,ii2 or  7,v7 an   
e/abli%$ nonpr(it organization t        
conducts rese>* or provides tra9+ on    
te*nical1 social & emotional1 &         
employability skills & k align$ to !    
ne$s ( adult le>n]s & work]s4  7f7      
,applications  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,to be     
eligible to receive a ,,re/>t grant to  
c>ry out a return%ip program1 an entity 
%all submit an application to !         
,secret>y at su* "t & 9 su* mann] z !   
,secret>y may reasonably require4  7#b7 

,cont5ts ,su* an application %all       
include--  7,a7 a description ( ! dem& =
 skill$ work]s 9 ,,/em fields & h[ !    
,,re/>t grant w be us$ to help meet t   
dem&2  7,b7 a description ( h[ ! program
 w lead to employm5t ( unemploy$ or     
und]employ$ individuals1 p>ticul>ly     
work]s f und]repres5t$ populations or f 
rural areas1 :o seek to return or       
transition to ! ,,/em work=ce2  7,c7 if 
! entity has ent]$ into or plans to ent]
 into an arrangem5t ) an eligible       
provid] z describ$ 9 subsection 7e77#b7 
to c>ry out a return%ip program1        
in=mation id5tify+ ! eligible provid]1 &
 a description ( h[ ! arrangem5t w help 
! entity build ! k & skills ( skill$    
work]s p>ticipat+ 9 ! program2  7,d7 a  
description ( h[ ! eligible entity w    
develop & e/abli%1 or exp&1 a return%ip 
program t adds to ! numb] ( full-"t     
employees employ$ by ! entity1 b does n 
displace full-"t employees curr5tly 7z (
 ! date ( submission ( ! application7   
employ$ by ! entity2  7,e7 an assurance 

t any new or exi/+ return%ip program    
develop$ & e/abli%$1 or exp&$1 ) ! grant
 funds w la/ = at lea/ #aj weeks &      
provide comp5sation to p>ticipants 9 !  
=m ( a sal>y1 /ip5d1 or o!r paym5t1 &   
b5efits1 t are (f]$ to full-"t employees
 ) equival5t exp]i5ce & exp]tise1 su* z 
heal? c>e or *ild c>e b5efits2 &  7,f7  
if ! return%ip program leads to a       
recogniz$ po/second>y cr$5tial1         
in=mation on ! quality ( ! program t    
leads to ! cr$5tial4  7#c7 ,priority ,9 
mak+ grants "u ?is section1 ! ,secret>y 
%all give priority to entities :o are   
propos+ programs t prioritize return%ips
 = work]s f und]repres5t$ populations or
 f rural areas4  7g7 ,use ( funds  7#a7 
,9 g5]al ,an entity t receives a grant  
"u ?is section %all use ! grant funds to
 c>ry out a return%ip program1 ( n less 
?an #aj weeks1 ?r\gh :i* ! entity       
provides =--  7,a7 ! education & tra9+ (
 return%ip p>ticipants2 &  7,b7 !       
s]vices ( exi/+ employees 7z ( ! date ! 
program beg9s7 ( ! entity :o are work+ )

 return%ip p>ticipants 9 an educational1
 tra9+1 or manag]ial role1 to maximize !
 ret5tion rate & effectiv5ess ( !       
return%ip program4  7#b7 ,specific uses 
,! grant funds may be us$-- 7,a7 to pay 
= ! evaluation1 & entry into ! program1 
& education & tra9+ ( return%ip         
p>ticipants1 includ+ paym5t = ! duration
 ( ! program = ! p>ticipants =--  7i7   
equipm5t1 travel1 & 7z necess>y7 h\s+2  
7ii7 m5tor%ip & c>e] c\nsel+2 &  7iii7  
sal>ies1 /ip5ds1 or paym5ts1 & b5efits1 
describ$ 9 subsection 7f77#b77;,e72     
7,b7 to supplem5t1 & n supplant1 !      
comp5sation ( ^? exi/+ employees ( !    
entity :o are directly support+ a       
return%ip program ?r\gh ! "w describ$ 9 
p>agraph 7#a77;,b72 &  7,c7 to ent] into
 an arrangem5t ) an eligible provid] to 
c>ry out a return%ip program4  7#c7     
,exi/+ employees ,n m ?an #bj p]c5t ( ! 
grant funds may be us$ to provide       
comp5sation = ! exi/+ employees p]=m+ ! 
"w describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a77;,b74  7#d7 
,coord9ation ) ,/ate work=ce bo>ds ,an  

entity t receives a grant "u ?is section
 %all coord9ate activities ) ! ,/ate    
work=ce developm5t bo>d e/abli%$ "u     
section #aja ( ! ,work=ce ,innovation & 
,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #caaa71
 to ensure collaboration & alignm5t (   
work=ce programs4  7h7 ,report+ &       
evaluation requirem5ts  7#a7 ,report to 
! secret>y ,an entity t receives a grant
 "u ?is section = a return%ip program   
%all prep>e1 c]tify ! cont5ts (1 &      
submit to ! ,secret>y an annual report  
conta9+ data reg>d+--  7,a7 ! total     
numb] ( ! p>ticipants1 & ! numb] ( su*  
p>ticipants disaggregated by sex1 race1 
& e?nicity2  7,b7 ! total numb] ( !     
p>ticipants transition$ into full-"t    
employm5t1 & ! numb] ( su* transition$  
p>ticipants disaggregated by sex1 race1 
& e?nicity2 &  7,c7 if ! return%ip      
program includes p>ticipants 9 an       
int]n%ip1 ! conv]sion rate ( ! int]n%ip 
p>ticipants to employees1 = ! total     
numb] ( ^? p>ticipants & ! conv]sion    
rate ( ^? p>ticipants disaggregated by  

sex1 race1 & e?nicity4  7#b7 ,evaluation
 & report by ! secret>y ,n lat] ?an #ahj
 days aft] receiv+ ! annual reports f   
grant recipi5ts "u p>agraph 7#a71 !     
,secret>y %all--  7,a7  7i7 prep>e a    
report t pres5ts ! data collect$ ?r\gh !
 reports1 includ+ data disaggregat$ by  
sex1 race1 & e?nicity1 & an evaluation  
bas$ on t data ( ! be/ practices =      
effectively implem5t+ return%ip 7includ+
 int]n%ip7 programs2 &  7ii7 submit !   
report to ! ,committee on ,education &  
,labor ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives1 & ! 
,committee on ,heal?1 ,education1       
,labor1 & ,p5sions ( ! ,s5ate2 &  7,b7  
po/ in=mation on a website on be/       
practices describ$ 9 subp>agraph        
7,a77i74  7i7 ,au?orization (           
appropriations ,!re is au?oriz$ to be   
appropriat$ to ! ,secret>y to c>ry out  
?is section #ej1jjj1jjj = ea* ( fiscal  
ye>s #bjba ?r\gh #bjbe4  4  7b7 ,table (
 cont5ts ,! table ( cont5ts 9 section   
#a7;b7 ( ! ,work=ce ,innovation &       
,opportunity ,act is am5d$-- 7#a7 by    

r$esignat+ ! item relat+ to section #agb
 z ! item relat+ to section #agc2 &     
7#b7 by ins]t+ aft] ! item relat+ to    
section #aga ! foll[+3  ,sec4 #agb4     
,grants to support skill$ work]s 9      
return+ or transition+ to ! ,,/em       
work=ce4  4