,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #hgf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #bf1 #bjai,ms4 ,duckworth 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,graham1 ,mr4 ,bennet1 and ,mr4 ,gardner7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,energy ,policy ,act of #bjje to require the ,secretary of ,energy to establish a program to prepare veterans for careers in the energy industry1 including the solar1 wind1 cybersecurity1 and other low-carbon emissions sectors or zero-emissions sectors of the energy industry1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,energy ,jobs for our ,heroes ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,energy-,ready ,vets ,program ,title ,,xi of the ,energy ,policy ,act of #bjje 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #afdaa et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #aajg4 ,energy-,ready ,vets ,program 7a7 ,purpose ,the purpose of this section is to ensure that veterans have the credentials and training necessary to secure careers in the energy industry4 7b7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,active military1 naval1 or air service ,the term active military1 naval1 or air service has the meaning given such term in section #aja of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,eligible participant ,the term eligible participant means a veteran who-- 7,a7 was discharged or released from service in the active military1 naval1 or air service during the most recent #a-year period2 or 7,b7 7i7 was discharged or released from service in the active military1 naval1 or air service during the #b-year period immediately preceding the most recent #a-year period2 and 7ii7 receives the approval of the ,secretary to participate in the program4 7#c7 ,program ,the term program means the ,energy-,ready ,vets ,program established under subsection 7c77#a74 7#d7 ,uniformed services ,the term uniformed services has the meaning given such term in section #aj7;a7 of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#e7 ,veteran ,the term veteran has the meaning given such term in section #aja of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 7c7 ,establishment2 implementation 7#a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall establish a program1 to be known as the ,energy-,ready ,vets ,program1 to prepare eligible participants for careers in the energy industry4 7#b7 ,implementation ,the ,secretary shall ensure that the program is implemented by an administrator1 to be appointed by the ,secretary from among individuals with experience relating to military service4 7d7 ,administration of program 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 in partnership with the ,secretary of ,defense1 shall carry out the program through the ,skill,bridge program of the ,department of ,defense1 under which the ,secretary shall provide standardized training courses1 based1 to the maximum extent practicable1 on existing industry-recognized certification and training programs1 to prepare eligible participants in the program for careers in the energy industry1 including-- 7,a7 in the solar energy industry1 careers-- 7i7 as solar photovoltaic system installers2 7ii7 as solar technicians2 7iii7 as system inspectors2 and 7iv7 in other areas relating to the solar energy industry2 7,b7 in the wind energy industry1 careers-- 7i7 in wind energy operations2 7ii7 in wind energy development2 7iii7 in wind energy manufacturing2 7iv7 as wind energy technicians2 7v7 in the support of all parts of the wind energy supply chain2 and 7vi7 in other areas relating to the wind energy industry2 7,c7 in the cybersecurity sector of the energy industry1 careers in-- 7i7 cybersecurity preparedness2 7ii7 cyber incident response and recovery2 7iii7 grid modernization1 security1 and maintenance2 7iv7 resilience planning2 and 7v7 other areas relating to the cybersecurity sector of the energy industry2 7,d7 careers in other low-carbon emissions sectors or zero-emissions sectors of the energy industry identified by the ,secretary2 and 7,e7 careers in sectors that plan1 develop1 construct1 maintain1 and expand energy industry infrastructure4 7#b7 ,program requirements 7,a7 ,in general ,in carrying out the program1 the ,secretary shall ensure that the courses described in paragraph 7#a7-- 7i7 provide-- 7,i7 job training2 7,,ii7 employment skills training1 including providing comprehensive wraparound support services to eligible participants that-- 7aa7 enhance the training experience and promote the professional development of eligible participants2 and 7bb7 help eligible participants transition into the workforce2 and 7,,iii7 opportunities for internships of not longer than #ahj days2 and 7ii7 are carried out primarily through-- 7,i7 internships2 or 7,,ii7 applied1 work-based training4 7,b7 ,exam requirement ,as a requirement for completing a course described in paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall require each eligible participant in the course to earn an applicable industry-recognized entry-level certificate or other credential4 7e7 ,recognition of entities ,the ,secretary and the administrator of the program appointed under subsection 7c77#b71 working jointly1 shall establish and carry out a program to recognize commercial entities that hire eligible participants who receive certifications or other credentials under the program1 based on the proportion that-- 7#a7 the number of such eligible participants hired by the commercial entity2 bears to 7#b7 the number of such eligible participants hired by all commercial entities4 7f7 ,establishment of industry-,recognized certification and training programs 7#a7 ,in general ,for purposes of subsection 7d71 if an appropriate industry-recognized certification and training program does not exist1 the ,secretary shall establish a grant program to assist the industry in developing such an industry-recognized certification and training program4 7#b7 ,funding ,out of the amounts made available under subsection 7g77#a71 the ,secretary shall use such sums as are necessary to carry out paragraph 7#a74 7g7 ,funding 7#a7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out this section4 7#b7 ,allocation of funding 7,a7 ,in general ,subject to subparagraph 7,b71 the ,secretary shall allocate to each facility of the ,department of ,defense participating in the program an amount based on a percentage of how many participants enroll in courses at the facility4 7,b7 ,applications ,a facility of the ,department of ,defense participating in the program and desiring funding under subparagraph 7,a7 shall annually submit an application for such funding4 7h7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date on which the program is established1 and annually thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report describing the activities carried out under1 and accomplishments of1 the program4 4