,i  #aah? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #cbaa  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,may #aa1 #bjbc,ms4   
,blunt ,ro*e/] 7= h]self1 ,mr4 ,walb]g1 
,mr4 ,soto1 & ,mr4 ,g>b>9o7 introduc$ ! 
foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !          
,committee on ,education & ! ,work=ce   
,a ,,bill  ,to direct ! ,secret>y (     
,labor to c>ry out a competitive grant  
program to support community colleges & 
c>e] & te*nical education c5t]s 9       
develop+ imm]sive te*nology education & 
tra9+ programs = work=ce developm5t1 & =
 o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is    
,act may be cit$ z ! ,imm]sive          
,te*nology = ! ,am]ican ,work=ce ,act ( 
#bjbc4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds !     
foll[+3 7#a7 ,rural communities h unique
 work=ce consid]ations & *all5ges4  7#b7
 ,almo/ #be p]c5t ( ,am]icans live 9    
rural communities1 & :ile urban areas h 
exp]i5c$ job & population gr[?1 rural   
communities face /atic or decl9+        
populations & job decl9e4  7#c7 ,rural  
communities 7 hit h>d] & recov]$ m sl[ly

 ?an urban c5t]s dur+ ! #bjjg-bjjh      
recession & h exp]i5c$ m economic       
depression & decl9e 9 college enrollm5t 
due to ! ,,covid-#ai p&emic4  7#d7      
,rural communities hi/orically h l[]    
rates ( po/second>y education1 :i* is a 
b>ri] to traditional employm5t 9        
indu/ries l agriculture & manufactur+4  
7#e7 ,! ,_w ,economic ,=um's ,future (  
,jobs report e/imates t by #bjbe ov]    
half ( all employees w require          
8significant0 reskill+ creat+ a         
significant dem& = work=ce developm5t & 
tra9+ programs4  7#f7 ,imm]sive         
te*nologies are prov+ effective 9 help+ 
rural communities tackle ^! *all5ges4   
7#g7 ,te*nologically m$iat$ tra9+ c     
include ext5d$ reality 7,,xr7 tools 7su*
 z augm5t$ reality1 virtual reality1    
mix$ reality1 & high-te* simulations71  
:i* are increas+ly valu$ z res\rces to  
tra9 work]s 9 indu/ries rang+ f         
manufactur+ to heal? c>e1 agriculture to
 con/ruction1 & clean en]gy to public   
safety4  7#h7 ,use ( imm]sive te*nology 

p]mits on-site tra9+ & cont9u$          
education1 promotes effici5cy1 aids     
recruit+ z well z ret5tion1 improves    
communication & collaboration1 &        
increases safety4  7#i7 ,imm]sive       
te*nologies all[ work]s to tra9 directly
 "u ! sup]vision & tutelage ( m exp]i5c$
 exp]ts :o are locat$ outside ( ! local 
community4  7#aj7 ,^! te*nologies help  
work]s rema9 well equipp$ = ! dem&s ( ! 
mod]n economy4 ,z ! ne$ = reskill+      
increases1 s w ! ne$ = te*nologies :i*  
support ,am]ican work]s r ?an replace   
!m4  7#aa7 ,build+ 9 accessibility      
features 9 imm]sive te*nology =         
usability by individuals ) disabilities1
 includ+ disabl$ vet]ans1 all[s         
inclusive imm]sive te*nology to b5efit m
 work]s4  7#ab7 ,community colleges1    
area c>e] & te*nical education c5t]s1 & 
o!r tra9+ provid]s are uniquely         
position$ to support rural communities 9
 skills developm5t & work=ce tra9+4     
7#ac7 ,p )\t a po/second>y cr$5tial are 
#d times m likely to h a job t c be lo/ 

to automation ?an ^? :o h "o1 increas+  
_! ne$ to le>n new skills 9 ord] to     
rema9 competitive & employable4  7#ad7  
,community colleges provide education at
 a l[] co/1 ) mo/ graduates incurr+ no  
/ud5t debt4  7#ae7 ,9 addition to       
provid+ l[] co/ work=ce developm5t tra9+
 & skills education applicable across a 
range ( roles & occupations1 community  
colleges s]ve z l>ge regional employ]s &
 critical community hubs4  7#af7 ,(f]+  
grants to community colleges & area c>e]
 & te*nical education c5t]s 9 rural     
areas to develop & provide imm]sive     
te*nology tra9+ programs w help rural   
communities or significantly s]ve rural 
areas 9 ! %ort t]m & position !m =      
success 9 ! long] t]m4  7#ag7 ,despite  
_! prov5 value1 community colleges &    
area c>e] & te*nical education s*ools   
be> significant fund+ limitations &     
%ortages4  7#ah7 ,provid+ imm]sive      
te*nology tra9+ programs ?r\gh community
 colleges c help rural communities reta9
 local tal5t1 :e!r by provid+           

qualification = new local jobs or =     
remote employm5t opportunities )        
companies headqu>t]$ 9 urban c5t]s t are
 /ruggl+ to fill jobs4  7#ai7 ,ensur+ ! 
accessibility ( imm]sive te*nology tra9+
 tools c exp& opportunities = p )       
disabilities to le>n & "w f :]ev] !y    
reside4 ,giv5 t "s p ) disabilities     
*oose remote options to meet _! access  
ne$s1 x is critical to make imm]sive    
te*nology tra9+ tools accessible to     
ev]yone4  7#bj7 ,imm]sive te*nology     
tra9+ p>tn]%ip ) community colleges &   
area c>e] & te*nical education s*ools   
also complem5ts rec5t ,f$]al fund+ =    
broadb& connection & physical           
infra/ructure1 ! two o!r bigge/ hurdles 
fac+ rural /ud5ts & work]s seek+        
reskill+ or upskill+4  #c4 ,grants =    
imm]sive te*nology & education work=ce  
tra9+ programs & c>e] pa?ways  7a7 ,9   
g5]al ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date (  
enactm5t ( ?is section1 f ! am\nts      
appropriat$ to c>ry out ?is section1 !  
,secret>y ( ,labor %all aw>d grants1 on 

a competitive basis1 to eligible        
entities to c>ry out imm]sive te*nology 
education & work=ce tra9+ programs or   
c>e] pa?ways t use imm]sive te*nology4  
7b7 ,use ( funds ,an eligible entity    
receiv+ a grant "u ?is section %all use 
su* grant = at lea/ "o ( ! foll[+3 7#a7 
,to develop & implem5t or improve an    
imm]sive te*nology education & work=ce  
tra9+ program1 or a relat$ policy1      
program1 or o!r activity t uses imm]sive
 te*nology t-- 7,a7 facilitates !       
transf] ( academic cr$its 7includ+ =    
c\rses 9 ! same field or program ( /udy7
 betwe5 cov]$ community colleges & o!r  
in/itutions ( high] education1 includ+  
o!r cov]$ community colleges2 &  7,b7   
develops or enhances supportive s]vices 
= /ud5ts enroll$ 9 su* a program or     
activity4  7#b7 ,! creation or alignm5t 
( a c>e] pa?way t provides a sequ5ce (  
education & occupational tra9+ t leads  
to a recogniz$ po/second>y cr$5tial1    
includ+ a program or activity t-- 7,a7  
7i7 includes integrat$ education & tra9+

 t uses imm]sive te*nology2 &  7ii7 is  
design$ to increase ! provision (       
work=ce tra9+ = /ud5ts 7includ+         
individuals :o are memb]s ( ! ,arm$     
,=ces & vet]ans7 9 ord] to facilitate ! 
entry ( su* /ud5ts into 9-dem& indu/ry  
sectors or occupations2 or  7,b7 enables
 ! tra9+ ( in/ructors 9 ! use ( imm]sive
 te*nology 9 education & work=ce tra9+  
programs4  7#c7 7,a7 ,to develop &      
implem5t1 9 consultation ) "o or m ( !  
entities describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,b71 an
 imm]sive te*nology education & tra9+   
program1 :i*-- 7i7 is accessible to     
individuals ) a disability1 disabl$     
vet]ans1 & individuals ) a b>ri] to     
employm5t2 &  7ii7 applies curr5t &     
em]g+ accessibility /&>ds = ext5d$      
reality te*nologies to provide physical 
& programmatic accessibility1 9         
accordance ) section #ahh ( ! ,work=ce  
,innovation & ,opportunity ,act 7#bi    
,u4,s4,c4 #cbdh74  7,b7 ,! entities     
describ$ 9 ?is subp>agraph %all include 
"o or m ( ! foll[+3 7i7 ,a disability   

advocacy gr\p4  7ii7 ,a rese>*] work+ on
 inclusive design & accessibility4      
7iii7 ,a consultant ( inclusive design &
 accessibility4  7iv7 ,an ext5d$ reality
 plat=m manufactur]1 s(tw>e develop]1 or
 cont5t develop]4  7c7 ,duration (      
grants ,a grant aw>d$ "u ?is section    
%all be = a p]iod ( n m ?an #e ye>s1    
except t 9 ! case ( an eligible entity t
 has c>ri$ out a program or activity )  
su* a grant t meets ! crit]ia =         
satisfactory progress on p]=mance       
indicators z det]m9$ "u subsection      
7h77#a7 = ! initial #e-ye> grant p]iod1 
! ,secret>y may aw>d an additional grant
 "u ?is section to su* eligible entity4 
7d7 ,application ,an eligible entity    
seek+ a grant "u ?is section %all submit
 to ! ,secret>y an application at su*   
"t1 9 su* mann]1 & conta9+ su* in=mation
 z ! ,secret>y may require4  7e7        
,priority ,9 aw>d+ grants "u ?is        
section1 ! ,secret>y %all give priority 
to any eligible entity t-- 7#a7 is work+
 )1 or 9 c>ry+ out a program or activity

 to be fund$ ) su* a grant plans to "w  
)1 an indu/ry or sector p>tn]%ip t      
prioritizes ! hir+ ( individuals :o h   
obta9$ a recogniz$ po/second>y cr$5tial 
z a result ( ! program or activity2 or  
7#b7 submits an application "u          
subsection 7d7 t demon/rates-- 7,a7     
alignm5t )-- 7i7 ! ,/ate plan "u section
 #ajb or #ajc ( ! ,work=ce ,innovation &
 ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #caab2
 #caac7 ( a ,/ate 9 :i* ! eligible      
entity w be c>ry+ out a program or      
activity to be fund$ ) su* a grant2     
7ii7 ! local plan "u section #ajh ( !   
,work=ce ,innovation & ,opportunity ,act
 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cabc7 ( a local area 9 
:i* su* a program or activity w be c>ri$
 out2 or  7iii7 ! ,/ate plan "u section 
#abb ( ! ,c>l ,d4 ,p]k9s ,c>e] &        
,te*nical ,education ,act ( #bjjf 7#bj  
,u4,s4,c4 #bcdb7 ) respect to a ,/ate 9 
:i* su* a program or activity w be c>ri$
 out2  7,b7 ) quantitative data &       
evid5ce1 ! ext5t to :i* ! program or    
activity to be fund$ by su* a grant w   

meet ! ne$s ( employ]s2  7,c7 h[ su* a  
program or activity w t>get a specific  
9-dem& indu/ry sector or occupation :i* 
has a skills gap2  7,d7 h[ su* a program
 or activity w retra9 work]s f an       
indu/ry sector t is exp]i5c+ decreas+   
employm5t2  7,e7 h[ su* a program or    
activity w t>get individuals ) b>ri]s to
 employm5t2  7,f7 h[ su* a program or   
activity w s]ve an area ( sub/antial    
unemploym5t 7z def9$ 9 section          
#acb7;b77#a77;,b7 ( ! ,work=ce          
,innovation & ,opportunity ,act 7#bi    
,u4,s4,c4 #cagb7;b77#a77;,b7772 or  7,g7
 h[ su* a program or activity w s]ve a  
rural area4  7f7 ,reports  7#a7 ,report 
to ! ,secret>y ,ea* eligible entity     
receiv+ a grant "u ?is section %all     
submit to ! ,secret>y a report = ea* ye>
 ( ! grant p]iod = su* grant t includes 
a description ( ea* program & activity  
fund$ "u ! grant1 includ+-- 7,a7 !      
levels ( p]=mance a*iev$ = ea* indicator
 ( p]=mance "u section                  
#aaf7;b77#b77;,a77i7 ( ! ,work=ce       

,innovation & ,opportunity ,act 7#bi    
,u4,s4,c4 #cada7;b77#b77;,a77i771       
disaggregat$1 ) respect to ! p>ticipants
 ( su* program or activity1 by age1 race
 or e?nicity1 g5d]1 ea* subpopulation ( 
individuals ) b>ri]s to employm5t1 &    
/atus z a l[-income individual2 &  7,b7 
9 a case ( an eligible entity t works ) 
an indu/ry or sector p>tn]%ip 9 c>ry+   
out su* a program or activity1 ! role ( 
su* p>tn]%ip 9 c>ry+ out ! program or   
activity4  7#b7 ,report to ,congress ,n 
lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! fir/ grant is    
aw>d$ "u ?is section & bi5nially        
!reaft]1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to     
,congress a report t includes a summ>y (
 ! in=mation submitt$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 =
 ! mo/ rec5t #b-ye> p]iod4  7g7         
,evaluation ,! ,secret>y %all res]ve n  
less ?an #a p]c5t & n m ?an #e p]c5t (  
any am\nts made available = ea* fiscal  
ye> to conduct a rigor\s1 indep5d5t     
evaluation (1 & te*nical assi/ance =1 ! 
programs & activities c>ri$ out "u ?is  
section4  7h7 ,satisfactory progress    

7#a7 ,det]m9ation ( crit]ia ,! ,secret>y
 ( ,labor1 9 coord9ation ) ! ,secret>y (
 ,education1 %all det]m9e ! crit]ia =   
satisfactory progress on ! indicators ( 
p]=mance "u section #aaf7;b77#b77;,a77i7
 ( ! ,work=ce ,innovation & ,opportunity
 ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4                    
#cada7;b77#b77;,a77i77 = programs &     
activities fund$ by grants aw>d$ to     
eligible entities "u ?is section4  7#b7 
,cessation ( funds ,! ,secret>y may n   
provide funds to any eligible entity "u 
a grant "u ?is section aft] ! ?ird ye> (
 ! grant p]iod unless ea* program &     
activity c>ri$ out by ! eligible entity 
) ! grant has met ! crit]ia =           
satisfactory progress = ! fir/ #c ye>s (
 su* grant p]iod1 z det]m9$ "u p>agraph 
7#a74  7i7 ,be/ practices ,! ,secret>y1 
9 coord9ation ) ! ,secret>y ( ,education
 & ea* eligible entity t receives funds 
"u grants aw>d$ "u ?is section aft] !   
?ird ye> ( ! grant p]iods = su* grants1 
%all-- 7#a7 e/abli% be/ practices = us+ 
imm]sive te*nology 9 work=ce tra9+ &    

education programs2 &  7#b7 publi% su*  
be/ practices on a publicly available   
website ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,labor4  7j7    
,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7 ,cov]$ 
community college ,! t]m cov]$ community
 college means-- 7,a7 a public          
in/itution ( high] education 7z def9$ 9 
section #aja7;a7 ( ! ,high] ,education  
,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;a7771 at     
:i*-- 7i7 ! highe/ degree aw>d$ is an   
associate degree2 or  7ii7 an associate 
degree is ! mo/ frequ5tly aw>d$ degree2 
7,b7 a bran* campus ( a #d-ye> public   
in/itution ( high] education 7z def9$ 9 
section #aja ( ! ,high] ,education ,act 
( #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja771 if1 at  
su* bran* campus-- 7i7 ! highe/ degree  
aw>d$ is an associate degree2 or  7ii7  
an associate degree is ! mo/ frequ5tly  
aw>d$ degree2  7,c7 a #b-ye> ,tribal    
,college or ,univ]sity 7z def9$ 9       
section #caf7;b77#c7 ( ! ,high]         
,education ,act ( #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4  
#ajei;c7b77#c7772 or  7,d7 a            
degree-grant+ ,tribal ,college or       

,univ]sity 7z def9$ 9 section           
#caf7;b77#c7 ( ! ,high] ,education ,act 
( #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajei;c7b77#c777 
at :i*-- 7i7 ! highe/ degree aw>d$ is an
 associate degree2 or  7ii7 an associate
 degree is ! mo/ frequ5tly aw>d$ degree4
  7#b7 ,eligible entity ,! t]m eligible 
entity means a p>tn]%ip betwe5 or among 
a local bo>d or ,/ate bo>d &-- 7,a7 a   
cov]$ community college2  7,b7 an area  
c>e] & te*nical education s*ool2  7,c7 a
 po/second>y vocational in/itution 7z   
def9$ 9 section #ajb7;c7 ( ! ,high]     
,education ,act ( #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4  
#ajjb7;c7772 or  7,d7 a consortium ( su*
 colleges1 s*ools1 or in/itutions4  7#c7
 ,imm]sive te*nology  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,!  
t]m imm]sive te*nology means tools      
7includ+ ext5d$ reality1 virtual        
reality1 augm5t$ reality1 & mix$ augm5t$
 reality7 t integrate ! physical        
environm5t ) digital cont5t to support  
us] engagem5t4  7,b7 ,virtual reality ,!
 t]m virtual reality means an imm]sive  
te*nology tool t occludes a us]'s       

physical surr\nd+s ) a simulat$         
environm5t1 su* z a con/ruction site1 a 
subway sy/em1 a coa/al floodpla91 or an 
en]gy grid4  7,c7 ,augm5t$ ,reality ,!  
t]m augm5t$ reality means an imm]sive   
te*nology tool t lay]s comput]-g5]at$   
imag]y onto a us]'s view ( ! physical   
_w1 ?us provid+ a composite view4  7,d7 
,mix$ reality ,! t]m mix$ reality means 
an imm]sive te*nology tool t bl5ds      
augm5t$ & virtual reality1 all[+ us]s to
 exp]i5ce simulat$ cont5t )9 _! physical
 worlds & to manipulate & int]act )     
virtual elem5ts 9 real "t4  7#d7 ,rural 
,! t]m rural means all populations1     
h\s+1 & t]ritories n includ$ )9 an urban
 area1 9 :i* an urban area is def9$ z   
any ga!r$ populations1 h\s+1 &          
t]ritories t meets or exce$s #ej1jjj or 
m p1 or is compris$ ( clu/]s consi/+ (  
at lea/ #b1ejj ga!r$ populations1 h\s+1 
& t]ritory b less ?an #ej1jjj p4  7#e7  
,,wioa t]ms ,except z o!rwise provid$ 9 
?is section1 any t]m us$ 9 ?is section t
 is def9$ 9 section #c ( ! ,work=ce     

,innovation & ,opportunity ,act 7#bi    
,u4,s4,c4 #cajb7 %all h ! mean+ giv5 t  
t]m 9 su* section #c 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4     
#cajb74