S 268 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To provide funding for a Green Job Corps program, YouthBuild Build Green Grants, and Green-Collar Youth Opportunity Grants, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

January 15, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mrs. MURRAY (for herself and Ms. STABENOW) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To provide funding for a Green Job Corps program, YouthBuild Build Green Grants, and Green-Collar Youth Opportunity Grants, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Green-Collar Youth Jobs, Education, and Training Stimulus Act’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDING.

Congress finds that there is a serious and growing need for employment opportunities for economically disadvantaged youth (including young adults), as demonstrated by statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics stating that, in December 2008--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the unemployment rate increased to 7.2 percent, as compared to 4.9 percent in December 2007;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the unemployment rate for 16- to 19-year-olds rose to 20.8 percent, as compared to 16.9 percent in December 2007; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) the unemployment rate for African-American 16- to 19-year-olds increased to 33.7 percent, as compared to 28 percent in December 2007.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

The purposes of this Act are--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) to increase knowledge of the importance of building a green economy;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy usage;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) to strengthen the protection of the environment;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) to decrease carbon emissions; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) to increase the number of well-trained youth workers who can obtain well-paying jobs in a range of green-collar industries and other viable industries.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) GREEN-COLLAR INDUSTRIES- In this section, the term ‘green-collar industries’ means industries throughout the economy of the United States--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) that promote energy efficiency, energy conservation, and environmental protection, including promoting renewable energy and clean technology;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) that offer jobs with substantial pay and benefits; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) that are industries in which there is likely to be continued demand for workers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) LOCAL BOARD, LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUAL, SECRETARY- The terms ‘local board’, ‘low-income individual’, and ‘Secretary’ have the meanings given the terms in section 101 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM- The term ‘registered apprenticeship program’ means an industry skills training program at the postsecondary level that combines technical and theoretical training through structured on-the-job learning with related instruction (in a classroom or through distance learning) while an individual is employed, working under the direction of qualified personnel or a mentor, and earning incremental wage increases aligned to enhanced job proficiency, resulting in the acquisition of a nationally recognized and portable certificate, under a plan approved by the Office of Apprenticeship or a State agency recognized by the Department of Labor.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. GREEN JOB CORPS PROGRAM.

(a) Purposes- The purposes of this section are--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) to encourage youth participating in the Job Corps to become informed energy- and environmentally-conscious consumers;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) to enable the youth to acquire and expand skills related to green-collar industries; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) to address Job Corps construction needs and energy costs and to make Job Corps centers more energy efficient, including retrofitting facilities and restoring campuses.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Definitions- In this section, the terms ‘enrollee’, ‘graduate’, and ‘Job Corps Center’ have the meanings given the terms in section 142 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2882).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) General Authority- The Secretary is authorized to reserve not more than $500,000,000 of the funds appropriated under this Act to provide work experiences and training described in subsection (d) in green-collar industries. The Secretary shall provide the work experiences and training, in conjunction with activities described in section 148 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2888), under subtitle C of title I of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2881 et seq.) (except that subsections (c) and (d) of section 159 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2899) shall not apply to such experiences and training).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Use of Funds-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) SKILL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ACTIVITIES- The Secretary shall expand Job Corps skill development program activities by updating occupational training programs (including making changes in curriculum and equipment), including development of necessary academic skills in green-collar industries (including construction, facilities maintenance, and advanced manufacturing).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) PAID WORK OPPORTUNITIES- As part of Job Corps career training, the Secretary shall provide paid work opportunities, in green-collar industries, primarily located at Job Corps centers, in order to address Job Corps construction needs and make those centers more energy efficient, including retrofitting facilities and restoring campuses. In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that help conserve, develop, or manage public natural resources or public recreational areas, or support the public interest.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) CONSUMER AND LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES- As part of the Job Corps life skills program, the Secretary shall offer consumer and leadership activities, to create a corps of intelligent and informed energy- and environmentally-conscious consumers, including activities that educate Job Corps members about how they can contribute to minimize the effects of climate change and become future leaders in their local communities who preserve and strengthen energy- and environmentally-conscious practices.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Report to Congress-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) INDICATOR- For purposes of the Green Job Corps program carried out under this section, the indicators of performance shall be--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) entry of graduates who participated in work experiences described in subsection (d)(2) into unsubsidized employment in a green-collar industry;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) average wages received by such graduates upon entry into such employment; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) number of such graduates who obtain an occupational or education-related credential.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) ASSESSMENT- The Secretary shall prepare an assessment of the Green Job Corps program that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) describes the use of funds made available under this section to carry out the program and the progress achieved through that program; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) provides information on the performance of the program on the indicators of performance.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) REPORT- The Secretary shall include the assessment described in paragraph (2) in the corresponding annual report described in subsection (c) of section 159 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2899), in lieu of submitting any of the information described in subsection (c) or (d) of that section 159 with respect to the Green Job Corps program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. YOUTHBUILD BUILD GREEN GRANTS.

(a) General Authority- The Secretary is authorized to reserve $300,000,000 of the funds appropriated under this Act to provide to eligible youth education, work experiences (including service), and training, in green-collar industries, especially concerning the weatherization and energy retrofitting of homes of low-income individuals. The Secretary shall provide the services described in this subsection in conjunction with activities described in section 173A(c) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2918a(c)), under the YouthBuild program set forth in section 173A of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2918a) (except that paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) of subsection (c), and subsection (d), of such section shall not apply to such services).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Grants- The Secretary is authorized to award from the reserved funds, on a competitive basis, YouthBuild Build Green grants to entities that are recipients of YouthBuild grants under section 173A of such Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Application- To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Priority- In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to entities who--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) demonstrate the ability to leverage additional resources, which may include materials, personnel, and supplies, from other public and private sources; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) demonstrate the ability to build a foundation of public-private partnerships in a green-collar industry, related to construction, for future projects carried out by the entities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Eligible Youth- To be eligible to participate in the program carried out under this section, a youth shall meet the requirements of section 173A(e)(1) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2918a(e)(1)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Use of Funds-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING- An entity that receives a grant under this section shall use not less than 90 percent of the funds made available through the grant to provide to participants in the program carried out under this section a combination of classroom education and job skills development, through onsite training and work experiences (including construction or rehabilitation of facilities) in a construction trade that makes efficient use of green technologies. Such education and skills development shall be designed to prepare the participants for jobs in green-collar industries in their communities and States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) SUPERVISION AND TRAINING- The entity may use not more than 10 percent of the grant funds for supervision and training costs related to the activities described in paragraph (1).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Report to Congress-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) INDICATORS- For purposes of the program carried out under this section, the indicators of performance shall be--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) entry of individuals who completed their participation in the program and who participated in activities described in subsection (f)(1) into registered apprenticeship programs in a construction trade in a green-collar industry or a related trade; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) entry of such individuals, who participated in such activities, into unsubsidized employment in a green-collar industry.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) ASSESSMENT- The Secretary shall prepare an assessment of the program that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) describes the use of funds made available under this section to carry out the program and the progress achieved through that program; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) provides information on the performance of the program on the indicators of performance.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) REPORT- The Secretary shall annually submit to Congress a report containing the assessment described in paragraph (2).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. GREEN-COLLAR YOUTH OPPORTUNITY GRANTS.

(a) Definition- The term ‘community college’ means a 2-year institution of higher education, as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) General Authority- The Secretary is authorized to reserve $200,000,000 of the funds appropriated under this Act for work experiences and training in green-collar industries for eligible youth. The Secretary shall provide the work experiences and training in conjunction with activities described in section 169(b) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2914(b)), under the Youth Opportunity Grants program described in section 169 of that Act (29 U.S.C. 2914) (except that subsections (a)(3), (b)(2), (d), (e)(2), (f), and (g) of such section shall not apply to such work experiences and training).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Grants- The Secretary is authorized to award from the reserved funds, on a competitive basis, Green-Collar Youth Opportunity Grants to eligible organizations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Eligible Organizations-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an organization shall be a local board described in section 169(c) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2914(c)) an entity described in section 169(d) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2914(d)), or an entity acting of behalf of an eligible strategic partnership.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) ELIGIBLE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) IN GENERAL- For purposes of this subsection, an eligible strategic partnership shall be composed of at least 1 representative of a local board serving a community, and of each of the 8 types of organizations described in subparagraph (B).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS- The types of organizations referred to in subparagraph (A) are businesses, unions, labor-management partnerships, schools (including community colleges), public agencies including law enforcement, nonprofit community organizations, economic development entities, and philanthropic organizations, that are actively engaged in providing learning, mentoring, and work opportunities to eligible youth.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) FISCAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT- The strategic partnership shall designate an entity, which shall be a member of the partnership, as the strategic partnership’s fiscal and administrative entity for the implementation of activities under the grant.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Application- To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an organization shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Priority- In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to organizations located in communities described in subsection (c) or (d)(2) of section 169 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2914).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Eligible Youth- To be eligible to participate in a program carried out under this section, a youth shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) be not less than age 14 and not more than age 24;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) reside in a community described in subsection (c) or (d)(2) of section 169 of such Act; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) have multiple barriers to education and career success, as specified by the Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(h) Use of Funds- An organization that receives a grant under this section may use the funds made available through the grant to provide programs of work experiences and training in green-collar industries that include education and paid work experiences. The work experiences shall involve retrofitting buildings (including facilities of small businesses) to achieve energy savings, or enhancing, creating, or preserving public space, within the communities served. In providing the programs, the organization may provide any of the activities described in subsection (b)(1) of that section 169.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) Report to Congress-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) INDICATORS- For purposes of the program carried out under this section, the indicators of performance shall be--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) acquisition of a high school diploma or its generally recognized equivalent by individuals who completed their participation in the program and who participated in training described in subsection (b);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) entry of such individuals, who participated in work experiences described in subsection (b), into postsecondary education linked to the green economy, including registered apprenticeship programs in a green-collar industry; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) entry of such individuals, who participated in work experiences described in subsection (b), into unsubsidized employment in a green-collar industry.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) ASSESSMENT- The Secretary shall prepare an assessment of the program that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) describes the use of funds made available under this section to carry out the program and the progress achieved through that program; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) provides information on the performance of the program, including on the indicators of performance.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) REPORT- The Secretary shall annually submit to Congress a report containing the assessment described in paragraph (2).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for activities described in this Act $1,000,000,000, which shall be available for the period of January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink