SUMMARY

21st Century Job Corps Act of 2011- Establishes a 21st Century Job Corps Training Grants program by reallocating unusedstimulus funds originally apportioned to the Department of Labor, and provides a tax credit for employers who hire programparticipants. This program will help create jobs by providing the labor force to fulfill immediate demand in the growingtechnology and energy infrastructure industries. The 21

Century Job Corps will specifically focus on solar energy expansion,energy efficiency retrofits, and increasing broadband internet connectivity by providing grants to unemployed Americans fortraining programs in these emerging fields.Since 2008, 8.4 million Americans have lost their jobs, leading to the highest unemployment rate in the United States in 25years. The Federal government has allocated funds to stimulate job creation by injecting large amounts of money into theeconomy, including $4 billion that was allocated for the Department of Labor in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Actof 2009. However much of this funding has gone unspent and has not generated the sustained job growth that it was intended tocreate, in part due to a lack of planning and implementation of targeted disbursement. The 21

Century Job Corps will use thesefunds to strategically create new opportunities in emerging industries.Retrofitting existing buildings for energy efficiency and solar panel installation and maintenance are fast growing fields that willprovide stable employment for hundreds of thousands of Americans, which in most cases will pay wages that are above the statemedian income. Such work in the clean energy sector has the added benefit of lowering dependence on foreign oil and othersources of energy that pollute the environment and waterways. Photovoltaic panels provide an efficient and plentiful source of energy and there is both a capacity and an expectation that the solar panel industry will rapidly increase its market share of energy market in coming years as the technology improves and Federal, state, and local governments seek to meet aggressiveenergy efficiency goals. New York City has set a goal of lowering greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent below 2005 levelsby 2030. A major component of this plan is to retrofit existing infrastructure to be more energy efficient. These emissions goalsand others require thousands of qualified workers to help meet these objectives.100 million Americans do not have broadband internet installed in their homes. The United States is ranked 15

worldwide inbroadband penetration, lagging far behind other leading economies. Investing in the national broadband infrastructure will helpstimulate economic growth by providing millions of Americans with access to a resource that enhances business productivity,creating jobs in industries such as information technology and technical support, and increasing access to vast amounts of educational information.Existing educational institutions provide a structure through which people can attend short-term training programs that will leadto long-term jobs. The training required to qualify for a job in one of these fields typically lasts no more than a month, costsapproximately $1,500, and can lead to immediate job placement. Any person with relevant experience in construction, electricalor plumbing fields is eligible to take the LEED Green Associate Exam, and those without relevant experience can take a four-hour course to prepare. A person with roofing experience can learn how to install solar panels and there are several trainingprograms to prepare individuals for careers in this field. Training to become a certified fiber optic technician, work that is centralto increasing national broadband connectivity, requires only 24 hours of training done over a three-week period.

RESHMA SAUJANI FOR CONGRESS1

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21st Century Job Corps Act of 2011 (Introduced in House)

HR ****112th CONGRESS1st Session

H. R. ****

To make supplemental appropriations for 21st century job creation, technology infrastructure investment, energy efficiency andassistance to the unemployed for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 3, 2011

Ms. SAUJANI will introduce the following bill; which will be referred to the Committee on Education and Labor.

A BILL

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

SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘21st Century Job Corps Act’.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

(a) FINDINGS— THE CONGRESS FINDS—(1) Since 2008 the United States economy has lost 8.4 million jobs.(2) The United States has reached the highest unemployment rate in 25 years.(3) Demand in the United States solar workforce will increase to over 150,000 jobs over the next decade, butthere are not enough well-qualified employees to fill these jobs.(4) 100 million Americans do not have broadband in their homes, and the United States is ranked 15thworldwide in broadband penetration. Investment in America’s broadband infrastructure can directly createover 50,000 jobs.(b) PURPOSE— IT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE ACT TO—(1) Direct the Department of Labor to use unspent funds appropriated by the American Recovery andReinvestment Act of 2009 for worker training programs in solar installation and maintenance, building energyretrofits, and broadband installation through pre-existing educational institutions.(2) Create jobs in energy efficiency, retrofitting existing structures, and technology infrastructure fields.(3) Increase the use of efficient and clean solar energy.(4) Increase broadband penetration.

SEC. 3. Reallocation of Unspent Recovery Act Funds.

RESHMA SAUJANI FOR CONGRESS2

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(a) IN GENERAL- That the following sums are appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury appropriated to theDepartment of Labor under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, but which is available and not yetpaid out, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011, and for the following purposes:(1) DEPARTMENT OF LABOR- For an additional amount for “Training and Employment Services” foractivities under section 171(e)(2)(F) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (“WIA”), $4,000,000,000,which shall be available for obligation on the date of enactment of this Act, as follows:(A) $1,500,000,000 for a program of competitive grants for worker training and job placement incareers in energy efficiency, renewable energy and broadband infrastructure as described in sections171(e)(1)(B)(ii)(I), (II), (VI), and (VIII) of the WIA; and(B) Provided, that funds made available in this section shall remain available through June 30, 2012.

SEC. 4. 21st Century Job Corps Training Grants.

(a) Section 171(e) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2916(e)) (“WIA”) is amended--(1) in paragraph (1)(B)(ii)--(A) by adding at the end the following new subclause--‘(VIII) the broadband infrastructure industry.’; and(2) in paragraph (2)--(A) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph--‘(F) National 21st Century Job Corps Training Grants--‘(i) IN GENERAL- Under the program established under paragraph (1), theSecretary shall award National 21st Century Job Corps Training Grants on acompetitive basis to eligible workers to enable such workers to enroll in trainingprograms that lead to economic self-sufficiency and to develop an energy efficiencyand renewable energy industries workforce.‘(ii) ELIGIBILITY- To be eligible to receive a grant under clause (i) a worker shall:‘(I) provide proof of completion on a date following the effective date of the 21st Century Job Corps of 2011 Act in a training program that grantsone of the following licenses or certifications:‘(aa) state or federally recognized solar installation license orcertification;‘(bb) leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (L.E.E.D.)certification;‘(cc) state or federally recognized broadband installation licenseor certification; or‘(dd) other licenses or certifications approved by the Secretary.’‘(iii) LIMITATIONS--‘(I) Grants shall not exceed $1,500 per individual; and