SUMMARY

21st Century Job Corps Act of 2011- Establishes a 21st Century Job Corps Training Grants program by reallocating unused
stimulus funds originally apportioned to the Department of Labor, and provides a tax credit for employers who hire program
participants. This program will help create jobs by providing the labor force to fulfill immediate demand in the growing
technology and energy infrastructure industries. The 21st Century Job Corps will specifically focus on solar energy expansion,
energy efficiency retrofits, and increasing broadband internet connectivity by providing grants to unemployed Americans for
training 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 25
years. The Federal government has allocated funds to stimulate job creation by injecting large amounts of money into the
economy, including $4 billion that was allocated for the Department of Labor in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
of 2009. However much of this funding has gone unspent and has not generated the sustained job growth that it was intended to
create, in part due to a lack of planning and implementation of targeted disbursement. The 21st Century Job Corps will use these
funds 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 will
provide stable employment for hundreds of thousands of Americans, which in most cases will pay wages that are above the state
median income. Such work in the clean energy sector has the added benefit of lowering dependence on foreign oil and other
sources 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 aggressive
energy efficiency goals. New York City has set a goal of lowering greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent below 2005 levels
by 2030. A major component of this plan is to retrofit existing infrastructure to be more energy efficient. These emissions goals
and 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 15th worldwide in
broadband penetration, lagging far behind other leading economies. Investing in the national broadband infrastructure will help
stimulate 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 lead
to long-term jobs. The training required to qualify for a job in one of these fields typically lasts no more than a month, costs
approximately $1,500, and can lead to immediate job placement. Any person with relevant experience in construction, electrical
or 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 training
programs to prepare individuals for careers in this field. Training to become a certified fiber optic technician, work that is central
to increasing national broadband connectivity, requires only 24 hours of training done over a three-week period.
21st Century Job Corps Act of 2011 (Introduced in House)
HR ****

112th CONGRESS
1st Session

H. R. ****

To make supplemental appropriations for 21st century job creation, technology infrastructure investment, energy efficiency and
assistance 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

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

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, but
there 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 15th
worldwide in broadband penetration. Investment in America’s broadband infrastructure can directly create
over 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 and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 for worker training programs in solar installation and maintenance, building energy
retrofits, 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.

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 (a) IN GENERAL- That the following sums are appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury appropriated to the
Department of Labor under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, but which is available and not yet
paid 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” for
activities 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 in
careers in energy efficiency, renewable energy and broadband infrastructure as described in sections
171(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), the
Secretary shall award National 21st Century Job Corps Training Grants on a
competitive basis to eligible workers to enable such workers to enroll in training
programs that lead to economic self-sufficiency and to develop an energy efficiency
and 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 grants
one of the following licenses or certifications:

‘(aa) state or federally recognized solar installation license or

certification;

‘(bb) leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (L.E.E.D.)

certification;

‘(cc) state or federally recognized broadband installation license

or certification; or

‘(dd) other licenses or certifications approved by the Secretary.’

‘(iii) LIMITATIONS--

‘(I) Grants shall not exceed $1,500 per individual; and

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 ‘(II) grants shall only be provided to individuals who qualify under the
State law of the State where applied, to receive regular unemployment
compensation.’.

(b) APPLICATION PROCESS- The Secretary of Labor shall implement and administer a fair and competitive
application process.

SEC. 5. Work Opportunity Tax Credit for Employers Who Hire Workers from the 21st
Century Job Corps.
(a) Section 51(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 51(d)) is amended by adding at the end the
following new paragraph:

‘(15) Credit allowed for 21st Century Job Corps Training Grant recipients hired in 2011 or 2012--

‘(A) IN GENERAL- Any 21st Century Job Corps Training Grant recipient who begins work for the
employer during 2011 or 2012 shall be treated as a member of a targeted group for purposes of this
subpart.

‘(B) DEFINITIONS- In this paragraph:

‘(i) The term “21st Century Job Corps Training Grant recipient” means any person who was
awarded a grant by the Department of Labor under section 171(e)(2)(F) of the Workforce
Investment Act of 1998.’.

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