Home > 106th Congressional Bills > H.R. 1993 (eh) To reauthorize the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the Trade and Development Agency, and for other purposes. [Engrossed in House] ...H.R. 1993 (eh) To reauthorize the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the Trade and Development Agency, and for other purposes. [Engrossed in House] ...
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1992
To amend and improve the workforce investment and adult education
systems of the Nation.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Ms. Solis introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend and improve the workforce investment and adult education
systems of the Nation.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Expand Access to Job Training for
English Language Learners Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Approximately 17.8 million adults in the United States
have limited proficiency in English.
(2) Approximately 90 million adults in the United States
are reading at levels that are insufficient to allow them to
participate fully in the economy and to obtain new skills
necessary for success.
(3) A significant contributor to low literacy is limited
English speaking and reading ability.
(4) Individuals with limited English proficiency are the
fastest growing segment of the adult education, language, and
literacy system.
(5) Simultaneous courses in English language instruction in
combination with civics education goes a long way toward
meeting the needs of English language learners.
(6) Lack of English proficiency and a lack of understanding
of civics and United States institutions are a significant
barriers to obtaining training and employment.
(7) English language learners make up nearly 50 percent of
those enrolled in federally funded adult education programs.
(8) The concentration of English language learners across
the United States is not uniform, leaving some States with a
far greater need to provide English as a second language
services than others.
(9) New immigrants accounted for 50 percent of the growth
in the civilian labor force between 1990 and 2001.
(10) Immigrants who are fluent in oral and written English
earn approximately 24 percent more than those who lack fluency,
regardless of vocational qualifications.
(11) Current workforce development policies and programs
have been ineffective in serving immigrants and persons who are
limited English proficient.
(12) Programs that integrate skills and training and
language acquisition have demonstrated remarkable employment
outcomes.
TITLE I--AMENDMENTS TO WORKFORCE INVESTMENT SYSTEMS
SEC. 101. INTENSIVE AND TRAINING SERVICES.
(a) In General.--Section 134(d) is amended--
(1) by amending paragraph (3)(A)(i) to read as follows:
``(i) who have been determined by a one-
stop operator to be in need of more intensive
services in order to obtain employment; or'';
(2) by amending paragraph (3)(C)(vi) to read as follows:
``(vi) Short-term prevocational services,
including development of learning skills,
communication skills, English literacy skills,
interviewing skills, punctuality, personal
maintenance skills, and professional conduct to
prepare individuals for unsubsidized employment
or training.'';
(3) in paragraph (4)(A) by striking clause (i) and
redesignating clauses (ii) through (v) as clauses (i) through
(iv) respectively;
(4) by amending paragraph (4)(D)(i) to read as follows:
``(i) occupational skills training,
including training for nontraditional
employment and bilingual occupational
training;''; and
(5) by amending paragraph (4)(D)(viii) to read as follows:
``(viii) adult education, English as a
Second Language, and literacy activities
provided in combination with services described
in any of the clauses (i) through (vii); and''.
(b) Incentive Grants.--Section 503(a) is amended to read as
follows:
``(a) In General.--Beginning on July 1, 2000, the Secretary shall
award a grant to each State that--
``(1) exceeds the State adjusted levels of performance for
title I, the expected levels of performance for title II, and
the levels of performance under Public Law 88-210 (as amended;
20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.) for the purpose of carrying out an
innovative program consistent wit the requirements of any one
or more of the programs within title I, title II, or such
Public Law, respectively; and
``(2) funds programs that integrate occupational skills
training and language acquisition.''.
(c) On-The-Job Training.--Section 101(31)(B) is amended by
inserting ``or a reimbursement of up to 100 percent of the wage rate of
a participant who has limited English proficiency and for whom the
employer is providing training that integrates occupational skills and
language acquisition'' after ``wage rate of the participant,''.
SEC. 102. PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
(a) Levels of Performance.--Section 136(b)(3)(A)(iv)(II) is amended
by inserting ``including their level of English proficiency'' after
``entered the program''.
(b) Performance and Cost Information.--Section 122(d)(3) is amended
by adding after subparagraph (B) the following:
``(C) Adult education and family literacy act
requirements..--The local board and the designated
State agency described in subsection (i) may accept
program-specific performance information consistent
with the requirements for eligibility under the Adult
and Family Literacy Act (20 U.S.C. 9212) from a
provider for the purpose of enabling the provider to
fulfill the applicable requirements of this subsection,
if such information is substantially similar to the
information otherwise required under this
subsection.''.
(c) Integrated Training Programs.--Section 122(h) is amended--
(1) in the heading, by striking ``or Customized Training''
and inserting ``, Customized Training, or Integrated Training''
; and
(2) in paragraphs (1) and (2) by striking ``or customized
training'' and inserting ``, customized training, or integrated
training''.
(d) Definition.--Section 101 is amended by redesignating paragraphs
(18) through (53) as paragraphs (19) through (54), respectively and by
inserting after paragraph (17) the following:
``(18) Integrated training.--The term `integrated training'
means training that combines occupational skills with language
acquisition.''.
SEC. 103. DEMONSTRATION, PILOT, MULTISERVICE, RESEARCH, AND MULTISTATE
PROJECTS.
(a) Demonstration and Pilot Projects.--Section 171(b)(1) is amended
by adding after subparagraph (H) the following:
``(I) projects that provide training to create or
upgrade the job and related skills of persons who are
special participant populations as defined in section
134(d)(4)(G)(iv).''.
(b) Multiservice Projects.--Section 171(c)(1) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A) by inserting ``and special
participant populations as defined in section
134(d)(4)(G)(iv)'' after ``targeted populations'';
(2) in subparagraph (B) by inserting ``and special
participant populations as defined in section
134(d)(4)(G)(iv)'' after ``disability community''; and
(3) in subparagraph (C) by inserting ``and special
participant populations as defined in section
134(d)(4)(G)(iv)'' after ``targeted populations''.
(c) Study and Report.--Section 171(c)(2)(B) is amended to read as
follows:
``(B) Report on training models for persons who are
limited english-proficient.--The Secretary shall
conduct a 2-year study on programs that integrate
English language instruction with occupational skills
training. The Secretary shall prepare and submit to
Congress a report containing the results of the study,
including policy recommendations.''.
(d) Multistate Projects.--Section 171(c)(3)(A) is amended--
(1) in clause (i) by inserting ``and special participant
populations as defined in section 134(d)(4)(G)(iv)'' after
``particular service populations''; and
(2) in clause (ii) by inserting ``and special participant
populations as defined in section 134(d)(4)(G)(iv)'' after
``demographic groups''.
SEC. 104. ASSESSMENTS.
(a) In General.--Section 171(a)(2) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (C) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (D) by inserting ``and'' at the end;
and
(3) by adding after subparagraph (D) the following:
``(E) the versatility of a standardized one-stop
center assessment for targeted populations, including
special participant populations that face multiple
barriers to employment, as defined in section
134(d)(4)(G)(iv).''.
(b) Partnerships.--Section 171(b)(1) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (G) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (H) by inserting ``and'' at the end;
(3) by adding after subparagraph (H) the following:
``(I) the establishment of partnerships with
national organizations with special expertise to assist
states develop and implement accurate assessment
mechanisms to evaluate the skill levels of special
participant populations that face multiple barriers to
employment, as defined in Section 134(d)(4)(G)(iv).''.
(c) Considerations.--Section 172(a)(6) is amended to read as
follows:
``(6) the extent to which such programs and activities meet
the needs of various demographic groups; and including special
participant populations that face multiple barriers to
employment, as defined in Sec. 134(d)(4)(G)(iv);''.
(d) Interpretation and Translation Services.--Section 188(a) is
amended by adding after paragraph (5) the following:
``(6) Interpretation and translation services.--One-stop
centers shall provide appropriate interpretation and
translation services to individuals who lack English
proficiency.''.
(e) State Plan.--Section 112(b)(17)(A)(iv) is amended by inserting
``(including persons who are limited English-proficient)'' after
``barriers to employment''.
(f) Specialized Assessments.--Section 134(d)(3)(C)(i) is amended in
the matter preceding subclause (I) to read as follows:
``(i) Comprehensive and specialized
assessments of the skill levels, English
proficiency, and service needs of adults and
dislocated workers, which may include--''.
SEC. 105. CONTENTS OF STATE PLAN.
Section 224(b) is amended by adding after paragraph (12) the
following new paragraph:
``(13) a description of how the eligible agency will
consult with any State agency responsible for postsecondary
education to develop adult education that prepares students to
enter postsecondary education without the need for remediation
upon completion of secondary school equivalency programs.''.
SEC. 106. STATE DISCRETIONARY FUNDING.
Section 134(a)(3)(A)(vi) is amended--
(1) in subclause (I) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subclause (II) by inserting ``and'' at the end; and
(3) by adding after clause (II) the following:
``(III) implementation of
innovative programs for special
participant populations as defined in
section 134(d)(4)(G)(iv) to increase
the number of individuals offered
occupational training in growth
industries;''.
TITLE II--AMENDMENTS TO ADULT EDUCATION AND LITERACY
SEC. 201. ADULT BASIC EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA.
(a) Qualifying Adult.--Paragraph (3) of section 211(d) of the Adult
Education and Family Literacy Act (20 U.S.C. 9211(d)) is amended by
inserting ``or is of limited English proficiency'' after ``its
recognized equivalent''.
(b) Hold-Harmless.--Paragraph (1) of section 211(f) of the Adult
Education and Family Literacy Act (20 U.S.C. 9211(f)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``fiscal year 1999''
and inserting ``fiscal year 2004''; and
(2) in subparagraph (b), by striking ``fiscal year 2000''
and inserting ``fiscal year 2005''.
SEC. 202. STATE PLAN CONTENTS.
Paragraph (1) of section 224(b) of the Adult Education and Family
Literacy Act (20 U.S.C. 9224(b)) is amended by striking ``including
individuals most in need or hardest to serve;'' and inserting
``including--
``(A) individuals most in need or hardest to serve;
and
``(B) individuals with limited English
proficiency;''.
SEC. 203. DIRECT AND EQUITABLE ACCESS IN GRANTS AND CONTRACTS.
(a) Section 231 of the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (20
U.S.C. 9226) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``, as outlined under
section 203(5),'' after ``State or outlying area'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``announcement
process and application process is used for all
eligible providers'' and inserting ``announcement
process, application process, and proposal review
process is used for all eligible providers, including
community-based organizations,'';
Other Popular 106th Congressional Bills Documents:
|
| GovRecords.org presents information on various agencies of the United States Government. Even though all information is believed to be credible and accurate, no guarantees are made on the complete accuracy of our government records archive. Care should be taken to verify the information presented by responsible parties. Please see our reference page for congressional, presidential, and judicial branch contact information. GovRecords.org values visitor privacy. Please see the privacy page for more information. |
 |