Home > 106th Congressional Bills > H.R. 4403 (ih) To establish an Office of Science and Technology in the Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice. [Introduced in House] ...H.R. 4403 (ih) To establish an Office of Science and Technology in the Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice. [Introduced in House] ...
Union Calendar No. 352
106th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4402
[Report No. 106-642]
To amend the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of
1998 to improve the use of amounts deposited into the H-1B Nonimmigrant
Petitioner Account for demonstration programs and projects to provide
technical skills training for occupations for which there is a high
demand for skilled workers, and for other purposes.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 10, 2000
Mr. Goodling introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
May 25, 2000
Additional sponsors: Mr. McKeon, Mr. Boehner, Mr. Fletcher, Mr.
Isakson, Mr. Ballenger, Mr. Greenwood, Mr. Norwood, and Mr. Smith of
Texas
May 25, 2000
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 10,
2000]
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A BILL
To amend the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of
1998 to improve the use of amounts deposited into the H-1B Nonimmigrant
Petitioner Account for demonstration programs and projects to provide
technical skills training for occupations for which there is a high
demand for skilled workers, and for other purposes.
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 ``Training and Education for American
Workers Act of 2000''.
SEC. 2. USE OF H-1B NONIMMIGRANT PETITIONER FEES.
Section 414(c) of the American Competitiveness and Workforce
Improvement Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2916 note) is amended to read as
follows:
``(c) Demonstration Programs and Projects To Provide Technical
Skills Training for Workers; Loan Forgiveness for Mathematics, Science,
and Reading Teachers.--
``(1) Technical skills training for workers.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary of Labor shall use
75 percent of the funds made available under section
286(s)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1356(s)(2)) to establish demonstration programs
or projects to provide technical skills training for
employed and unemployed workers for any skill shortage
related to a specialty occupation (as defined in
section 214(i)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(i)(1)).
``(B) Grants.--The Secretary of Labor shall award
grants to carry out programs or projects described in
subparagraph (A) to--
``(i) local workforce investment boards
established under section 117 of the Workforce
Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2832);
``(ii) regional consortia of local boards
described in clause (i); or
``(iii) in conjunction with, and with the
active participation of, local boards described
in clause (i), consortia (which may be local,
regional, or multistate consortia)--
``(I) a majority of whose members
are a business or represent a business;
and
``(II) whose membership may include
representatives of State and local
governments, community-based
organizations (as defined in section
101 of the Workforce Investment Act of
1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801)), educational
institutions, and labor organizations
(for a local area, as defined in such
section 101, in which employees are
represented by labor organizations),
nominated by local labor federations,
or (for a local area, as so defined, in
which no employees are represented by
such organizations), other
representatives of employees.
``(C) Priority projects.--In awarding grants under
subparagraph (B), the Secretary of Labor shall give
priority to programs or projects that train employed
and unemployed workers in skills that are in shortage
in the high technology, information technology, and
biotechnology fields, including software and
communications services, telecommunications, systems
installation and integration, computers and
communications hardware, health care technology,
biotechnology, and biomedical research, manufacturing,
and innovation services.
``(D) Grant application requirements.--An
application for a grant under this paragraph shall
include--
``(i) specific goals for each program or
project for which funds are sought, including
targets for measurable increases in skill gains
for those individuals being trained under the
program or project; and
``(ii) an agreement that the program or
project shall be subject to evaluations by the
Secretary of Labor to measure its
effectiveness.
``(E) Matching funds.--Each grantee receiving funds
under this paragraph shall demonstrate the manner by
which the grantee will provide matching resources (in
the form of cash, in-kind contributions, or both) equal
to at least 25 percent of the total grant amount
awarded.
``(F) Target population.--Each grantee receiving
funds under this paragraph shall make efforts actively
to recruit and train individuals who traditionally are
underrepresented in information technology occupations,
such as minorities, women, low-wage workers, workers
residing in empowerment zones and enterprise
communities (as defined in section 1393(b) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986), and individuals with a
disability.
``(2) Loan forgiveness for mathematics, science, and
reading teachers.--
``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, the Secretary of Labor shall transfer
to the Secretary of Education 25 percent of the funds
made available to the Secretary of Labor under section
286(s)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1356(s)(2)).
``(B) Use of funds.--The Secretary of Education
shall use funds made available under subparagraph (A)
to carry out section 3 of the Training and Education
for American Workers Act of 2000.''.
SEC. 3. LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM FOR MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, AND READING
TEACHERS.
(a) Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Education (in this
section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall carry out a
program of assuming the obligation to repay, pursuant to
subsection (c), a loan made, insured, or guaranteed under part
B of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 or part D of
such title (excluding loans made under sections 428B and 428C
of such Act or comparable loans made under part D of such
title) for any new borrower after October 1, 1998, who--
(A) has been employed, for 3 consecutive complete
school years, as--
(i) a full-time teacher of mathematics,
science, or a related field; or
(ii) a full-time teacher responsible for
providing reading instruction in any of grades
kindergarten through 3d grade;
(B) satisfies the requirements of subsection (d);
and
(C) is not in default on a loan for which the
borrower seeks forgiveness.
(2) Award basis; priority.--
(A) Award basis.--Subject to subparagraph (B), loan
repayment under this section shall be on a first-come,
first-serve basis and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
(B) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority in
providing loan repayment under this section for a
fiscal year to student borrowers who received loan
repayment under this section for the preceding fiscal
year.
(3) Regulations.--The Secretary is authorized to prescribe
such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the
provisions of this section.
(b) Loan Repayment.--
(1) Eligible amount.--The amount the Secretary may repay on
behalf of any individual under this section shall not exceed--
(A) the sum of the principal amounts outstanding
(not to exceed $3,000) of the individual's qualifying
loans at the end of 3 consecutive complete school years
of service described in subsection (a)(1)(A);
(B) an additional portion of such sum (not to
exceed $1,000) at the end of each of the next 2
consecutive complete school years of such service; and
(C) a total of not more than $5,000.
(2) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to authorize the refunding of any repayment of a loan
made under part B or D of title IV of the Higher Education Act
of 1965.
(3) Interest.--If a portion of a loan is repaid by the
Secretary under this section for any year, the proportionate
amount of interest on such loan which accrues for such year
shall be repaid by the Secretary.
(c) Repayment to Eligible Lenders.--The Secretary shall pay to each
eligible lender or holder for each fiscal year an amount equal to the
aggregate amount of loans which are subject to repayment pursuant to
this section for such year.
(d) Application for Repayment.--
(1) In general.--Each eligible individual desiring loan
repayment under this section shall submit a complete and
accurate application to the Secretary at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
require.
(2) Conditions.--
(A) Years of service.--An eligible individual may
apply for loan repayment under this section after
completing the required number of years of qualifying
employment.
(B) Fully qualified teachers in public elementary
or secondary schools.--An application for loan
repayment under this section shall include such
information as is necessary to demonstrate that the
applicant--
(i) if teaching in a public elementary,
middle, or secondary school (other than as a
teacher in a public charter school), has
obtained State certification as a teacher
(including certification obtained through
alternative routes to certification) or
passed the State teacher licensing exam and holds a license to teach in
such State; and
(ii) if teaching in--
(I) a public elementary school,
holds a bachelor's degree and
demonstrates knowledge and teaching
skills in reading, writing,
mathematics, science, and other areas
of the elementary school curriculum; or
(II) a public middle or secondary
school, holds a bachelor's degree and
demonstrates a high level of competency
in all subject areas in which he or she
teaches through--
(aa) a high level of
performance on a rigorous State
or local academic subject areas
test; or
(bb) completion of an
academic major in each of the
subject areas in which he or
she provides instruction.
(C) Teachers in nonprofit private elementary or
secondary schools or charter schools.--In the case of
an applicant who is teaching in a nonprofit private
elementary or secondary school, or in a charter school,
an application for loan repayment under this section
shall include such information as is necessary to
demonstrate that the applicant has knowledge and
teaching skills in reading, writing, and mathematics,
as certified by the chief administrative officer of the
school.
(e) Treatment of Consolidation Loans.--A loan amount for a
consolidation loan made under section 428C of the Higher Education Act
of 1965, or a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan made under part D of
title IV of such Act, may be a qualified loan amount for the purpose of
this section only to the extent that such loan amount was used by a
borrower who otherwise meets the requirements of this section to
repay--
(1) a loan made under section 428 or 428H of such Act; or
(2) a Federal Direct Stafford Loan, or a Federal Direct
Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, made under part D of title IV of
such Act.
(f) Funds for Program.--The Secretary shall carry out this section
with funds made available under section 414(c)(2) of the American
Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2916
note).
SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall take effect on
October 1, 2000.
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