S.Amdt. 1026

SA 1026. Mr. BENNET submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to
amendment SA 1003 proposed by Mr. McCain (for himself and Mr. Reed) to
the bill H.R. 2810, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2018
for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place, insert the following:

SEC. ____. CLEAN ENERGY-READY VETS PROGRAM.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Energy shall carry out a
program, to be known as the ``Clean Energy-Ready Vets
Program'', to enhance training opportunities for members of
the Armed Forces who are transitioning out of service in the
Armed Forces and veterans for jobs in the clean energy
industry, including jobs relating to--
(1) electric grid security and cybersecurity;
(2) energy transmission and distribution infrastructure;
and
(3) solar, wind, geothermal, and natural gas energy.
(b) Goals.--
(1) In general.--As part of the program carried out under
subsection (a), not later than 4 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy, in
partnership with the Secretary of Defense, shall provide
opportunities for members of the Armed Forces at not fewer
than 20 facilities of the Department of Defense to receive
training for, and obtain jobs in, the clean energy industry.
(2) Partnerships.--In carrying out activities under
paragraph (1), the Secretary of Energy shall facilitate
partnerships between junior or community colleges (as defined
in section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1058(f))), nonprofit organizations, and potential
employers to train and place members of the Armed Forces who
are transitioning out of service in the Armed Forces in jobs
in the clean energy industry.
(c) Elements.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary
of Energy shall--
(1) coordinate with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on
opportunities to streamline the approval of appropriate
workforce training programs for which members participating
in the program and following their transition to civilian
life may use veterans educational assistance;
(2) coordinate with the Secretary of Defense to enhance
distance learning;
(3) enhance the process, in coordination with power
companies, by which members of the Armed Forces participating
in the program who serve or have served in system
administrator positions, information technology positions,
and other relevant cybersecurity duties and positions in the
Armed Forces may transition to civilian careers in electric
grid security;
(4) consider opportunities for on-the-job worker training
activities under the program that are conducted outside the
military installation concerned; and
(5) ensure that members of the Armed Forces are provided
information at appropriate times and locations regarding
eligibility to participate in similar energy and grid
security workforce training programs, including through the
Transition Assistance Program (TAP) of the Department of
Defense.
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