S.Amdt. 724

SA 724. Mr. BENNET submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him 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) Establishment.--The Secretary of Energy (referred to in
this section as the ``Secretary'') shall establish a program,
to be known as the ``Clean Energy-Ready Vets Program'', to
support and enhance training opportunities for members of the
Armed Forces who are transitioning out of service in the
Armed Forces for jobs in the energy industry, including jobs
relating to--
(1) electric grid security;
(2) energy transmission and distribution infrastructure;
and
(3) solar, wind, geothermal, and natural gas energy.
(b) Use of SkillBridge Program.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 4 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in partnership with the
Secretary of Defense, shall carry out the Clean Energy-Ready
Vets Program through the SkillBridge program of the
Department of Defense at not fewer than 20 facilities of the
Department of Defense, under which the Secretary shall--
(A) in partnership with 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 the clean
energy industry, train members of the Armed Forces who are
transitioning out of service in the Armed Forces for jobs
described in subsection (a); and
(B) 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))) and potential
employers to place members of the Armed Forces described in
subparagraph (A) in jobs in the energy industry.
(2) Modification.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the Secretary of Defense shall modify the SkillBridge
program to provide that 20 percent of the amount of Federal
training assistance available under the SkillBridge program
for the Clean Energy-Ready Vets Program at each facility of
the Department of Defense may be used for on-the-job training
activities conducted outside of a facility of the Department
of Defense pursuant to the Clean Energy-Ready Vets Program.
(c) Administration.--
(1) Secretary.--In carrying out the Clean Energy-Ready Vets
Program, the Secretary shall collaborate with the Secretary
of Defense, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to increase opportunities for spouses of
veterans to secure jobs in the energy industry.
(2) Secretary of defense.--The Secretary of Defense shall
collaborate with electric utilities to enhance the process by
which members of the Armed Forces in system administrator
positions, information technology positions, and other
relevant cybersecurity duties and positions in the Armed
Forces may transition to careers in electric grid security.
(3) Secretary of labor.--To ensure that unemployed veterans
and members of the Armed Forces who are transitioning out of
service in the Armed Forces are provided information at
appropriate times and locations regarding eligibility to
participate in the Clean Energy-Ready Vets Program and other
similar energy and grid security workforce training programs,
the Secretary of Labor shall collaborate with--
(A) the Secretary of Defense;
(B) State workforce agencies; and
(C) American Job Centers.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the Clean
Energy-Ready Vets Program [$______