HR-4583 : Still Just a Bill

This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to prioritize education and training for energy and manufacturing-related jobs in order to increase the number of skilled workers trained to work in those fields, including by: (1) encouraging the nation's education system to equip students with the skills, mentorships, training, and technical expertise necessary to fill the employment opportunities vital to managing and operating the nation's energy and manufacturing industries and, in collaboration with representatives from such industries, to identify the areas of highest need and to develop guidelines for the skills necessary to develop a workforce trained to go into specified energy and manufacturing sectors; and (2) strengthening and more fully engaging DOE programs and labs in carrying out its workforce development initiatives, including the Minorities in Energy Initiative.

DOE shall:

  • make educating and training underrepresented groups for energy and manufacturing-related jobs a national priority;
  • establish a clearinghouse to provide information and resources on training and workforce development programs for energy and manufacturing-related jobs and to act as a resource for educational institutions, workforce development organizations, and industry organizations that would like to develop and implement training programs;
  • foster collaboration, mentorships, and partnerships among organizations that currently provide effective job training programs in such fields and institutions that seek to establish these types of programs in order to share best practices;
  • collaborate with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Department of Commerce, the Bureau of the Census, and the energy and manufacturing industries to develop a comprehensive understanding of the energy and manufacturing workforce needs and opportunities by state and by region;
  • give special consideration to increasing outreach to minority serving institutions and to employers and job trainers preparing displaced and unemployed energy and manufacturing workers for emerging energy and manufacturing jobs;
  • make existing resources available through program cross-cutting to institutions serving minorities and displaced and unemployed energy and manufacturing workers to train such individuals to enter or re-enter the energy and manufacturing workforce;
  • work with industry and community-based workforce organizations to help identify students and other candidates to enroll into training and apprenticeship programs for such jobs; and
  • publish a comprehensive report on the outlook for energy and manufacturing sectors nationally, including a comprehensive summary of job creation as a result of this Act's enactment.

Action Timeline

Action DateTypeTextSource
2016-09-19CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.House committee actions
2016-03-01IntroReferralReceived in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.Senate
2016-02-29FloorMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.House floor actions
2016-02-29FloorOn motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1008-1009)House floor actions
2016-02-29FloorDEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4583.House floor actions
2016-02-29FloorConsidered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1008-1010)House floor actions
2016-02-29FloorMr. Whitfield moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.House floor actions
2016-02-25CommitteeOrdered to be Reported by Voice Vote.House committee actions
2016-02-25CommitteeCommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.House committee actions
2016-02-24CommitteeCommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.House committee actions
2016-02-23IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2016-02-23IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2016-02-23IntroReferralIntroduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Sponsor :

Bobby L. Rush [D] (IL-1)
See Cosponsors

Policy Area :

Labor and Employment
See Subjects
  • Alternative and renewable resources
  • Coal
  • Electric power generation and transmission
  • Employment and training programs
  • Energy efficiency and conservation
  • Government information and archives
  • Manufacturing
  • Minority education
  • Nuclear power
  • Oil and gas
  • Pipelines
  • Student aid and college costs
  • Unemployment
  • Chemistry
  • Minority employment

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