[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4657 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4657
To establish a grant program for education related to semiconductor
manufacturing and related industries.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 10, 2024
Mr. Kelly (for himself and Mr. Budd) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a grant program for education related to semiconductor
manufacturing and related industries.
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 ``CHIPS Training in America Act of
2024''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR THE CREATING HELPFUL INCENTIVES TO PRODUCE
SEMICONDUCTORS (CHIPS) FOR AMERICA WORKFORCE AND
EDUCATION FUND.
Section 102(d) of Public Law 117-167 (commonly known as the ``CHIPS
and Science Act of 2022'') is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by inserting ``, in consultation with the
Department of Commerce,'' after ``National Science
Foundation''; and
(B) by inserting ``, including establishment and
maintenance of a single publicly accessible online
clearinghouse of microelectronics education and
workforce development information'' before the period
at the end of the paragraph;
(2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (6); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) Evaluation.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of the CHIPS Training in America Act of 2024, the
Director of the National Science Foundation shall establish key
performance indicators to measure and monitor the impact of
Fund allocations on growing the microelectronics workforce.
``(4) Workforce goals.--
``(A) Goals established.--Not later than 90 days
after the date of enactment of the CHIPS Training in
America Act of 2024, the Director of the National
Science Foundation and the Secretary of Commerce shall
jointly develop quantitative goals for growing the
domestic semiconductor workforce.
``(B) Submission of goals.--Such goals shall be
submitted to--
``(i) the Committee on Appropriations of
the Senate, the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate, and the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate; and
``(ii) the Committee on Appropriations of
the House of Representatives, the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Education
and the Workforce of the House of
Representatives.
``(5) National semiconductor technology center.--In this
subsection, the term `National Semiconductor Technology Center'
means the entity established under section 9906(c) of the
William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2021 (15 U.S.C. 4656(c)).''.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY CENTER
ACTIVITIES.
Section 9906(c)(2) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (15 U.S.C. 4656(c)(2))
is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (C)--
(A) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(B) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(iii) the development of competency-based
degree, credentialing, and certificate
frameworks to increase standardization within
semiconductor and microelectronics workforce
development programs.''; and
(2) by inserting the following after subparagraph (C):
``(D)(i) Subject to clause (ii), in coordination
with the National Science Foundation, assist in the
management and maintenance of the single publicly
accessible online clearinghouse authorized in section
102(d) of Public Law 117-167.
``(ii) If the National Science Foundation and the
National Semiconductor Technology Center agree, the
National Semiconductor Technology Center may take over
primary management and maintenance of such single
publicly accessible online clearinghouse, with support
from the National Science Foundation.''.
SEC. 4. NATIONAL STRATEGY ON MICROELECTRONICS WORKFORCE.
Section 9906(a) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (15 U.S.C. 4656(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraph (I) as
subparagraph (J); and
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (H) the
following:
``(I) For purposes of the duties described in
subparagraph (D) of paragraph (3) only, the Secretary
of Labor, the Secretary of Education, and the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs.''; and
(2) in paragraph (3), by inserting after subparagraph (C)
the following:
``(D) National strategy on microelectronics
workforce.--
``(i) In general.--
``(I) National strategy on
microelectronics workforce
development.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of the
CHIPS Training in America Act of 2024,
in consultation with appropriate
stakeholders in the microelectronics
industry, relevant researchers or
experts at institutions of higher
education, economic development
organizations, and other apposite
stakeholders, the Subcommittee shall
develop a 5-year national strategy on
microelectronics workforce development.
``(II) Additional subcommittee
members.--For the purposes of this
subparagraph only such Subcommittee
shall also include the Secretary of
Labor, the Secretary of Education, and
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
``(ii) Elements.--The strategy developed
under this subparagraph shall--
``(I) specify and prioritize annual
and long-term objectives, including the
role of each agency in supporting
programs and activities designed to
meet the objectives, to ensure a
robust, skilled domestic
microelectronics workforce;
``(II) specify the common metrics
that will be used to assess progress
toward achieving the objectives;
``(III) describe the roles of and
means of coordination with elementary
and secondary, and postsecondary,
education systems in achieving the
objectives;
``(IV) describe how Federal funding
will be used to support the strategy's
microelectronics workforce initiatives;
``(V) describe the approaches to be
taken by each participating agency to
assess the effectiveness of the
agency's microelectronics workforce
programs and activities;
``(VI) describe how objectives
outlined in the strategic plan will
align with investments made using funds
from divisions A and B of Public Law
117-167 (commonly known as the `CHIPS
and Science Act of 2022');
``(VII) describe how objectives
outlined in the strategic plan will
align with the objectives of the 5-year
STEM education strategic plan required
under section 101 of the America
COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010
(42 U.S.C. 6621);
``(VIII) describe how objectives
outlined in the strategic plan will
align with the objectives of the
national strategy on microelectronics
research, as required under
subparagraph (A), as applicable; and
``(IX) be made publicly available
through the online clearinghouse
authorized in section 102(d) of Public
Law 117-167.
``(iii) Fostering coordination of workforce
programs.--The Subcommittee shall coordinate
programs and activities of Federal agencies
relating to microelectronics workforce
development, and ensure such programs and
activities are consistent with the strategy
required under this subparagraph.
``(iv) Reporting and updates.--Not less
frequently than once every 5 years, the
Subcommittee shall--
``(I) update the strategy under
this subparagraph;
``(II) submit the revised strategy
to the appropriate committees of
Congress; and
``(III) make such strategy publicly
available through the online
clearinghouse authorized in section
102(d) of Public Law 117-167.''.
SEC. 5. GRANT PROGRAM FOR EDUCATION RELATED TO SEMICONDUCTOR
MANUFACTURING AND RELATED INDUSTRIES.
Division H of title XCIX of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (15 U.S.C. 4651
et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 9906 the following:
``SEC. 9906A. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible institution.--The term `eligible
institution' means--
``(A) an institution of higher education, as
defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001), at which the highest degree
predominantly awarded to students is not a
baccalaureate degree or higher degree;
``(B) a postsecondary vocational institution, as
defined in section 102(c) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(c)); and
``(C) an area career and technical education
school, as defined in subparagraphs (A) or (B) of
section 3(3) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302(3)).
``(2) Eligible partnership.--The term `eligible
partnership' means a partnership that--
``(A) includes--
``(i) an eligible institution;
``(ii) a covered entity; and
``(iii) a State, Indian Tribe, or political
subdivision thereof; and
``(B) may include other entities.
``(3) National semiconductor technology center.--The term
`National Semiconductor Technology Center' means the entity
established under section 9906(c).
``(b) Grants Authorized.--The National Semiconductor Technology
Center shall make awards, on a competitive basis, to eligible
partnerships to establish or expand workforce development and academic
programs offered by an eligible institution (which may include short-
term programs or non-credit programs offered by that eligible
institution), related to semiconductor manufacturing and related
equipment, materials, advanced packaging, microelectronics, computer
science, engineering, and related industries.
``(c) Application.--An eligible partnership desiring a grant under
this section shall submit an application to the National Semiconductor
Technology Center at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the National Semiconductor Technology Center may
require. The application shall require--
``(1) a description of the eligible partnership;
``(2) a description of the workforce needs that will be
addressed through the activities funded by the grant;
``(3) a description of the eligible partnership's strategy
to sustain such activities after the grant period;
``(4) a description of how the eligible partnership will
recruit and retain individuals with barriers to employment (as
defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act definition (29 U.S.C. 3102)) in programs that
receive grant funding; and
``(5) a description of how programs supported by grants
under this subsection align with the workforce pathways and
credential frameworks established by the National Semiconductor
Technology Center or the National Science Foundation.
``(d) Selection.--In selecting eligible partnerships to receive a
grant under this section, the National Semiconductor Technology Center
shall give priority to eligible partnerships located in areas with
growing microelectronics ecosystems, as determined by the National
Semiconductor Technology Center, that serve or intend to serve as
members of broader sectoral partnerships and coordinate with State and
local workforce development boards (as established under sections 101
and 107 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C.
3111; 29 U.S.C. 3122)), respectively.
``(e) Amount; Duration.--
``(1) Amount.--A grant awarded under this section shall be
for an amount equal to or less than $7,000,000.
``(2) Duration.--A grant awarded under this section shall
be for a period not to exceed 5 years.
``(f) Federal Cost Share.--
``(1) Maximum federal share.--The Federal share of the
costs of a grant under this section shall not exceed 50 percent
of such costs.
``(2) Required worker and community investments.--Non-
Federal costs contributed by a covered entity under this
section shall be considered as part of an eligible entity's
commitments to worker and community investments as required
under section 9902(a)(2)(B)(ii)(II).
``(g) Report.--
``(1) Report to the national semiconductor technology
center.--Each eligible partnership receiving a grant under this
section shall prepare and submit an annual report to the
National Semiconductor Technology Center that contains
information about each of the following with respect to
individuals participating in a program funded by a grant under
this section:
``(A) The total number of participants,
disaggregated by sex, race, and ethnicity.
``(B) The total number of participants who
completed the program.
``(C) The indicators required by section
116(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3141(b)(2)(A)(i)).
``(2) Report to congress.--Not later than 180 days of
receiving the annual report under paragraph (1), the National
Semiconductor Technology Center shall--
``(A) prepare and submit a report containing a
summary of the information described in paragraph (1)
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation and the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on
Education and the Workforce of the House of
Representatives; and
``(B) make such report publicly available.
``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to
carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025, 2026,
and 2027.''.
SEC. 6. PROHIBITION ON ADDITIONAL MICROELECTRONICS EDUCATION AND
WORKFORCE CLEARINGHOUSE.
A Federal agency shall not establish a microelectronics education
and workforce clearinghouse that is duplicative or alternative to the
online clearinghouse authorized in section 102(d) of Public Law 117-167
(commonly known as the ``CHIPS and Science Act of 2022'').
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