H.R. 9121

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9121 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9121

To provide for the establishment of a pilot program to encourage the 
employment of veterans in manufacturing positions, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 3, 2026

Ms. DelBene (for herself and Ms. Bonamici) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To provide for the establishment of a pilot program to encourage the 
employment of veterans in manufacturing positions, 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 referred to as the ``Manufacturing Jobs for 
Veterans Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. VETERANS MANUFACTURING EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM.

(a) Establishment of Pilot Program.--To encourage the employment of 
eligible veterans in manufacturing, the Secretary of Labor, as part of 
the Veteran's Workforce Investment Program, shall carry out a pilot 
program to be known as the ``Veterans Manufacturing Employment 
Program''. Under the pilot program, the Secretary shall award 
competitive grants to three States for the establishment and 
administration of a State program to make grants to manufacturing 
employers and joint labor-management organizations that provide to 
eligible veterans covered training, on-the-job training, 
apprenticeships, and training that leads to a recognized postsecondary 
credential. Such a program shall be known as a ``State Manufacturing 
Employment Program''.
(b) Eligibility for Grants.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
under the pilot program, a State shall submit to the Secretary an 
application that includes each of the following:
(1) A proposal for the expenditure of grant funds to 
establish and administer a public-private partnership program 
designed to--
(A) provide to eligible veterans covered training, 
on-the-job training, apprenticeships, and training that 
leads to a recognized postsecondary credential; and
(B) ensure sustainable employment in high-wage, 
high-skill jobs in manufacturing.
(2) Evidence that the State has--
(A) a population of eligible veterans of an 
appropriate size to carry out the State program;
(B) a robust and diverse manufacturing industry, as 
determined by the Secretary; and
(C) the ability to carry out the State program 
described in the proposal under paragraph (1).
(3) Such other information and assurances as the Secretary 
may require.
(c) Use of Funds.--A State that is the recipient of a grant under 
this section shall use the grant for the following purposes:
(1) Making grants to manufacturing employers and joint 
labor-management organizations to reimburse such employers and 
organizations for the cost of providing to eligible veterans 
covered training, on-the-job training, apprenticeships, and 
training that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential.
(2) Conducting outreach to inform manufacturing employers, 
joint labor-management organizations, and veterans, including 
veterans in rural areas, of their eligibility or potential 
eligibility for participation in the State program.
(d) Conditions.--Under the pilot program, each grant to a State 
shall be subject to the following conditions:
(1) The State shall repay to the Secretary, on such date as 
shall be determined by the Secretary, any amount received under 
the pilot program that is not used for the purposes described 
in subsection (c).
(2) The State shall submit to the Secretary, at such times 
and containing such information as the Secretary shall require, 
reports on the use of grant funds.
(e) Employer Requirements.--In order to receive a grant made by a 
State under the pilot program, a manufacturing employer shall--
(1) submit to the administrator of the State Manufacturing 
Employment Program an application that includes--
(A) the rate of pay for each eligible veteran 
proposed to be trained using grant funds;
(B) the average rate of pay for an individual 
employed by the manufacturing employer in a similar 
position who is not an eligible veteran; and
(C) such other information and assurances as the 
administrator may require; and
(2) agree to submit to the administrator, for each quarter, 
a report containing such information as the Secretary may 
specify.
(f) Limitation.--None of the funds made available to a 
manufacturing employer through a grant under the pilot program may be 
used to provide training of any kind to a person who is not an eligible 
veteran.
(g) Report to Congress.--Together with the report required to be 
submitted annually under section 4107(c) of title 38, United States 
Code, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the pilot 
program for the year covered by such report. The report on the pilot 
program shall include--
(1) a detailed description of activities carried out under 
this section;
(2) the cost per participant;
(3) an evaluation of the program; and
(4) recommendations for serving more eligible veterans.
(h) Administrative and Reporting Costs.--Of the amounts 
appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under 
subsection (j), 2 percent shall be made available to the Secretary for 
administrative costs associated with implementing and evaluating the 
pilot program under this section and for preparing and submitting the 
report required under subsection (f). The Secretary shall determine the 
appropriate maximum amount of each grant awarded under this section 
that may be used by the recipient for administrative and reporting 
costs.
(i) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``covered training, on-the-job training, 
apprenticeships, and training that leads to a recognized 
postsecondary credential'' means training, on-the-job training, 
apprenticeships, and training that leads to a recognized 
postsecondary credential that are--
(A) designed to provide the veteran with in-demand 
skills that are particular to manufacturing and not 
directly transferable to employment in another 
industry; and
(B) approved as provided in paragraph (1) or (2), 
as appropriate, of subsection (a) of section 3687 of 
title 38, United States Code.
(2) The term ``eligible veteran'' means a veteran, as that 
term is defined in section 101(3) of title 38, United States 
Code, who is employed by a manufacturing employer and enrolled 
or participating in a covered training, on-the-job training, 
apprenticeship, or certification class.
(3) Except as otherwise provided, any term that is defined 
in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
(29 U.S.C. 3102) shall have the meaning given that term in such 
section.
(4) The term ``manufacturing employer'' means a business 
concern--
(A) that employs individuals in a trade or business 
in manufacturing;
(B) the production facilities of which are located 
in the United States; and
(C) the primary business of which is classified in 
sector 31, 32, or 33 of the North American Industrial 
Classification System.
(j) Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031, for 
the purpose of carrying out the pilot program.
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