ABC - Bill to Expand Green Job Training to Merit Shop Workers Introduced in Senate

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BILL TO EXPAND GREEN JOB TRAINING TO MERIT SHOP WORKERS INTRODUCED IN SENATE (06/17/2009)

The Green Jobs Improvement Act of 2009 (S. 1238) June 11 was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.). The legislation would allow merit shop training programs to receive federal funding to help create a skilled workforce whose focus is on energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.) introduced an identical bill (H.R. 2026) in the U.S. House of Representatives April 22. Both bills aim to counteract the Green Jobs Act of 2007, enacted as part of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (H.R. 6) which was signed into law December 2007 and establishes National Energy Training Partnership Grants.

The provision in the Energy Independence and Security Act, as it is currently written, limits grant funding for training to entities that “partner with labor organizations.” The Green Jobs Improvement Act eliminates the mandate so that labor organizations, as well as merit shop training programs, qualify for the federal funding.

For more information, contact Brewster Bevis at ABC, bevis@abc.org.