The WORKER Act is designed to help people get trained and educated for jobs in energy and manufacturing. The Department of Energy will focus its grant money on education and training programs, with special attention to helping groups that have historically been left out of these industries—like minorities and women. The bill also creates a central information hub that collects details about all the different training programs available, so students and workers can find opportunities more easily. The Department of Energy will also reach out directly to colleges that serve minority students and to workers who lost their jobs in energy or manufacturing, helping them understand what training options exist and how to access them. Essentially, this bill is about making sure that as the energy industry changes and grows, more people from all backgrounds have a fair shot at getting good-paying jobs in these fields.

WORKER Act

Hudson, Richard

Widening Opportunities to Recapture Key Energy Roles Act or the WORKER ActThis bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE), when considering awards for existing grant programs, to prioritize education and training for energy and manufacturing-related jobs. Further, DOE must prioritize the education and training of underrepresented groups in such jobs.In carrying out the bill, DOE must establish a clearinghouse to (1) maintain and update information and resources on training and workforce development programs for such jobs; and (2) provide technical assistance for states, schools, and other specified entities. DOE must also conduct outreach to minority-serving institutions of higher education and dislocated energy and manufacturing workers.