[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3471 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3471
To authorize the Secretary of Labor to award grants for the employment
of individuals in targeted communities to perform work for the benefit
of such communities.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 17, 2011
Ms. Tsongas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the
Committee on Ways and Means, 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Labor to award grants for the employment
of individuals in targeted communities to perform work for the benefit
of such communities.
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 ``Helping Individuals Return to
Employment Act'' or the ``HIRE Act''.
SEC. 2. COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT GRANTS.
(a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of Labor is authorized to
award competitive grants for the hiring of unemployed individuals to
perform work to benefit communities, under terms and conditions set
forth in this section.
(b) Eligible Entities.--Grants under this section may be awarded to
any of the following entities in the areas described in subsection (c):
(1) Units of local government.
(2) Workforce investment boards, established pursuant to
section 117 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C.
2832).
(3) Non-profit organizations described in section 501(c)(3)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3)).
(c) Targeted Communities.--Grants under this section may be awarded
to eligible entities located in or primarily serving in one of the
following areas, if the unemployment rate in such area is higher than 7
percent during the 3-month period preceding the award of the grant:
(1) A renewal community with respect to which a designation
was in effect under section 1400E(a) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 1400E(a)) on December 31, 2009.
(2) An empowerment zone designated under section 1391 of
such Code.
(3) A historically underutilized business zone designated
under section 3(p)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
632(p)(1)).
(d) Individuals Eligible for Employment.--Grants awarded under this
section shall be used to hire unemployed individuals residing in the
areas described in subsection (c), including individuals age 16 and
older, with priority going to individuals who have been unemployed for
more than a year.
(e) Limitations.--
(1) Union consultation.--No individual whose employment is
funded under a grant authorized under this Act may work for an
employer at which a collective bargaining agreement is in
effect covering the same or similar work, unless--
(A) the consent of the labor organization at such
employer is obtained; and
(B) negotiations have taken place between such
labor organization and the employer as to the terms and
conditions of such employment.
(2) Nondisplacement.--An individual whose employment is
funded under this Act may not displace other employees whose
employment is not funded under this Act. A grant recipient
under this Act may not hire an employee or employees with funds
under this Act for any employment which the grant recipient
would otherwise hire an employee who has been furloughed.
(f) Effect on Unemployment Compensation.--The amount of any
unemployment compensation payable to an individual employed under a
grant established by this Act is a pro rata portion of the unemployment
compensation which would otherwise be payable to the employee if such
employee were totally unemployed.
(g) Consultation Requirement.--An eligible entity that receives a
grant under this Act shall consult with community leaders, including
small business owners, labor organizations, and local residents to
assess the needs of the community to determine the qualifying
activities for which individuals will be hired.
(h) Qualifying Activities.--Individuals hired using grant funds
awarded under this section shall be employed for a minimum of 20 hours
per week only in activities that benefit the community in the areas
described in subsection (c), including activities such as public works,
beautification, historic restoration, tutoring, and adult education. In
addition, where an eligible entity determines appropriate, a portion of
the grant funds may be used to ensure the safety of employees hired
under the grant and provide necessary job training.
(i) Federal Share.--Funds awarded under this section shall
supplement, not supplant, funds of the eligible entity that are used
for such purposes.
(j) Application.--Eligible entities seeking a grant under this
section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in
such form, and containing such information and assurances as the
Secretary may require.
(k) Required Deadline for Hiring.--An eligible entity receiving a
grant under this section shall--
(1) determine the number of individuals that may be hired
for a 3-year period using both grant funds and local funds
available for such purpose; and
(2) hire such individuals within 60 days after receiving a
grant.
(l) Regulations.--The Secretary of Labor may promulgate regulations
necessary to implement the grant program authorized by this Act,
including any necessary regulations necessary to apply wage and labor
protections to individuals employed under a grant.
(m) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Labor such sums as may be necessary to
carry out this section.
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