Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Act of 2025

(f) Water operator jobs training grants

(1) In general. Not later than the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of Labor shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to provide job training (including pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships) and related activities, which are coordinated with the public workforce investment system, for workers to assist such workers in obtaining or upgrading employment in the drinking water, wastewater (including stormwater), and related sectors.

(2) Uses of funds. Funds under this section may be used to provide jobs training services (including pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships) and related activities that are designed to assist workers (including unemployed and employed workers) in gaining the skills and competencies needed to obtain or upgrade employment positions in the drinking water, wastewater (including stormwater), and related sectors.

(3) Prioritization of funding. Notwithstanding any other provision of law and to the extent that there are sufficient applications for this purpose, at least 50 percent of the funds awarded to eligible entities under this subsection shall be used to carry out the job training services (including pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships) and related activities described in paragraph (2)—

(A) for low- and very low-income persons residing within the geographical boundaries of the geographical area to be served by such services and activities, which shall include high-poverty, high-unemployment ZIP Codes;

(B) for low- and very low-income persons residing within the metropolitan area or nonmetropolitan county to be served by such services and activities;

(C) for low- and very low-income persons residing in a metropolitan area or nonmetropolitan county with significant representation of communities of color, low-income communities, or Tribal and indigenous communities, that experiences, or is at risk of experiencing, higher or more adverse human health or environmental effects than another such area or county; or

(D) for members of labor unions or worker organizations representing the individuals described in subparagraphs (A) through (C).

(4) No match required. The Secretary of Labor may not require the provision of specified levels of a matching share of cash or noncash resources from resources other than the funds provided under this section for projects funded under this section.

(5) Performance accountability. The Secretary of Labor shall require grantees to report on the employment outcomes obtained by workers receiving training under this section using indicators of performance that are consistent with other indicators used for employment and training programs administered by the Secretary, such as entry into employment, retention in employment, and increases in earnings. The Secretary of Labor may also require grantees to participate in evaluations of projects carried out under this section.

(6) Definitions. In this section:

(A) The term apprenticeship means an apprenticeship registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the National Apprenticeship Act; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.).

(B) The term eligible entity may include any of the following:

(i) One or more local governments.

(ii) One or more State governments.

(iii) One or more nonprofit organizations.

(iv) One or more community-based organizations.

(v) One or more labor unions.

(vi) One or more joint labor-management partnerships.

(vii) One or more worker organizations representing the individuals described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (3).

(viii) One or more education and training providers, including community colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, a Hispanic-serving institution, a Tribal College or University, and other minority-serving institutions listed in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).

(ix) One or more local boards or State boards (as such terms are defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102)).

(x) One or more Native American Tribal governments to provide job training programs for publicly owned community water systems (as defined in section 1401(15) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f(15))) and publicly owned treatment works (as defined in section 212 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1292)).

(C) The terms low-income person and very low-income person have the same meanings given the terms low-income families and very low-income families, respectively, in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)).

(D) The term labor union means a labor organization (as defined in section 2(5) of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 152(5))), and an organization representing public sector employees.