In late June, a bipartisan bill was introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives that could help transitioning service members find jobs in the energy and advanced manufacturing sectors. Reps. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), both military veterans and members of the House Armed Services Committee, proposed the Veterans Energy Transition (VET) Act, which would build on the Department of Defense’s SkillBridge program by authorizing partnerships with employers in the energy, utility and advanced manufacturing industries. Additionally, the legislation would streamline participation of small businesses and nonprofits, expand access for military spouses and prioritize collaboration with apprenticeship programs.

The bill aims to close the workforce gap of technically skilled workers needed to meet the nation’s growing energy demand. Labor shortages in energy and manufacturing sectors threaten U.S. economic and national security, as nearly 10,000 electricians leave the workforce annually, while only 7,000 enter, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meanwhile, veterans often face barriers finding work, although their training typically qualifies them for technical careers.

If passed, this legislation would:

• Create a Department of Labor grant program for employers in energy and advanced manufacturing that hire eligible veterans, service members and spouses.
• Provide up to $10,000 per hire and $500,000 per employer annually for training, certification, relocation and onboarding.
• Prioritize support for involuntarily separated service members, retirees and veterans with service-connected disabilities or experiencing homelessness.
• Coordinate with existing DoD and VA transition programs: TAP, SkillBridge and Solid Start

With electrician employment expected to grow at twice the rate of all other occupations—leading to about 73,500 job openings each year—many hail the pending legislation as a way to meet workforce shortages amid increasing energy demand.

The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), which are part of a strategic alliance formed last year to collaboratively address the challenges and opportunities of the various sectors of the electrical industry, were all supportive of the bill.

“The National Electrical Contractors Association applauds the introduction of the VET Act and the leadership of Congresswoman Kiggans and Congresswoman Houlahan in both growing our skilled workforce and supporting military families,” said Marco Giamberardino, NECA’s senior vice president of government and public affairs. “Our nation is the leader in advanced manufacturing and innovation. However, we need to continue to build our skilled workforce capacity if we are going to compete with the rest of the world and push for across-the-board American energy dominance. Our disciplined, driven and highly trained service members, many of whom perform similar functions in our Armed Forces, are perfectly positioned to meet this demand. NECA contractors are already training and equipping the next generation of electricians, and bringing more transitioning service members into the fold—providing them with benefits and critical skills—while also meeting our nation’s needs is a win-win.”  

“Our industry, like others, is facing significant workforce challenges, which will only get worse if we fail to act,” said Wes Smith, president and CEO of NAED. “At the same time, approximately 200,000 service members transition from active duty each year and are an ideal pool of talent [who] are trained, highly motivated and uniquely equipped to help the nation build, distribute and install the electrical infrastructure needed to keep America’s economy on the cutting edge.”   

“NEMA applauds the introduction of the Veterans Energy Transition (VET) Act, which will help match veterans who have a wide range of technical and operational skills with the manufacturers of critical electrical equipment and components,” said Spencer Pederson, senior vice president of public affairs for NEMA. “Military personnel are mission-driven and trained in skills that directly apply to modern electrical manufacturing, including machinery, robotics, logistics and cybersecurity. This legislation helps ensure long-term support for a highly skilled workforce that enables the secure, reliable grid of the future.”