TRANSPORT Jobs Act

This Act may be cited as the “Transitioning Retiring And New Service Members to Port Ocean Rail and Truck Jobs Act” or the “TRANSPORT Jobs Act”.

(a) In general.— Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and Secretary of Labor, shall develop and make public an action plan to be known as the “Veteran to Supply Chain Employee Action Plan”.

(b) Contents.— In developing the Veteran to Supply Chain Action Plan, the Secretary of Transportation shall—

(1) identify—

(A) barriers members of the Armed Forces eligible for preseparation counseling under section 1142 of title 10, United States Code, and veterans face when searching for employment, during the hiring process, or in training to become supply chain employees;

(B) challenges supply chain employers face when recruiting, hiring, or retaining members of the Armed Forces eligible for preseparation counseling under section 1142 of title 10, United States Code, and veterans;

(C) regulatory burdens employers face in the hiring of supply chain employees, especially for employees that are members of the Armed Forces eligible for preseparation counseling under section 1142 of title 10, United States Code, or veterans;

(D) regions of the United States which have the greatest workforce need for supply chain employees; and

(E) barriers and industry trends that directly or indirectly discourage members of the Armed Forces eligible for preseparation counseling under section 1142 of title 10, United States Code, and veterans from pursuing, attaining, and remaining in supply chain careers;

(2) highlight—

(A) the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities members of the Armed Forces eligible for preseparation counseling under section 1142 of title 10, United States Code, and veterans possess that are critical for supply chain careers and any competency gaps that should be addressed;

(B) opportunities to expand or enhance existing initiatives for members of the Armed Forces eligible for preseparation counseling under section 1142 of title 10, United States Code, or veterans to become supply chain employees; and

(C) ways to improve supply chain employer outreach programs and enhance existing training, mentorship, education, and advancement programs that would increase the participation and engagement of members of the Armed Forces eligible for preseparation counseling under section 1142 of title 10, United States Code, and veterans in the supply chain workforce;

(3) recommend specific short- and long-term actions the Department of Transportation, the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or the Department of Labor can take to help members of the Armed Forces eligible for preseparation counseling under section 1142 of title 10, United States Code, and veterans become supply chain employees; and

(4) consult with the transportation supply chain industry, modal transportation supply chain employers, and organizations representing modal transportation supply chain employees.

(c) Supply chain employee defined.— In this section, the term “supply chain employee” means an individual directly employed in the facilitation of the movement of goods.