[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 113 (Thursday, July 26, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S5493]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 530--DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2012 AS 
              ``NATIONAL REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP MONTH''

  Mrs. MURRAY (for herself, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Johnson of Wisconsin, Mr. 
Kohl, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Pryor, and Ms. Cantwell) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 530

       Whereas 2012 marks the 75th anniversary of the enactment of 
     the Act of August 16, 1937 (29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.) (commonly 
     known as the ``National Apprenticeship Act''), which 
     established the national registered apprenticeship system;
       Whereas the State of Wisconsin created the first State 
     registered apprenticeship system in 1911;
       Whereas the Act of August 16, 1937 (29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.) 
     (commonly known as the ``National Apprenticeship Act'') 
     established a comprehensive system of partnerships among 
     employers, labor organizations, educational institutions, and 
     Federal and State governments, which has shaped skill 
     training for succeeding generations of United States workers;
       Whereas for 75 years, the national registered 
     apprenticeship system has provided state of the art training 
     using an model known as ``earn while you learn'' that offers 
     a pathway to the middle class and a sustainable career for 
     millions of workers in the United States;
       Whereas the national registered apprenticeship system has 
     grown to include approximately 24,000 programs across the 
     United States, providing education and training for 
     apprentices in emerging and high-growth sectors, such as 
     information technology and health care, as well as in 
     traditional industries;
       Whereas the national registered apprenticeship system 
     leverages approximately $1,000,000,000 in private investment, 
     reflecting the strong commitment of the sponsors of the 
     system, which include industry associations, individual 
     employers, and labor-management partnerships;
       Whereas the national registered apprenticeship system is an 
     important post-secondary pathway for United States workers, 
     offering a combination of academic and technical instruction 
     with paid, on-the-job training, resulting in a nationally and 
     industry-recognized occupational credential that ensures 
     higher earnings for apprentices and a highly skilled 
     workforce for United States businesses;
       Whereas the national registered apprenticeship system has 
     continually modernized and developed innovative training 
     approaches to meet the workforce needs of industry and 
     address the evolving challenges of staying competitive in the 
     global economy;
       Whereas the national registered apprenticeship system of 
     the 21st century, as envisioned by the Advisory Committee on 
     Apprenticeship of the Secretary of Labor and administered as 
     a partnership between the Federal Government and State 
     apprenticeship programs, is positioned to produce the highly 
     skilled workers the United States economy needs now and in 
     the future; and
       Whereas the celebration of National Registered 
     Apprenticeship Month--
       (1) honors the industries that use the registered 
     apprenticeship model;
       (2) encourages other industries that could benefit from the 
     registered apprenticeship model to train United States 
     workers using the model; and
       (3) recognizes the role the national registered 
     apprenticeship system has played in preparing United States 
     workers for jobs with family-sustaining wages: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates August 2012, as ``National Registered 
     Apprenticeship Month'';
       (2) celebrates the 101st anniversary of the enactment of 
     the first State registered apprenticeship law; and
       (3) celebrates the 75th anniversary of the enactment of the 
     Act of August 16, 1937 (29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.) (commonly known 
     as the ``National Apprenticeship Act'').

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