[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 197 (Thursday, November 19, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H5950-H5982]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2020
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution
1224, I call up the bill (H.R. 8294) to amend the National
Apprenticeship Act and expand the national apprenticeship system to
include apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeship
registered under such Act, to promote the furtherance of labor
standards necessary to safeguard the welfare of apprentices, and for
other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 1224, the
amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on
Education and Labor, printed in the bill, modified by the amendment
printed in part A of House Report 116-593, is adopted and the bill, as
amended, is considered read.
The text of the bill, as amended, is as follows:
H.R. 8294
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 ``National Apprenticeship Act
of 2020''.
[[Page H5951]]
SEC. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall take
effect beginning on July 1, 2021.
SEC. 3. AMENDMENT.
The Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly referred to as the
``National Apprenticeship Act''; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663;
29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.), is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
``(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the `National
Apprenticeship Act'.
``(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this
Act is as follows:
``Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
``Sec. 2. Definitions.
``Sec. 3. Programs under the national apprenticeship system.
``Sec. 4. Transition provisions.
``Sec. 5. Disaggregation of data.
``Sec. 6. Relation to other laws.
``TITLE I--PROMOTING PROGRAMS UNDER THE NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM
``Subtitle A--The Office of Apprenticeship, State Registration Agency
Approval Process, and Interagency Agreement
``Sec. 111. The Office of Apprenticeship.
``Sec. 112. National Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships.
``Sec. 113. State apprenticeship agencies and State Offices of
Apprenticeship.
``Sec. 114. Interagency agreement with Department of Education.
``Subtitle B--Process and Standards for the National Apprenticeship
System
``Sec. 121. Apprenticeable occupations standards.
``Sec. 122. Quality standards of programs under the national
apprenticeship system.
``Sec. 123. Apprenticeship agreements.
``Sec. 124. Registration of programs under the national apprenticeship
system.
``Subtitle C--Evaluations and Research
``Sec. 131. Program evaluations.
``Sec. 132. National apprenticeship system research.
``Subtitle D--General Provisions
``Sec. 141. Authorization of appropriations.
``TITLE II--MODERNIZING THE NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM FOR THE
21ST CENTURY GRANTS
``Sec. 201. Grant requirements.
``Sec. 202. Uses of Funds.
``Sec. 203. Grant evaluations.
``Sec. 204. Grant appropriations.
``SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
``In this Act:
``(1) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the
Administrator of the Office of Apprenticeship established
under section 111(a).
``(2) Advisory committee.--The term `Advisory Committee'
means the National Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships
established under section 112.
``(3) Apprentice.--The term `apprentice' means a program
participant in an apprenticeship program.
``(4) Apprenticeship agreement.--The term `apprenticeship
agreement' means a written agreement under section 123
between--
``(A) an apprentice, a youth apprentice, or a pre-
apprentice; and
``(B) a sponsor.
``(5) Apprenticeship hub.--The term `apprenticeship hub'
means a regional or sectoral qualified intermediary
recognized by a State apprenticeship agency or a State Office
of Apprenticeship as organizing and providing activities and
services related to the development of programs under the
national apprenticeship system.
``(6) Apprenticeable occupation.--The term `apprenticeable
occupation' means an occupation that the Administrator has
determined meets the requirements of section 121.
``(7) Apprenticeship program.--The term `apprenticeship
program' means a program that meets the standards described
in section 122(b) and is registered under this Act.
``(8) Competency.--The term `competency' means the
attainment of knowledge, skills, and abilities in a subject
area, as specified by an occupational skill standard and
demonstrated by an appropriate written or hands-on
proficiency measurement.
``(9) Department.--The term `Department' means the
Department of Labor.
``(10) Education and training provider.--The term
`education and training provider' means--
``(A) an area career and technical education school;
``(B) an early college high school;
``(C) an educational service agency;
``(D) a high school;
``(E) a local educational agency or State educational
agency;
``(F) a Tribal educational agency, Tribally controlled
college or university, or Tribally controlled postsecondary
career and technical institution;
``(G) a postsecondary educational institution;
``(H) a minority-serving institution (as described in any
of paragraphs (1) through (7) of section 371(a) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)));
``(I) a provider of adult education and literacy activities
under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (29 U.S.C.
3271 et seq.);
``(J) a local agency administering plans under title I of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 720 et seq.), other
than section 112 or part C of that title (29 U.S.C. 732,
741);
``(K) a related instruction provider, including a qualified
intermediary acting as a related instruction provider as
approved by a registration agency; or
``(L) a consortium of entities described in any of
subparagraphs (A) through (K).
``(11) Eligible entity.--
``(A) In general.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(i) a program sponsor;
``(ii) a State workforce development board or State
workforce agency, or a local workforce development board or
local workforce development agency;
``(iii) an education and training provider, or a consortium
thereof;
``(iv) if the applicant is in a State with a State
apprenticeship agency, such State apprenticeship agency;
``(v) an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization;
``(vi) an industry or sector partnership, a group of
employers, a trade association, or a professional association
that sponsors or participates in a program under the national
apprenticeship system;
``(vii) a Governor of a State;
``(viii) a labor organization or joint labor-management
organization; or
``(ix) a qualified intermediary.
``(B) Sponsor requirement.--Not fewer than one entity under
subparagraph (A) shall be the sponsor of a program under the
national apprenticeship system.
``(12) Indian tribe; tribal organization.--The terms
`Indian Tribe' and `Tribal organization' have the meaning
given the terms (without regard to capitalization) in section
4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
``(13) Interim credential.--The term `interim credential'
means a credential issued by a registration agency, upon
request of the appropriate sponsor, as certification of
competency attainment by a program participant during
participation in a program under the national apprenticeship
system.
``(14) Journeyworker.--The term `journeyworker' means a
worker who has attained a level of skill, abilities, and
competencies recognized within an industry as having mastered
the skills and competencies required for the occupation.
``(15) National apprenticeship system.--The term `national
apprenticeship system' means the apprenticeship programs,
youth apprenticeship programs, and pre-apprenticeship
programs that meet the requirements of this Act.
``(16) Nontraditional apprenticeship population.--The term
`nontraditional apprenticeship population' means a group of
individuals (such as a group of individuals from the same
gender or race), the members of which comprise fewer than 25
percent of the program participants in an apprenticeable
occupation under the national apprenticeship system.
``(17) Nontraditional apprenticeship industry or
occupation.--The term `nontraditional apprenticeship industry
or occupation' refers to an industry sector or occupation
that represents fewer than 10 percent of apprenticeable
occupations or the programs under the national apprenticeship
system.
``(18) Outlying area.--The term `outlying area' means
American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands.
``(19) Pre-apprentice.--The term `pre-apprentice' means a
program participant in a pre-apprenticeship program.
``(20) Pre-apprenticeship program.--The term `pre-
apprenticeship program' means a training model or program
that--
``(A) prepares individuals for acceptance into an
apprenticeship program;
``(B) meets the standards described in section 122(c); and
``(C) is registered under this Act.
``(21) Program participant.--The term `program participant'
means an apprentice, a pre-apprentice, or a youth apprentice.
``(22) Qualified intermediary.--
``(A) In general.--The term `qualified intermediary' means
an entity that demonstrates expertise in building,
connecting, sustaining, and measuring the performance of
partnerships described in subparagraph (B) and serves program
participants and employers by--
``(i) connecting employers to programs under the national
apprenticeship system;
``(ii) assisting in the design and implementation of such
programs, including curriculum development and delivery for
related instruction;
``(iii) supporting entities, sponsors, or program
administrators in meeting the registration and reporting
requirements of this Act;
``(iv) providing professional development activities such
as training to mentors;
``(v) connecting students or workers to programs under the
national apprenticeship system;
``(vi) developing and providing personalized program
participant supports, including by partnering with
organizations to provide access to or referrals for
supportive services and financial advising;
``(vii) providing services, resources, and supports for
development, delivery, expansion, or improvement of programs
under the national apprenticeship system; or
``(viii) serving as a program sponsor.
``(B) Partnerships.--The term `partnerships described in
subparagraph (B)' means partnerships among entities involved
in programs under the national apprenticeship system,
including--
``(i) industry or sector partnerships;
``(ii) partnerships among employers, joint labor-management
organizations, labor organizations, community-based
organizations, industry associations, State or local
workforce development boards, education and training
providers, social service organizations, economic development
organizations, Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations, one-
stop operators, or one-stop partners, in the State workforce
development system; or
``(iii) partnerships among one or more of the entities
described in clauses (i) and (ii).
[[Page H5952]]
``(23) Recognized postsecondary credential.--The term
`recognized postsecondary credential' has the meaning given
the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102), except that such term does
not include a certificate of completion of an apprenticeship.
``(24) Registration agency.--The term `registration agency'
means the State Office of Apprenticeship or State
apprenticeship agency in a State that is responsible for--
``(A) approving or denying applications from sponsors for
registration of programs under the national apprenticeship
system in the State or area covered by the registration
agency; and
``(B) carrying out the responsibilities of supporting the
youth apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, or apprenticeship
programs registered by the registration agency.
``(25) Related instruction.--The term `related instruction'
means an organized and systematic form of instruction that
meets the requirements of section 122(b)(1)(C).
``(26) Related federal programs.--The term `related Federal
programs' means programs or activities under the following:
``(A) The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
U.S.C. 3101 et seq.), including adult education and literacy
activities under such Act.
``(B) The Wagner-Peyser Act (29 U.S.C. 49 et seq.).
``(C) The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.).
``(D) The Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et
seq.).
``(E) The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20
U.S.C. 1400 et seq.).
``(F) Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C.
720 et seq.).
``(G) Title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C.
3056 et seq.).
``(H) The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education
Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
``(I) Chapter 2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974 (19
U.S.C. 2271 et seq.).
``(J) Chapter 41 of title 38, United States Code.
``(K) Employment and training activities carried out under
the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9901 et
seq.).
``(L) State unemployment compensation laws (in accordance
with applicable Federal law).
``(M) Section 231 of the Second Chance Act of 2007 (34
U.S.C. 60541).
``(N) Part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 601 et seq.).
``(O) Employment and training activities carried out by the
Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department
of Defense, the Department of Commerce, the Department of
Energy, the Department of Transportation, and the Small
Business Administration.
``(P) Section 6(d)(4) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008
(7 U.S.C. 2015(d)(4)).
``(Q) Educational assistance programs under chapters 30
through 36 of title 38, United States Code.
``(27) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary
of Labor.
``(28) Sponsor.--The term `sponsor' means an employer,
joint labor-management organization, trade association,
professional association, labor organization, education and
training provider, or qualified intermediary that is applying
to administer and operate a program under the national
apprenticeship system.
``(29) State.--The term `State'--
``(A) has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102);
and
``(B) includes each of the outlying areas.
``(30) State apprenticeship agency.--The term `State
apprenticeship agency' means a State agency recognized as a
State apprenticeship agency under section 113.
``(31) State apprenticeship council.--The term `State
apprenticeship council' means an entity established under
section 113(b)(3) to assist the State apprenticeship agency.
``(32) State office of apprenticeship.--The term `State
office of apprenticeship' means the office designated by the
Administrator to administer programs under the national
apprenticeship system in such State and meets the
requirements of section 111(b)(3).
``(33) State or local workforce development boards.--The
terms `State workforce development board' and `local
workforce development board' have the meanings given the
terms `State board' and `local board', respectively, in
section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
U.S.C. 3102).
``(34) State workforce agency.--The term `State workforce
agency' means the State agency with responsibility for
workforce investment activities under chapters 2 and 3 of
subtitle B of title I of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3121 et seq., 3131 et seq.).
``(35) CTE terms.--The terms `area career and technical
education school', `articulation agreement', `credit transfer
agreement', `postsecondary educational institution',
`Tribally controlled college or university', `Tribally
controlled postsecondary career and technical institution',
and `work-based learning' have the meanings given in section
3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act
of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
``(36) ESEA terms.--The terms `dual or concurrent
enrollment program', `early college high school', `education
service agency', `high school', `local educational agency',
`paraprofessional', and `State educational agency' have the
meanings given in section 8101 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
``(37) Tribal educational agency.--The term `Tribal
educational agency' has the meaning given the term in section
6132 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 7452).
``(38) WIOA terms.--The terms `career pathway', `in-demand
industry sector or occupation', `individual with a barrier to
employment', `industry or sector partnership', `labor market
area', `local area', `one-stop center', `one-stop operator',
`one-stop partner', `supportive services' and `workforce
development system' have the meanings given in section 3 of
the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C.
3102).
``(39) Youth apprentice.--The term `youth apprentice' means
a participant in a youth apprenticeship program.
``(40) Youth apprenticeship program.--The term `youth
apprenticeship program' means a model or program that meets
the standards described in section 122(d) and is registered
under this Act.
``SEC. 3. PROGRAMS UNDER THE NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM.
``Any funds appropriated under this Act shall only be used
for, or provided to, programs under the national
apprenticeship system, including any funds awarded for the
purposes of grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements, or
the development, implementation, or administration, of
program under the national apprenticeship system.
``SEC. 4. TRANSITION PROVISIONS.
``The Secretary shall take such steps as are necessary to
provide for the orderly transition to the authority of this
Act (as amended by the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020)
from any authority under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly
referred to as the `National Apprenticeship Act'; 50 Stat.
664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.), as in effect on the
day before the date of enactment of the National
Apprenticeship Act of 2020.
``SEC. 5. DISAGGREGATION OF DATA.
``The disaggregation of data under this Act shall not be
required when the number of program participants in a
category is insufficient to yield statistically reliable
information or when the results would reveal personally
identifiable information about a program participant or would
reveal such information when combined with other released
information.
``SEC. 6. RELATION TO OTHER LAWS.
``Nothing in this Act shall invalidate or limit the
remedies, rights, and procedures under any Federal law or the
law of any State or political subdivision of any State or
jurisdiction that provides greater or equal protection for
individuals based on race, color, religion, national origin,
sex, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, or
disability than are afforded by this Act.
``TITLE I--PROMOTING PROGRAMS UNDER THE NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM
``Subtitle A--The Office of Apprenticeship, State Registration Agency
Approval Process, and Interagency Agreement
``SEC. 111. THE OFFICE OF APPRENTICESHIP.
``(a) Establishment of the Office of Apprenticeship.--There
is established, in the Employment and Training Administration
of the Department of Labor, an Office of Apprenticeship
(referred to in this section as the `Office'), which shall be
directed by an Administrator who has demonstrated knowledge
of the national apprenticeship system necessary to head the
Office.
``(b) Responsibilities.--The Administrator shall be
responsible for the administration of this Act, including:
``(1) Promotion and awareness activities.--The
Administrator shall carry out promotion and awareness
activities, including the following:
``(A) Supporting the development or scaling of
apprenticeship models nationally, promoting the effectiveness
of youth apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and
apprenticeship programs, and providing promotional materials
to State apprenticeship agencies, State workforce development
systems or local workforce development systems, State
educational agencies or local educational agencies,
employers, trade associations, professional associations,
industry groups, labor organizations, joint labor-management
organizations, education and training providers, Federal and
State correctional facilities, and prospective apprentices in
such programs.
``(B) Promoting greater diversity in the national
apprenticeship system including by--
``(i)(I) promoting outreach to nontraditional
apprenticeship populations;
``(II) engaging minority-serving institutions and employers
from nontraditional apprenticeship industries or occupations;
and
``(III) engaging small, medium-size, women-owned, and
minority-owned businesses, and employers in high-skill, high-
wage, and in-demand industry sectors and occupations that are
nontraditional apprenticeship industries or occupations; and
``(ii) supporting the participation and retention of
apprentices and employers described in clause (i) in the
national apprenticeship system.
``(2) Technical assistance activities.--The Administrator
shall carry out technical assistance activities, including
the following:
``(A) Providing technical assistance to--
``(i) assist State apprenticeship agencies and sponsors in
complying with the requirements of this Act, including the
process and standards described in subtitle B and the
evaluation and research requirements described in subtitle C;
``(ii) receive and resolve comments or complaints from
youth apprentices, pre-apprentices, or apprentices, sponsors,
employers, State apprenticeship agencies, State local
workforce agencies or local workforce agencies, State
educational agencies or local educational agencies, qualified
intermediaries, labor organizations, joint labor-management
organizations, or other stakeholders;
``(iii) assist sponsors, employers, qualified
intermediaries, and education and training or related
instruction providers, or other entities interested in
becoming sponsors, or seeking support for developing programs
under the national
[[Page H5953]]
apprenticeship system or effectively carrying out such
programs, including providing assistance for remote or
virtual learning or training, as necessary;
``(iv) assist those applying for or carrying out grants
under title II; and
``(v) share, through a national apprenticeship system
clearinghouse, high-quality materials for programs under the
national apprenticeship system, such as related instruction
or training materials.
``(B) Cooperating with the--
``(i) Secretary of Education in--
``(I) providing technical assistance for the development
and implementation of related instruction under the national
apprenticeship system that is aligned with State education
systems and education and training providers; and
``(II) supporting the stackability and portability of
academic credit and credentials earned as part of such
programs, including through articulation agreements and
career pathways; and
``(ii) State workforce development systems to promote
awareness of opportunities under the national apprenticeship
system.
``(3) State offices of apprenticeship.--
``(A) Establishment of offices.--
``(i) In general.--The Administrator shall establish and
operate a State Office of Apprenticeship in a State described
in clause (ii) to serve as the registration agency for such
State.
``(ii) Applicable states.--A State described in this clause
is a State--
``(I) in which, as of the day before the date of enactment
of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, there is no State
Office of Apprenticeship; and
``(II) that has not applied for recognition as a State
apprenticeship agency under section 113, or for which such
recognition has not provided or has been withdrawn by the
Administrator under such section.
``(B) State plan requirement.--Each State Office of
Apprenticeship shall be administered by a State Director who
shall prepare and submit a State plan that meets the
requirements of section 113(c).
``(C) Vacancies.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, in the case of a State Office of
Apprenticeship with a vacant position, the Administrator
shall--
``(i) make information on such vacancy available on a
publicly accessible website; and
``(ii) report to the Committee on Education and Labor of
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, on the status
and length of such vacancy if such vacancy is not filled not
later than 90 days after such position has become vacant.
``(D) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this paragraph
shall be construed to prohibit any State described in
subparagraph (A)(ii) from establishing an agency or entity to
promote programs under the national apprenticeship system in
such State, in coordination with the State Office of
Apprenticeship operating in the State, so long as such agency
or entity does not act as the registration agency in such
State.
``(4) Quality standards, apprenticeship agreement, and
registration review.--In order for the Secretary, acting
through the Administrator, to support the formulation and
furtherance of labor standards necessary to safeguard the
welfare of program participants, and to extend the
application of such standards in apprenticeship agreements,
not later than 1 year after the effective date of the
National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, and at least every 3
years thereafter, the Administrator shall review, and where
appropriate, update the process for meeting the requirements
of subtitle B, including applicable regulations and
subregulatory guidance to ensure that such process is easily
accessible and efficient to bring together employers and
labor as sponsors or potential sponsors of programs under the
national apprenticeship system.
``(5) Apprenticeable occupations.--
``(A) Existing apprenticeable occupations.--The
Administrator shall regularly review and update the
requirements for each apprenticeable occupation to ensure
that such requirements are in compliance with requirements
under this Act.
``(B) New apprenticeable occupation.--
``(i) In general.--The Administrator shall review and make
a determination on whether to approve an occupation as an
apprenticeable occupation not later than 45 days after
receiving an application from a person seeking such approval
from the Administrator.
``(ii) Estimated timeline.--If such determination is not
made within 45 days, the Administrator shall provide the
applicant with a written explanation for the delay and offer
an estimated timeline for a determination that does not to
exceed 90 days after the date of such written explanation.
``(C) Industry recognized occupational standards.--
``(i) In general.--From the funds appropriated under
section 141(a), the Administrator shall convene, on an
ongoing basis and taking into consideration recommendations
of the Advisory Committee under section 112(d)(4), the
industry sector leaders and experts described in clause (ii)
for the purposes of establishing or updating specific
frameworks of industry recognized occupational standards for
apprenticeable occupations (including potential
apprenticeable occupations) that--
``(I) meet the requirements of this Act; and
``(II) describe program scope and length, related
instruction, on-the-job training, recognized postsecondary
credentials, and competencies, and relevant timelines for
review of such frameworks.
``(ii) Industry sector leaders and experts.--The industry
sector leaders and experts are employers, industry
associations, joint labor-management organizations, labor
organizations, education and training providers, credential
providers, program participants, and other stakeholders
relevant to the sector or occupation for which the frameworks
are being established or updated, as determined by the
Administrator.
``(iii) Priority industry recognized apprenticeable
occupations.--In establishing frameworks under clause (i) for
the first time after the effective date of the National
Apprenticeship Act of 2020, the Administrator shall
prioritize the establishment of such standards in high-skill,
high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors and occupations.
``(D) Regulations.--Not later than one year after the date
of the enactment of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020,
the Secretary shall issue regulations that outline a process
for proactively establishing and approving standards and
requirements for apprenticeable occupations in consultation
with the industry sector leaders and experts described in
subparagraph (C)(ii).
``(6) Program oversight and evaluation.--The Administrator
shall--
``(A) monitor State apprenticeship agencies, State Offices
of Apprenticeship, grantees, and sponsors of programs under
the national apprenticeship system to ensure compliance with
the requirements of this Act;
``(B) provide technical assistance to assist such entities
with such compliance or program performance; and
``(C) conduct research and evaluation in accordance with
subtitle C.
``(7) Promoting diversity in the national apprenticeship
system.--The Administrator shall promote diversity and ensure
equal opportunity to participate in programs for apprentices,
youth apprentices, and pre-apprentices, including--
``(A) taking steps necessary to promote diversity in
apprenticeable occupations under the national apprenticeship
system, especially in high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand
industry sectors and occupations in areas with high
percentages of low-income individuals;
``(B) ensuring programs under the national apprenticeship
system--
``(i) adopt and implement policies to provide for equal
opportunity in such programs, as described in section 30.3 of
title 29, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on
January 31, 2020);
``(ii) do not engage in intimidation or retaliation as
prohibited under section 30.17 of title 29, Code of Federal
Regulations (as in effect on January 31, 2020); and
``(iii) are subject, for any violation of clauses (i) or
(ii), to enforcement action under this Act; and
``(C) supporting the recruitment, employment, and retention
of nontraditional apprenticeship populations in programs
under the national apprenticeship system in high-skill, high-
wage, and in-demand industry sectors and occupations,
including women, people of color, individuals with
disabilities, individuals impacted by the criminal and
juvenile justice system, and individuals with barriers to
employment, as applicable.
``(8) Grant awards.--The Administrator shall award grants
under title II.
``(9) National advisory committee.--The Administrator
shall--
``(A) regularly consult with the National Advisory
Committee on Apprenticeships under section 112; and
``(B) ensure that the required recommendations and other
reports of the Advisory Committee are submitted to the
Secretary and transmitted to the Committee on Education and
Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.
``(10) Coordination.--The Administrator shall coordinate
and align programs under the national apprenticeship system
with related Federal programs.
``(c) Information Collection and Dissemination.--The
Administrator shall provide for data collection and
dissemination of information regarding programs under the
national apprenticeship system, including--
``(1) not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment
of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, establishing and
supporting a single information technology infrastructure to
support data collection and reporting from State
apprenticeship agencies, State Offices of Apprenticeship,
grantees under title II, program sponsors, and program
administrators under the national apprenticeship system by
providing for a data infrastructure that--
``(A) is developed and maintained by the Administrator,
with input from national data and privacy experts, is
informed by best practices on public provision of credential
information, and to the extent practicable, aligns with the
technology infrastructure for related Federal programs, such
as the technology infrastructure used under the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.);
``(B) best meets the needs of the national apprenticeship
system stakeholders reporting data to the Administrator or
State apprenticeship agencies, including through the
provision of technical assistance and financial assistance as
necessary to ensure reporting systems are equipped to report
into a single information technology infrastructure; and
``(C) is aligned with data from the performance reviews
under section 131(b)(1)(A);
``(2) providing for data sharing that includes making
nonpersonally identifiable apprenticeship data available on a
publicly accessible website that is searchable and
comparable, through the use of common, linked, open-data
description language, such as the credential transparency
description language or a substantially similar resource, so
that interested parties can become aware of apprenticeship
opportunities and of program outcomes that best meets the
[[Page H5954]]
needs of youth apprentices, pre-apprentices, and apprentices,
employers, education and training providers, program
sponsors, and relevant stakeholders, including--
``(A) information on program offerings under the national
apprenticeship system based on geographical location and
apprenticeable occupation;
``(B) information on education and training providers
providing opportunities under such system, including whether
programs under such system offer dual or concurrent
enrollment programs, articulation agreements, and recognized
postsecondary credentials as part of the program offerings;
``(C) information about the educational and occupational
credentials and related competencies of programs under such
system; and
``(D) information based on the most recent data available
to the Office that is consistent with national standards and
practices.
``SEC. 112. NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON APPRENTICESHIPS.
``(a) Establishment.--
``(1) In general.--There is established, in the Department
of Labor, a National Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships.
``(2) Composition.--
``(A) Appointments.--The Advisory Committee shall consist
of 27 voting members described in subparagraph (B) appointed
by the Secretary.
``(B) List of individuals.--The individuals described in
this subparagraph are--
``(i) 9 representatives of employers or industry
associations who participate in an apprenticeship program,
including representatives of employers representing
nontraditional apprenticeship industries or occupations, and
other high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or
occupations, as applicable;
``(ii) 9 representatives of labor organizations or joint
labor-management organizations who have responsibility for
the administration of an apprenticeship program (including
those sponsored by a joint labor-management organization and
from nontraditional apprenticeship industries or
occupations), at least 1 of which represent employees
primarily in the building trades and construction industry;
``(iii) 1 representative of each from--
``(I) a State apprenticeship agency;
``(II) a State or local workforce development board with
significant expertise in supporting a program under the
national apprenticeship system;
``(III) a community organization with significant expertise
supporting such a program;
``(IV) an area career and technical education school or
local educational agency;
``(V) a State apprenticeship council;
``(VI) a State or local postsecondary education and
training providers that administers, or has not less than 1
articulation agreement with an entity administering, a
program under the national apprenticeship system;
``(VII) a provider of an industry-recognized credential;
``(VII) a national qualified intermediary; and
``(IX) an apprentice.
``(C) Ex officio nonvoting members.--The Advisory Committee
shall consist of ex officio nonvoting members from each of
the following departments, selected by the applicable
Secretary--
``(i) the Department of Labor;
``(ii) the Department of Commerce;
``(iii) the Department of Education;
``(iv) the Department of Energy;
``(v) the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
``(vi) the Department of Transportation;
``(vii) the Department of Veterans Affairs;
``(viii) the Department of Health and Human Services;
``(ix) the Department of Justice; and
``(x) the Department of Defense.
``(D) Recommendations.--The Speaker of the House of
Representatives, the Minority Leader of the House of
Representatives, the Majority Leader of the Senate, and the
Minority Leader of the Senate may each recommend to the
Secretary an individual described in clause (i) or (ii) of
subparagraph (B) for appointment under subparagraph (A) who
shall be subject to the requirements of paragraph (3).
``(3) Qualifications.--An individual shall be selected
under paragraph (1) on the basis of the experience and
competence of such individual with respect to programs under
the national apprenticeship system.
``(4) Terms.--
``(A) In general.--Each voting member of the Advisory
Committee shall be appointed for a term of 4 years, except as
provided in subparagraphs (B) through (D).
``(B) Terms of initial appointees.--
``(i) In general.--The appointments of the initial members
of the Advisory Committee shall be made not later than 90
days after the effective date of the National Apprenticeship
Act of 2020.
``(ii) Staggering of terms.--As designated by the Secretary
at the time of the appointment, of the members first
appointed--
``(I) half of such members shall serve a 2-year term; and
``(II) half of such members shall serve a 4-year term.
``(C) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a vacancy
occurring before the expiration of the term for which the
member's predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only
for the remainder of that term. A member may serve after the
expiration of that member's term until a successor has taken
office. A vacancy in the Advisory Committee shall be filled
in the manner in which the original appointment was made,
except that such appointment shall be made not later than 90
days after the date of the vacancy. A member who fulfilled a
partial term as the result of a vacancy may, at the end that
term, be appointed to a full term.
``(D) Multiple terms.--A voting member of the Advisory
Committee may serve not more than 2 full terms on the
Advisory Committee.
``(b) Chairperson.--The Advisory Committee members shall
designate by vote one of the voting members described in
subsection (a)(2)(A) of the Advisory Committee to serve as
Chairperson of the Advisory Committee.
``(c) Meetings.--
``(1) In general.--The Advisory Committee shall meet at the
call of the Chairperson and hold not fewer than 4 meetings
during each calendar year.
``(2) Open access.--All meetings of the Advisory Committee
shall be open to the public. A transcript shall be kept of
each meeting and made available for public inspection within
30 days of the meeting.
``(d) Duties.--The Advisory Committee shall, at a minimum--
``(1) advise, consult with, and make recommendations to the
Administrator on matters relating to the administration of
this Act, including recommendations on regulations and
policies related to the administration of this Act;
``(2) annually prepare a set of recommendations for the
Administrator, to be shared with the Committee on Education
and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions of the Senate, to
improve the registration process under subtitle B to make the
process easily accessible and efficient for use by sponsors
while maintaining the requirements under subtitle B;
``(3) make recommendations on expanding participation of
nontraditional apprenticeship populations in programs under
the national apprenticeship system; and
``(4) review apprenticeable occupations and, based on
reviews of labor market trends and changes, make
recommendations to the Administrator on whether to--
``(A) make updates to apprenticeable occupations under
section 111(b)(5)(A); or
``(B) convene sector leaders and experts under section
111(b)(5)(C) for the establishing specific frameworks of
industry recognized occupational standards.
``(e) Personnel.--
``(1) Compensation of members.--
``(A) In general.--A member of the Advisory Committee who
is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall
be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the
annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the
Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United
States Code, for each day (including travel time) during
which the member is engaged in the performance of the duties
of the Advisory Committee.
``(B) Officers or employees of the united states.--Members
of the Advisory Committee who are officers or employees of
the United States may not receive additional pay, allowances,
or benefits by reason of their service on the Advisory
Committee.
``(2) Staff.--The Secretary shall supply the Advisory
Committee with an executive Secretary and provide such
secretarial, clerical, and other services as the Secretary
determines to be necessary to enable the Advisory Committee
to carry out the duties described in subsection (d).
``(3) Data requests.--The Advisory Committee through its
Chairperson may request data from the Secretary as determined
necessary by the Advisory Committee to carry out its
functions as described in this section.
``(f) Permanent Committee.--The Federal Advisory Committee
Act (5 U.S.C. App.) (other than section 14 of such Act) shall
apply to the Advisory Committee.
``SEC. 113. STATE APPRENTICESHIP AGENCIES AND STATE OFFICES
OF APPRENTICESHIP.
``(a) Recognition of State Apprenticeship Agencies.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall recognize a
State agency as a State apprenticeship agency in accordance
with this section and cooperate with such State
apprenticeship agency regarding the formulation and promotion
of standards of apprenticeship under subtitle B.
``(2) Application.--A State desiring to have a State agency
recognized as a State apprenticeship agency under this
section shall submit an application at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the Administrator
may require, including--
``(A) the initial State plan described in subsection
(c)(2)(A)(i);
``(B) a description of how the State apprenticeship agency
will meet the State plan requirements of subsection (c); and
``(C) a description of the linkages and coordination of the
State's proposed standards, criteria, and requirements with
the State's economic development strategies and workforce
development system and the State's secondary, postsecondary,
and adult education systems.
``(3) Review and recognition.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date on
which a State submits an application under paragraph (2), the
Secretary shall notify the State regarding whether the agency
of the State is recognized as a State apprenticeship agency
under this section.
``(B) Duration of recognition.--
``(i) Duration.--The recognition of a State apprenticeship
agency shall be for a 4-year period beginning on the date the
State apprenticeship agency is notified under subparagraph
(A).
``(ii) Notification.--
``(I) In general.--The Secretary shall notify a State
apprenticeship agency not later than 180 days before the last
day of the 4-year period regarding whether the State
apprenticeship agency is in compliance with this section.
``(II) Compliance.--In the case of a State apprenticeship
agency that is in compliance with this section, the agency's
recognition under this section shall be renewed for an
additional 4-year period and the notification under subclause
(I) shall include notification of such renewal.
[[Page H5955]]
``(III) Noncompliance.--In the case of a State
apprenticeship agency that is not in compliance with this
section, the notification shall--
``(aa) specify the areas of noncompliance;
``(bb) require corrective action; and
``(cc) offer technical assistance.
``(iii) Renewal after correction.--If the Administrator
determines that a State apprenticeship agency has corrected
the identified areas of noncompliance under this subparagraph
not later than 180 days of notification of noncompliance, the
State apprenticeship agency's recognition under this section
shall be renewed for an additional 4-year period.
``(C) Transition period for state agencies.--
``(i) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the
effective date of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, a
State agency that, as of the day before the date of enactment
of such Act, was recognized by the Secretary for purposes of
registering apprenticeship programs in accordance with this
Act shall submit an application under paragraph (2).
``(ii) Transition period.--A State agency described in
clause (i) shall be recognized as a State apprenticeship
agency under this section for a 4-year period beginning on
the date on which the Secretary approves the application
submitted by the State agency under paragraph (2).
``(b) Authority of a State Apprenticeship Agency.--
``(1) In general.--For the period during which a State
apprenticeship agency is recognized under subsection (a) and
to maintain such recognition, the State apprenticeship agency
shall carry out the requirements of this Act.
``(2) Program recognition.--With respect to a State with a
State apprenticeship agency, the State apprenticeship agency
shall have sole authority to recognize and register a pre-
apprenticeship, youth apprenticeship, or apprenticeship
program in such State, which shall include--
``(A) determining whether such program is in compliance
with the standards for such program under section 122;
``(B) in the case of such a program that is in compliance
with such standards, recognizing the program and providing a
certificate of recognition for such program;
``(C) providing technical assistance to current or
potential sponsors; and
``(D) in the case of such a program that fails to meet the
requirements of this Act, providing for the withdrawal of
recognition of the program in accordance with section 131(b).
``(3) State apprenticeship council.--
``(A) In general.--A State apprenticeship agency shall
establish and continue to use a State apprenticeship council,
which shall operate in compliance with the requirements of
this Act under the direction of the State apprenticeship
agency.
``(B) Composition.--A State apprenticeship council may be
regulatory or advisory in nature, and shall--
``(i) be composed of persons familiar with apprenticeable
occupations; and
``(ii) be fairly balanced, with an equal number of--
``(I) representatives of employer organizations, including
from nontraditional apprenticeship industries or occupations;
``(II) representatives of labor organizations or joint
labor-management organizations, including from nontraditional
apprenticeship industries or occupations; and
``(III) public members; and
``(iii) to the extent practicable, have not less than 1
member who is a member of the State workforce board.
``(C) Special rule.--A State apprenticeship council shall
not be eligible for recognition as a State apprenticeship
agency.
``(c) State Plan.--
``(1) In general.--For a State apprenticeship agency to be
eligible to receive allotments under subsection (f) and to be
recognized under this section, the State apprenticeship
agency shall submit to the Secretary a State plan that meets
the requirements of this subsection.
``(2) Approval of state plan.--
``(A) Submission.--
``(i) Initial plan.--The first State plan of a State
apprenticeship agency shall be submitted to the Administrator
not later than 120 days prior to the commencement of the
first full program year of the State apprenticeship agency,
which shall include--
``(I) a description of any State laws, policies, or
operational procedures relating to the process of recognizing
programs under the national apprenticeship system that is
inconsistent with, or imposes requirements in addition to,
the requirements of this Act;
``(II) an assurance that the State will notify the
Administrator if there are any changes to the State laws
(including regulations), policies, or procedures described in
subclause (I) that occur after the date of submission of such
plan; and
``(III) an assurance that the State will make available on
a publicly available website a description of any laws
(including regulations), policies, and operational procedures
relating to the process of recognizing programs under the
national apprenticeship system that are inconsistent with, or
impose requirements in addition to, the requirements of this
Act.
``(ii) Subsequent plans.--Except as provided in clause (i),
a State plan shall be submitted to the Administrator not
later than 120 days prior to the end of the 4-year period
covered by the preceding State plan.
``(B) Approval.--A State plan shall be subject to the
approval of the Administrator and shall be considered to be
approved at the end of the 90-day period beginning on the
date that the plan is submitted under this paragraph, unless
the Administrator, during the 90-day period, provides the
State apprenticeship agency, in writing--
``(i) an explanation for why the State plan is inconsistent
with the requirements of this Act; and
``(ii) an opportunity for an appeal of such determination
to an Administrative Law Judge for the Department of Labor
not later than 30 days after receipt of the notice of denial
from the Administrator.
``(C) Modifications.--
``(i) Modifications.--At the end of the first 2-year period
of any 4-year State plan, the State may submit modifications
to the State plan to reflect changes in labor market and
economic conditions or other factors affecting the
implementation of the State plan.
``(ii) Approval.--A modified State plan submitted for
review under clause (i) shall be subject to the approval
requirements described in subparagraph (B).
``(3) Technical assistance.--Each State Plan shall describe
how the State apprenticeship agency will provide technical
assistance for--
``(A) potential sponsors, employers, labor organizations,
joint labor-management organizations, qualified
intermediaries, apprentices, education and training
providers, credentialing bodies, eligible entities, industry
associations, or any potential program participant in the
national apprenticeship system in the State for the purposes
of recruitment, retention, program development, expansion, or
implementation, including supporting remote or virtual
learning or training, as necessary;
``(B) sponsors of programs registered in the State,
including sponsors that are not meeting performance goals
under subtitle C, for purposes of assisting sponsors in
meeting or exceeding such goals; and
``(C) sponsors of programs registered in that State for
purposes of assisting such sponsors in achieving State goals
in diversity and equal opportunity in apprenticeships in
accordance with paragraph (5).
``(4) Reciprocity.--Each State plan shall describe how the
State apprenticeship agency, in the case of a program
recognized by a registration agency in another State, shall
recognize such program in the State of such agency for
purposes of this Act by not later than 30 days after receipt
of an application for such recognition from a program
sponsor, as long as such program meets the wage and hour
provisions of the State granting reciprocity.
``(5) Promoting diversity in the national apprenticeship
system.--Each State plan shall include a plan for how the
State apprenticeship agency will--
``(A) promote diversity in apprenticeable occupations
offered throughout the State, and a description of how such
agency will promote the addition of apprenticeable
occupations in high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry
sectors and occupations, and in nontraditional apprenticeship
occupations and sectors; and
``(B) promote diversity and equal opportunity in programs
under the national apprenticeship system by uniformly
adopting and implementing the requirements of subparagraphs
(B) and (C) of section 111(b)(7).
``(6) Complaints.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), each State
plan shall include a description of the system for the State
apprenticeship agency to receive and resolve complaints
submitted by program participants, the program participant's
authorized representative, sponsors, employers, or nonprofit
compliance organizations, such as complaints concerning equal
employment opportunity or discrimination, violations of the
apprenticeship agreement, or violations of requirements under
this Act.
``(B) Collective bargaining agreements.--Any controversy
arising under an apprenticeship agreement which is covered by
a collective bargaining agreement shall not be subject to the
system described in subparagraph (A), except that complaints
concerning discrimination or any matters described in
subparagraph (5)(B) shall be subject to such system.
``(7) State apprenticeship hubs.--Each State plan shall
describe how the State will support, in a manner that takes
into consideration geographic diversity, the creation and
implementation of apprenticeship hubs throughout the State
that shall work with industry and sector partnerships to
expand programs under the national apprenticeship system, and
apprenticeable occupations, in the State.
``(8) State apprenticeship performance outcomes.--Each
State plan shall--
``(A) in coordination with the Administrator, establish
annual State performance goals for the programs registered by
the State apprenticeship agency for the indicators
described--
``(i) in subparagraph (A) of section 131(b)(1); and
``(ii) in subparagraph (B)(ii) of section 131(b)(1); and
``(B) describe how the State apprenticeship agency will
collect performance data from programs registered by the
agency; and
``(C) annually report on the outcomes of each such program
in relation to the State established goals under subparagraph
(A).
``(9) Uses of funds.--Each State plan shall include a
description of the uses described in subsection (d) of the
allotment received by the State apprenticeship agency under
subsection (f).
``(10) Alignment of workforce activities.--Each State plan
shall include a summary of State-supported workforce
development activities (including education and training) in
the State, including--
``(A) a summary of the apprenticeship programs on the list
of eligible providers of training services under section
122(d) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
U.S.C. 3152(d));
[[Page H5956]]
``(B) the degree to which the programs under the national
apprenticeship system in the State are aligned with and
address the skill needs of the employers in the State
identified by the State workforce development board; and
``(C) a description of how apprenticeship programs will
receive expedited consideration to be included on the list of
eligible providers of training services under section 122(d)
of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C.
3152(d)).
``(11) State strategic vision.--Each State plan shall
include a summary of the State's strategic vision and set of
goals for preparing an educated and skilled workforce and for
meeting the skilled workforce needs of employers, including
in existing and emerging in-demand industry sectors and
occupations as identified by the State, and how the programs
registered by the State apprenticeship agency in the State
will help to meet such goals.
``(12) Strategy for any joint planning, alignment,
coordination, and leveraging of funds.--Each State plan shall
provide a description of the State apprenticeship agency's
strategy for joint planning, alignment, coordination, and
leveraging of funds--
``(A) with the State's workforce development system, to
achieve the strategic vision and goals described in paragraph
(11), including the core programs defined in section 3 of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102) and
the elements related to system alignment under section
102(b)(2)(B) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 3112(b)(2)(B));
``(B) for programs under the national apprenticeship system
in the State with other Federal education programs, including
programs under--
``(i) the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965;
``(ii) the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act;
``(iii) the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education
Act of 2006; and
``(iv) the Higher Education Act of 1965; and
``(C) to provide information about access to available
State assistance or assistance under related Federal
programs, including such assistance under--
``(i) section 6(d) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008;
``(ii) subsection (c)(1) of section 3672 of title 38,
United States Code;
``(iii) section 231 of the Second Chance Act of 2007 (34
U.S.C. 60541); and
``(iv) the State Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
programs under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act.
``(13) State apprenticeship council.--Each State plan shall
provide for a description of the composition, roles, and
responsibility of the State apprenticeship council, and how
the Council will comply with the requirements of subsection
(b)(3).
``(d) State Apprenticeship Agency Funding.--A State
apprenticeship agency shall use funds received under clauses
(i) and (ii) of subsection (f)(1)(A) according to the
following requirements:
``(1) Program administration.--The State apprenticeship
agency shall use such funds to support the administration of
programs under the national apprenticeship system across the
State, including for--
``(A) staff and resources;
``(B) oversight and evaluation as required under this Act;
``(C) technical assistance to program sponsors, program
participants, employers, labor organizations, joint labor-
management organizations, education and training providers,
and qualified intermediaries;
``(D) pre-apprenticeship, youth, and apprenticeship program
recruitment and development, including for--
``(i) engaging potential providers of such programs such as
employers, qualified intermediaries, related instruction
providers, and potential program participants;
``(ii) publicizing apprenticeship opportunities and
benefits; and
``(iii) engaging State workforce and education systems for
collaboration and alignment across systems;
``(E) supporting the enrollment and apprenticeship
certification requirements to allow veterans and other
individuals eligible for the educational assistance programs
under chapters 30 through 36 of title 38, United States Code,
and any related educational assistance programs under laws
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to use
such assistance for the apprenticeship program, including the
requirement of designating a certifying official; and
``(F) supporting the retention and completion of program
participants in such programs, such as by assisting with the
costs--
``(i) related to enrolling in such programs; or
``(ii) of assessments related to obtaining a recognized
postsecondary credential.
``(2) Educational alignment.--The State apprenticeship
agency shall use not less than 10 percent of such funds to
engage with the State education system to provide technical
assistance and best practices regarding--
``(A) alignment of youth apprenticeship programs with the
secondary education programs in the State, including support
for career exploration, career pathways, education and career
planning, and engagement with youth apprenticeship programs
for teachers, career guidance and academic counselors, school
leaders, administrators, and specialized instructional
support personnel and paraprofessionals;
``(B) alignment of related instruction provided under the
national apprenticeship system in the State with academic
credit granting postsecondary programs (including developing
career pathways, articulation agreements, and prior learning
assessments); and
``(C) the joint planning, alignment, coordination, and
leveraging of funds described in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of
subsection (c)(12).
``(3) Workforce alignment.--The State apprenticeship agency
shall use not less than 10 percent of such funds to engage
with the State workforce development system to provide
technical assistance and best practices regarding--
``(A) alignment with the State's workforce activities and
strategic vision in accordance with paragraphs (10), (11),
and subparagraphs (A) and (C) of paragraph (12) of subsection
(c);
``(B) guidance for training staff of the workforce
development system, including the vocational rehabilitation
agencies, within the State on the value of programs under the
national apprenticeship system as a work-based learning
option for participants, including participants of programs
authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
(29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) such as Job Corps under subtitle C
of title I of such Act and YouthBuild under section 171 of
such Act;
``(C) providing a list of programs under the national
apprenticeship system that are offered in the State,
including in the State's high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand
industry sectors or occupations;
``(D) alignment of funding received and reporting required
under this Act, including relevant placement, retention, and
earnings information, with the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.), and technical
assistance in how individual training accounts under section
134(c)(3) of such Act could be used to pay for the costs of
enrolling and participating in programs under the national
apprenticeship system;
``(E) partnerships with State or local workforce
development boards, State workforce agencies, and one-stop
centers and one-stop operators that assist program
participants in accessing supportive services to support--
``(i) the recruitment, retention, and completion of
programs under the national apprenticeship system;
``(ii) transitions from youth apprenticeships and pre-
apprenticeships to apprenticeship programs; and
``(iii) the placement into employment or further education
upon program completion; and
``(F) expanding the list of eligible providers of training
services under section 122(d) of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act to include programs under the national
apprenticeship system in the State (29 U.S.C. 3152(d)).
``(4) Leadership activities.--
``(A) In general.--A State apprenticeship agency may
reserve not more than 15 percent of the funds received under
subsection (f) in support of State apprenticeship initiatives
described in this paragraph.
``(B) Diversity.--Not less than 5 percent of the amount
reserved under subparagraph (A) shall be used by the State
apprenticeship agency for supporting and expanding diversity
in apprenticeable occupations under the national
apprenticeship system in the State and program participant
populations in the State.
``(C) Incentives for employers.--A State apprenticeship
agency may use funds reserved under subparagraph (A) to
incentivize employers to participate in programs under the
national apprenticeship system, such as costs related to
program development, staffing for mentors and supervisors,
related instruction, or the creation of industry or sector
partnerships to support employer participation.
``(D) State-specific initiatives.--A State apprenticeship
agency may use funds reserved under subparagraph (A) for
State-specific initiatives, such as the development or
expansion of youth apprenticeship programs or apprenticeship
programs in high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry
sectors and occupations.
``(5) State match for federal investment.--
``(A) In general.--Except in the case of exceptional
circumstances, as determined by the Administrator, in order
to receive a full allotment under subsection (f), a State
apprenticeship agency shall use matching funds from non-
Federal resources to carry out the activities of the agency
under this Act in an amount not less than 25 percent of such
allotment.
``(B) Transition period.--The requirement under this
paragraph shall take effect with respect to a State
apprenticeship agency on the date that is 1 day after the
date on which the transition period for such agency under
subsection (a)(3)(C)(ii) ends.
``(e) Derecognition of State Apprenticeship Agencies.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may withdraw recognition
of a State apprenticeship agency before the end of the
agency's 4-year recognition period under subsection (a)(2)(B)
if the Secretary determines, after notice and an opportunity
for a hearing, that the State apprenticeship agency has
failed for one of the reasons described in paragraph (2), and
has not been in compliance with the performance improvement
plan under paragraph (3) to remedy such failure.
``(2) Derecognition criteria.--The recognition of a State
apprenticeship agency under this section may be withdrawn
under paragraph (1) in a case in which the State
apprenticeship agency fails to--
``(A) adopt or properly enforce a State plan;
``(B) properly carry out its role as the sole registration
agency in the State;
``(C) submit a report under section 131(b)(1)(B) for any
program year;
``(D) meet the State levels of performance as described in
subsection (c)(8)(A) or demonstrate improvements in
performance for 3 consecutive program years; or
``(E) otherwise fulfill or operate in compliance with the
requirements of this Act.
``(3) Derecognition process.--
``(A) In general.--If a State apprenticeship agency fails
for any of the reasons described in paragraph (2), the
Secretary shall provide technical assistance to such agency
for corrective
[[Page H5957]]
action to remedy such failure, including assistance in the
development of a performance improvement plan.
``(B) Reduction of funds.--Except in the case of
exceptional circumstances as determined by the Administrator,
in a case in which such a State apprenticeship agency
continues such failure after the provision of the technical
assistance under subparagraph (A)--
``(i) the percentage of the funds to be allotted to the
State apprenticeship agency under subsection (f) for each
fiscal year following the fiscal year in which such failure
has been identified shall be reduced by 5 percentage points;
and
``(ii) the Administrator shall provide notice to the State
apprenticeship agency that the agency's recognition under
this section may be withdrawn if the agency fails to remedy
the failure.
``(C) Termination of proceedings.--If the Administrator
determines that the State apprenticeship agency's corrective
action under subparagraph (A) has addressed the agency's
failure identified under paragraph (2), the Administrator
shall--
``(i) restore the agency's full funding allocation under
this title for the next full fiscal year; and
``(ii) notify the State apprenticeship agency that the
agency's recognition will not be withdrawn under this section
for the reason for which the agency's funding under this
title was most recently reduced.
``(D) Opportunity for hearing.--
``(i) In general.--In a case in which a State
apprenticeship agency fails to remedy a failure identified
under paragraph (2), the Administrator shall--
``(I) notify, in writing, the State apprenticeship agency
of the failure of the State apprenticeship agency, including
a description of such failure and an explanation that the
agency's recognition under this section may be withdrawn as a
result of such failure; and
``(II) offer the State apprenticeship agency an opportunity
to request a hearing not later than 30 days after the date of
such notice.
``(ii) Referral to office of administrative law judges.--In
a case in which the State apprenticeship agency requests a
hearing under clause (i)(II), the Administrator shall refer
the matter to the Office of Administrative Law Judges for a
recommended decision by the Administrative Review Board for
final agency action.
``(4) Requirements regarding withdrawal of recognition.--
``(A) Office of apprenticeship.--
``(i) Prior to order.--Prior to the withdrawal of the
recognition of a State apprenticeship agency under this
section, the Administrator shall--
``(I) provide to the State apprenticeship agency an order
withdrawing recognition of such agency under this section;
and
``(II) establish a State Office of Apprenticeship; and
``(ii) After order.--Not later than 30 days after the date
of such order, provide notification of the withdrawal to the
sponsors of the programs under the national apprenticeship
system in such State that were registered with the State
apprenticeship agency to enable each such sponsor to be
registered with the Administrator (acting through the State
Office of Apprenticeship established under clause (i)(II)).
``(B) State apprenticeship agency requirements.--A State
agency whose recognition as a State apprenticeship agency
under this section has been withdrawn under paragraph (3)
shall--
``(i) provide to the Administrator program standards,
apprenticeship agreements, completion records, cancellation
and suspension records, performance metrics, and any other
documents relating to the State's programs under the national
apprenticeship system in the State;
``(ii) cooperate fully during the transition period
beginning on the date of the order withdrawing such
recognition and ending on the date on which the Administrator
establishes a State Office of Apprenticeship in the State;
and
``(iii) return any unused funds received under this Act.
``(5) Reinstatement of recognition.--A State apprenticeship
agency that has had its recognition withdrawn under this
section may have such recognition reinstated upon
presentation of adequate evidence that the State
apprenticeship agency has--
``(A) submitted an application under subsection (a)(2), and
``(B) demonstrated the ability to operate in compliance
with the requirements of this Act.
``(f) Reservation and State Allotments.--
``(1) State allotments.--
``(A) In general.--Of the amount appropriated under
subsection (g) for a fiscal year--
``(i) 33 \1/3\ percent shall be equally distributed among
each State Office of Apprenticeship, outlying area, and
eligible State; and
``(ii) 66 \2/3\ percent shall be allotted to eligible
States on the basis described in subparagraph (B).
``(B) Formula.--
``(i) In general.--Of the amount available under
subparagraph (A)(ii)--
``(I) 25 percent shall be allotted on the basis of the
relative share of program participants in each eligible
State, as determined on the basis of the most recent
satisfactory data available from the Administrator, compared
to the total number of program participants in all eligible
States, as determined on such basis;
``(II) 25 percent shall be allotted on the basis of the
relative share of program participants who have completed a
program under the national apprenticeship system in each
eligible State during the most recent 5-year period, as
determined on the basis of the most recent satisfactory data
available from the Administrator, compared to the total 5-
year average of program participants who have completed a
program in all eligible States, as determined on such basis;
and
``(III) 50 percent shall be allotted on the basis described
in clause (ii).
``(ii) Allotments based on bls and acs data.--Of the amount
available under clause (i)(III)--
``(I) 33\1/3\ percent shall be allotted on the basis of the
relative share of individuals in the civilian labor force in
each eligible State, compared to the total number of
individuals in the civilian labor force in all eligible
States;
``(II) 33\1/3\ percent shall be allotted on the basis of
the relative share of individuals living below the poverty
line in each eligible State, compared to the total number of
individuals living below the poverty line in all eligible
States; and
``(III) 33\1/3\ percent shall be allotted on the basis of
the relative number of unemployed individuals in each
eligible State, compared to the total number of unemployed
individuals in all eligible States.
``(2) Definitions.--In this subsection--
``(A) Eligible state.--The term `eligible State' means a
State (as defined in section 2) that has a State
apprenticeship agency.
``(B) Poverty line.--The term `poverty line' has the
meaning given such term in section 3 of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
``(C) Unemployed individual.--The term `unemployed
individual' has the meaning given such term in section 3 of
the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C.
3102).
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section--
``(1) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2021;
``(2) $85,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
``(3) $95,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
``(4) $105,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and
``(5) $115,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.
``SEC. 114. INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT WITH DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION.
``(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the
effective date of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, in
order to cooperate with the Secretary of Education and
promote awareness and adoption of apprenticeship programs,
the Secretary (acting through the Administrator) shall--
``(1) enter into an interagency agreement with the
Secretary of Education to promote and support integration and
alignment of programs under the national apprenticeship
system with secondary, postsecondary, and adult education,
through the activities described in this section; and
``(2) submit to the Committee on Education and Labor of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of Senate, such agreement and
any modifications to such agreement.
``(b) Alignment for Youth Apprenticeships.--In order to
promote alignment between youth apprenticeship programs and
high school graduation requirements, the interagency
agreement under subsection (a) shall describe how the
Secretaries will work to provide--
``(1) information and resources to--
``(A) parents and students to promote a better
understanding of programs under the national apprenticeship
system and their value in secondary and postsecondary
education and career pathways by not later than middle
school; and
``(B) school leaders (working with academic counselors,
teachers, and faculty) about the value of such programs and
information on how to effectively align youth apprenticeship
programs with secondary and career and technical education
programs; and
``(2) technical assistance on how to--
``(A) align related instruction and apprenticeable
occupation skills and competencies to high school graduation
requirements;
``(B) offer related instruction through dual and concurrent
enrollment programs and other accelerated learning programs,
as described in section 4104(b)(3)(A)(i)(IV) of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
7114(b)(3)(A)(i)(IV));
``(C) facilitate transitions for youth apprentices who have
completed their youth apprenticeships into further education,
including an associate, baccalaureate, or advanced degree,
and related apprenticeship opportunities; and
``(D) align activities carried out under this Act with
eligible funding from, and planning processes for, the Carl
D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20
U.S.C. 2301 et seq.), the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).
``(c) Apprenticeship College Consortium.--In order to
support the establishment of a college consortium of
postsecondary educational institutions, related instruction
providers, sponsors, qualified intermediaries, employers,
labor organizations, and joint labor-management organizations
for the purposes of promoting stronger connections between
programs under the national apprenticeship system and
participating 2- and 4-year postsecondary educational
institutions, the interagency agreement under subsection (a)
shall include a description of how the Secretaries will--
``(1) support data sharing systems that align education
records and records of programs under the national
apprenticeship system regarding whether program participants
who receive financial aid under title IV of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 enroll in, or complete, postsecondary
coursework while participating in a program under such
system;
``(2) provide guidance on how to align eligible funding
from, planning processes for, and the requirements of the
Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006
(20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.)
with this Act;
[[Page H5958]]
``(3) require all participants of the apprenticeship
college consortium to enter into agreements to--
``(A) have an articulation agreement with a participating
sponsor of an apprenticeship program, which may include a 2-
or 4-year postsecondary educational institution;
``(B) create or expand the awarding and articulation of
academic credit for related instruction completed and
credentials awarded to program participants as part of a
program under the national apprenticeship system; and
``(C) support the creation or expansion of electronic
transcripts for apprenticeship programs and all academic
content, including related instruction and on-the-job
training;
``(4) provide technical assistance on eligible uses of
financial aid, including the Federal work study program under
part C of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1087-51 et seq.), for related instruction for programs
under the national apprenticeship system;
``(5) provide to consortium participants or potential
participants information regarding--
``(A) a list of apprenticeship programs in related
occupations offered in the State or available under the
Office of Apprenticeship that may become part of the
consortium;
``(B) information on how to develop an apprenticeship
program;
``(C) information on Federal, State, and local financial
resources available to assist with the establishment and
implementation of apprenticeship programs; and
``(D) information on related qualified intermediaries or
industry or sector partnerships supporting apprenticeship
programs, as applicable; and
``(6) support information regarding the apprenticeship
consortium being made available on a publicly accessible
website, including--
``(A) a list of participating members of the consortium,
apprenticeship programs provided, credentials awarded with
each program, and available apprenticeable occupations; and
``(B) models of articulation agreements, prior learning
assessments, and competency-based curriculum for related
instruction for illustrative purposes.
``(d) Best Practice Development and Sharing.--
``(1) Dissemination.--Such interagency agreement shall
require that the Secretaries disseminate information on the
value of programs under the national apprenticeship system,
including relevant placement, retention, and earnings
information, labor market data from the local area, and
sector forecasts to determine high-skill, high-wage, or in-
demand industry sectors or occupations of such programs, to
local education and training providers, labor organizations,
or joint labor-management organizations (including those
representing teachers).
``(2) Clearinghouse.--Such agreement shall require the
Secretaries to create a clearinghouse of best practices--
``(A) for improving performance and increasing alignment of
education and programs under the national apprenticeship
system, including career pathways; and
``(B) publicly disseminate information and resources on--
``(i) replicable related instruction and on-the-job
learning; and
``(ii) how to build an understanding of apprenticeship
opportunities available to students.
``(e) Data Sharing Agreement.--The Secretaries shall
disseminate best practices for the alignment of education
records and records of programs under the national
apprenticeship system, including information on program
participants who enroll in, complete, and receive academic
credit for postsecondary coursework while participating in
such a program.
``(f) Secretaries Defined.--In this section, the term
`Secretaries' means the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary
of Education.
``Subtitle B--Process and Standards for the National Apprenticeship
System
``SEC. 121. APPRENTICEABLE OCCUPATIONS STANDARDS.
``For an occupation to be an apprenticeable occupation
under this Act, a person seeking approval for such occupation
to be an apprenticeable occupation shall submit an
application to the Administrator that demonstrates that such
apprenticeable occupation is in-demand and will prepare
individuals for the full range of skills and competencies
needed for such occupation by describing how such
apprenticeable occupation shall--
``(1) meet the industry-recognized occupational standards
under section 111(b)(5)(C); or
``(2) involve the progressive attainment of skills,
competencies, and knowledge that are--
``(A) clearly identified and commonly recognized throughout
the relevant industry or occupation;
``(B) customarily learned or enhanced in a practical way
through a structured, systematic program of on-the-job
supervised learning and related instruction to supplement
such learning; and
``(C) offered through a time-based, competency-based, or
hybrid model as described in section 122(b)(1)(E).
``SEC. 122. QUALITY STANDARDS OF PROGRAMS UNDER THE NATIONAL
APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the
Administrator, shall formulate and promote the furtherance of
quality standards necessary to safeguard the welfare of
apprentices, pre-apprentices, and youth apprentices.
``(b) Apprenticeship Program Standards.--In addition to the
standards described in subsection (e), an apprenticeship
program shall meet the following standards:
``(1) The program has an organized and clearly written
plan, developed by the sponsor, that includes, at a minimum,
the following information:
``(A) The employment and training to be received by each
apprentice participating in the program, including--
``(i) an outline of the work processes or the plan in which
the apprentice will receive supervised work experience, on-
the-job training, and on-the-job learning;
``(ii) the allocation of the approximate amount of time
that will be spent in each major work process by the
apprentice;
``(iii) a description of the mentoring that will be
provided to the apprentice; and
``(iv) a description or timeline explaining the periodic
reviews and evaluations of the apprentice's performance on
the job and in related instruction.
``(B) A process for maintaining appropriate progress
records, including the reviews and evaluations described in
subparagraph (A)(iv).
``(C) A description of the organized related instruction
the apprentice will receive in technical subjects related to
the occupation, which--
``(i) for time-based or hybrid apprenticeship programs as
described in paragraph (E), shall include not less than 144
hours for each year of apprenticeship, unless an alternative
requirement is put forth by the employer and sponsor that
reflects industry standards and is accepted by the
registration agency;
``(ii) may be accomplished through classroom instruction,
occupational or industry courses, instruction provided
through electronic media, or other instruction approved by
the registration agency;
``(iii) shall be provided by one or more qualified
instructors that--
``(I)(aa) meet technical instructor requirements of the
applicable education agency in the State of registration; or
``(bb) are subject matter experts, defined for purposes of
this subparagraph as individuals recognized within an
industry as having expertise in a specific occupation; and
``(II) have training in teaching techniques and learning
styles, or will obtain such training before providing the
related technical instruction; and
``(iv) where appropriate and to the extent practicable,
shall be aligned to a career pathway.
``(D) A progressively increasing, clearly defined schedule
of wages to be paid to the apprentice that is--
``(i) consistent with measurable skill gains; and
``(ii) ensures the entry wage is not less than the greater
of--
``(I) the minimum wage required under section 6(a) of the
Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)); or
``(II) the applicable wage required by other applicable
Federal or State laws (including regulations) or collective
bargaining agreements.
``(E) The term of the apprenticeship program, which may be
measured using--
``(i) a time-based model, which requires the completion of
the industry standard for on-the-job learning hours, which in
no case shall be less than a cumulative 2,000 hours, unless
an alternative requirement is put forth by the employer and
sponsor from a nontraditional apprenticeship industry or
occupation as of the date of the enactment of the National
Apprenticeship Act of 2020 that reflects industry standards
and the relative hazards of the occupation, and is accepted
by the Secretary and registration agency;
``(ii) a competency-based model, which requires the
attainment of competency in the occupation; or
``(iii) a hybrid model, which blends the time-based and
competency-based approaches.
``(F) The methods used to measure an apprentice's skills
and competencies, which may include an initial diagnostic
assessment or assessment of credentials that verify an
individual's foundational knowledge and skills that would be
needed to succeed in an apprenticeship program, and which
shall include--
``(i) in the case of a time-based apprenticeship described
in subparagraph (E)(i), the individual apprentice's
completion of the required hours of on-the-job learning as
described in a work process schedule; or
``(ii) in the case of a competency-based model described in
subparagraph (E)(ii), the individual apprentice's successful
demonstration of acquired skills and knowledge through
appropriate means of testing and evaluation for such
competencies, and by requiring apprentices to complete a paid
on-the-job learning component of the apprenticeship;
``(iii) in the case of a hybrid apprenticeship described in
subparagraph (E)(iii), a combination of a specified minimum
number of hours of on-the-job learning and the successful
demonstration of competency, as described in subparagraph
(E)(i) and a work process schedule.
``(2) The program equally grants advanced standing or
credit to all individuals applying for the apprenticeship
with demonstrated competency or acquired experience,
training, or skills, and provides commensurate wages for any
progression in standing or credit so granted, including for
veterans' service-acquired skills and experiences.
``(3) The program has minimum qualifications for
individuals desiring to enter the apprenticeship program,
with an eligible starting age for an apprentice of not less
than 16 years.
``(4) In the case of a program that chooses to issue an
interim credential, the program--
``(A) clearly identifies each interim credential;
``(B) only issues an interim credential for recognized
components of an apprenticeable occupation and demonstrates
how each interim credential specifically links to the
knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with such
components; and
``(C) establishes the process for assessing an individual
apprentice's demonstration of competency and measurable skill
gains associated with the particular interim credential.
[[Page H5959]]
``(c) Pre-apprenticeship Program Standards.--In addition to
the standards described in subsection (e), a pre-
apprenticeship program shall meet the following standards:
``(1) The program is designed to assist individuals who do
not meet minimum qualifications for an apprenticeship program
as described in subsection (b) and prepare them to enter and
succeed in such an apprenticeship programs, including by
providing the skills and competency attainment needed to
enter the apprenticeship program.
``(2) The program--
``(A) is carried out by a sponsor that has a written
agreement with at least one sponsor of an apprenticeship
program;
``(B) demonstrates the existence of an active, advisory
partnership with an industry or sector partnership to inform
the training and education services necessary for a pre-
apprenticeship program;
``(C) demonstrates evidence of sufficient demand in an
apprenticeship program at the completion of a pre-
apprenticeship program to support a transition from a pre-
apprenticeship to an apprenticeship; and
``(D) demonstrates partnerships with qualified
intermediaries, community-based organizations, labor
organizations, or joint labor-management organizations.
``(3) The program includes a written plan developed by the
sponsor of the pre-apprenticeship program that is developed
in consultation with the sponsor of the apprenticeship
program described in paragraph (2)(A), that--
``(A) provides for work-based learning, and paid work-based
learning to the extent practicable, in which an industry or
sector partnership and a related instruction provider
collaborate to provide training that will introduce
participants to the skills, competencies, and materials used
in one or more apprenticeable occupations;
``(B) is based on and aligned with national, State,
regional, or local industry standards for high-skill, high-
wage, or in-demand industry sectors and occupations, and the
requirements of the related apprenticeship program;
``(C) to the extent appropriate and practicable, meets the
related instruction requirements as described in clauses (ii)
through (iv) of subsection (b)(1)(C) that includes enabling
an individual to attain a secondary school diploma or its
recognized equivalent that enables a pre-apprentice to enter
into an apprenticeship program; and
``(D) includes mentoring, career exposure, career planning,
and career awareness activities.
``(d) Youth Apprenticeship Program Standards.--In addition
to the standards described in subsection (e), a youth
apprenticeship program shall meet the following standards:
``(1) The program is designed for youth apprentices who at
the start of the program are enrolled in high school.
``(2) The program includes each of the following core
elements:
``(A) The employment and training to be received by each
youth apprentice participating in the program, including--
``(i) an outline of the work processes or the plan in which
the youth apprentice will receive supervised work experience
and on-the-job training or in an experiential setting;
``(ii) the allocation of the approximate amount of time
that will be spent in each major work process by the youth
apprentice;
``(iii) a description of the mentoring that will be
provided to the youth apprentice; and
``(iv) a description or timeline explaining the periodic
reviews and evaluations of the youth apprentice's performance
on the job and in related instruction.
``(B) A process for maintaining appropriate progress
records, including the reviews and evaluations described in
subparagraph (A)(iv).
``(C) Related classroom-based instruction, which may be
fulfilled through dual or concurrent enrollment, and--
``(i) is, to the extent practicable, aligned with high
school diploma requirements and career clusters; and
``(ii) meets the additional requirements as described in
subsection (b)(1)(C).
``(D) A progressively increasing, clearly defined schedule
of wages to be paid to the youth apprentice.
``(E) The term of the youth apprenticeship program, as
described in subsection (b)(1)(E).
``(F) For a competency-based or hybrid youth apprenticeship
program, the methods used to measure skill acquisition for a
youth apprentice, including ongoing assessment against
established skill and competency standards as described in
subsection (b)(1)(F).
``(G) Prepares the youth apprentice for placement in
further education, employment, or an apprenticeship program.
``(3) The program equally grants advanced standing or
credit to all individuals applying for the youth
apprenticeship with demonstrated competency or acquired
experience, training, or skills.
``(4) In the case of a youth apprenticeship program that
chooses to issue an interim credential, the program meets the
requirements of subsection (b)(4).
``(e) General Requirements.--Each program under the
national apprenticeship system shall meet the following
standards:
``(1) The program--
``(A) has adequate and safe equipment, environments, and
facilities for training and supervision;
``(B) provides safety training on-the-job and in related
instruction as applicable by the apprenticeable occupation;
and
``(C) provides adequate training for mentors and qualified
instructors on providing a safe work and training
environment.
``(2) The program records and maintains all records
concerning the program as may be required by the Secretary,
the registration agency of the program, or any other
applicable law, including records required under title 38,
United States Code, in order for veterans and other
individuals eligible for educational assistance under such
title to use such assistance for enrollment in the program.
``(3) The program provides all individuals with an equal
opportunity to participate in the program as described in
subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 111(b)(7).
``(4) The program awards a certificate of completion in
recognition of successful completion of the program,
evidenced by an appropriate certificate issued by the
registration agency, and in the case of apprenticeships and
youth apprenticeships, prepares a program participant to
obtain a recognized postsecondary credential.
``(5) The program provides that an individual who is to
become a program participant under the program enters into a
written apprenticeship agreement described in section 123
with the sponsor of the program.
``(6) The numeric ratio of program participants to
supervisors (such as journeyworkers, mentors, or on-the-job
learning instructors, as applicable) for the apprenticeable
occupation, that are based on evidence-based and evidence-
informed best practices for supervision, training, safety,
and continuity of employment, throughout the work processes
of the program, job site, department, or plant, appropriate
for the degree of hazard in different occupations, and
consistent with provisions in collective bargaining
agreements, as applicable, except if such ratios are
expressly prohibited by the collective bargaining agreements.
``SEC. 123. APPRENTICESHIP AGREEMENTS.
``(a) In General.--To ensure the standards described in
section 122 are applied to programs under the national
apprenticeship system, the Administrator shall require a
sponsor to develop an apprenticeship agreement that shall--
``(1) be the same for each program participant;
``(2) contain the names and signatures of the program
participant and the sponsor;
``(3) meet the requirements of subsection (b); and
``(4) be submitted to the registration agency in accordance
with section 124 by the program sponsor.
``(b) Standards.--Each agreement under subsection (a) shall
contain, explicitly or by reference, program standards under
section 122, including--
``(1) in the case of an apprenticeship program--
``(A) that is time-based, a statement of the number of
hours to be spent by the program participant in on-the-job
learning and on-the-job training in order to complete the
program;
``(B) that is competency-based, a description of the skill
sets to be attained by completion of the program, including
the on-the-job learning and work components; or
``(C) that is a hybrid model, the minimum number of hours
to be spent by the program participant in on-the-job learning
and work components and in related instruction, and a
description of the skill sets and competencies to be attained
by completion of the program;
``(2) the number of hours and form of related instruction,
including how related instruction will be compensated
(whether through academic credit, wages, or both), the costs
the program participant will incur for participating in the
program (such as for equipment, related instruction, or
assessment or licensure fees), and the recognized
postsecondary credentials the program participants will be
eligible to receive upon program completion;
``(3) a schedule of the work processes in the occupation or
industry divisions in which the program participant is to be
trained and the approximate time to be spent at each process;
``(4) for apprenticeships or youth apprenticeships, the
graduated wage scale to be paid to the apprentices, benefits
offered to the apprentices, and how the wages and benefits
compare to State, local, or regional wages in the related
occupation; and
``(5) demonstration of commitment to and compliance with
subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 111(b)(7).
``SEC. 124. REGISTRATION OF PROGRAMS UNDER THE NATIONAL
APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM.
``(a) Program Registration Application.--In order to bring
together employers and labor for the formulation of programs
under the national apprenticeship system, the Administrator
shall provide for the registration of programs in which a
sponsor applying to register a program under the national
apprenticeship system shall request registration of such
program from a registration agency by submitting the
information required by the registration agency, including--
``(1) information demonstrating that each of the
requirements of section 122 will be met for the program;
``(2) a copy of the apprenticeship agreement described in
section 123 used by the sponsor;
``(3) a written assurance that, if the program is
registered under this Act, the sponsor will administer the
program in accordance with the requirements of this Act and
comply with the requirements of the apprenticeship agreement
for each apprentice; and
``(4) methods the program sponsor will use to report data
describing outcomes associated with the program as required
by the registration agency--
``(A) on an annual basis for any program sponsor with fewer
than 5 program participants; or
``(B) on a quarterly basis for any program sponsor with 5
or more program participants.
``(b) Recognition and Registration Process.--
``(1) Review and approval process.--
``(A) Provisional approval review.--An application
submitted under subsection (a) that
[[Page H5960]]
the registration agency determines meets the requirements
described in such subsection shall be registered for a
provisional 1-year period beginning not later than 30 days
after such application is submitted. During such period, the
registration agency shall accept and record the
apprenticeship agreement as evidence of the program's
compliance and registration to operate such program.
``(B) Full approval or extended provisional approval.--By
the end of a provisional registration period for a program,
the registration agency providing provisional approval under
subparagraph (A) shall review the program for quality and for
compliance with the applicable standards under this subtitle
and all other applicable program requirements under this Act,
and--
``(i) if a registration agency conducting a provisional
review determines that the program complies with the
standards and requirements under this Act, the registration
agency shall fully approve the registration of the program;
or
``(ii) if a registration agency conducting a provisional
review determines that the program is not conforming to the
requirements or standards under this Act, the registration
agency may continue the provisional registration of the
program through the first full training cycle for program
participants, and conduct an additional provisional review at
the conclusion of the training cycle.
``(C) Failure to meet requirements.--If, after an initial
provisional review under subparagraph (A), a registration
agency conducting such provisional review determines that the
program is not in operation or does not conform to the
requirements under this Act, the registration agency shall
recommend technical assistance and corrective action for the
program, or deregistration, in accordance with procedures
established under subsections (b) and (c) of section 131.
``(2) Certificate of registration.--
``(A) In general.--A registration agency that registers a
program under paragraph (1) shall--
``(i) provide the sponsor of the program with a certificate
of registration or other written evidence of registration;
and
``(ii) provide a copy of the certificate of registration to
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs or the applicable State
veterans agency for the purpose of aligning the registration
process with the process for approving such program for
eligible veterans' use of supplemental educational assistance
benefits.
``(B) Registration name.--A program shall be registered in
the name of the sponsor, or if a sponsor enters into a
partnership with an employer who registers the program, in
the name of the employer.
``(3) Program participant registration.--A sponsor
providing a program that is registered in accordance with
paragraph (2) shall provide to an individual seeking to be a
program participant the opportunity to apply through the
sponsor, and shall--
``(A) enter into a written individual apprenticeship
agreement described in section 123 with each such individual
before the commencement of the program; and
``(B) individually register each program participant with
the registration agency by filing a copy of the individual
apprenticeship agreement with the registration agency or as
otherwise required by the registration agency, and sharing a
copy with the Administrator as appropriate, as described
under section 123(a)(4).
``(4) Transition process for previously approved
programs.--With respect to a program that was registered
under this Act as of the day before the date of enactment of
the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, the registration
agency shall take such steps as necessary to--
``(A) in the case of a program that meets of the
requirements of this Act, maintain the status of the sponsor
of the program as of the date before such date of enactment
as the sponsor of such program under this Act; and
``(B) in the case of a program that does not meet the
requirements of this Act, provide technical assistance to the
sponsor of such program to ensure that the sponsor is in
compliance with this Act not later than 3 years after the
date of enactment of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020.
``(c) Modifications or Changes to Youth Apprenticeship,
Pre-apprenticeship, or Apprenticeship Programs.--
``(1) Sponsor proposal.--Any sponsor that wishes to modify
a program, including the program's method of meeting the
standards required under this Act, shall submit the proposal
for such change or modification to the registration agency
for the program.
``(2) Registration agency requirements.--
``(A) In general.--The registration agency shall determine
whether to approve the proposal and notify the sponsor of the
determination by not later than 60 days after receipt of the
proposal.
``(B) Approval of proposal.--If the proposal is approved,
the registration agency shall amend the record of the program
to reflect the modification or change, and provide the
sponsor or program administrator with an acknowledgment of
the amended program, by not later than 30 days after the date
of approval.
``(C) Disapproval of proposal.--If the proposal is not
approved, the registration agency shall--
``(i) notify the sponsor of the reasons for the disapproval
and provide the sponsor with technical assistance to maintain
the program as originally registered;
``(ii) provide the sponsor with the opportunity to submit a
revised modification proposal, including providing
appropriate technical assistance to modify the proposal in
order to meet the requirements of this Act; and
``(iii) in a case in which the sponsor submits a revised
modification proposal, not later than 60 days after receipt
of such proposal--
``(I) approve the proposal; or
``(II) disapprove the proposal and provide the sponsor with
technical assistance to maintain the program as originally
registered.
``Subtitle C--Evaluations and Research
``SEC. 131. PROGRAM EVALUATIONS.
``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to provide
program performance transparency across the programs under
the national apprenticeship system, assess the effectiveness
of States in achieving positive outcomes for program
participants served by those programs, and establish
performance accountability measures related to program
completion and key indicators of performance under the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et
seq.).
``(b) Reviews by Registration Agencies.--
``(1) Performance reviews.--
``(A) In general.--A registration agency shall--
``(i) annually collect performance data for each program
registered under section 124 by such agency to determine--
``(I) the performance of the program with respect to the
indicators of performance under section 116(b)(2)(A)(i) of
the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C.
3141(b)(2)(A)(i) or in the case of a youth apprenticeship
program, section 116(b)(2)(A)(ii)) of such Act (29 U.S.C.
3141(b)(2)(A)(ii)), as applied to programs under the national
apprenticeship system; and
``(II) the completion rates of the program; and
``(ii) provide technical assistance for the collection of
the information under clause (i) of this subparagraph and
subparagraph (B), as necessary.
``(B) Reports.--The registration agency for a State shall
annually prepare and submit to the Administrator a State
performance report that includes the following information
with respect to each program registered under section 124 by
such agency, including--
``(i) information specifying the levels of performance
described in subparagraph (A), as compared to goals set in
section 113(c)(8)(A)(i);
``(ii) the percentage of program participants by race, sex
ethnicity and, to the extent practicable, by individuals with
disabilities, as compared to such percentages within the
working age population who are in the geographical area from
which the sponsor usually seeks or reasonably could seek
program participants and who meet the minimum eligibility
requirements for entry into in the program;
``(iii) the percentage of program participants served by
each of the programs that obtained unsubsidized employment in
a field related to the apprenticeable occupation;
``(iv) the average time to completion for the program as
compared to the description in the agreement under paragraphs
(1) and (2) of section 123(b);
``(v) the average cost per participant during the most
recent program year and the 3 preceding program years;
``(vi) the percentage of program participants who received
supportive services;
``(vii) information on the State's activities required
under section 113(c), including the State's uses of funds;
and
``(viii) the disaggregation of the performance data
described in clauses (i) through (vi)--
``(I) by the program type (apprenticeship, youth
apprenticeship, or pre-apprenticeship program) involved; and
``(II) by race, ethnicity, sex, age, and membership in a
population specified in section 3(24) of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102(24)).
``(C) Reports to congress.--Not later than 60 days after
receiving a report under subparagraph (B), the Secretary
shall transmit to the Committee on Education and Labor of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.
``(D) Publication.--The Administrator shall annually make
available on a publicly accessible website each report
received under subparagraph (B) not later than 30 days after
receipt of such report.
``(2) Comprehensive program reviews.--
``(A) In general.--A registration agency shall periodically
review each program registered under section 124 by such
agency for quality assurance and compliance with the
requirements of this Act.
``(B) Timing of reviews.--A review described in
subparagraph (A) shall occur--
``(i) at the end of the first full training cycle of
program participants under the program; and
``(ii) beginning after the review described in clause (i)
at least once every 5 years.
``(C) Review.--The review shall be a comprehensive review
regarding all aspects of the program performance, including--
``(i) determining whether the registration agency is
receiving notification from the sponsor of a program
regarding individuals who are registered as new youth
apprentices, pre-apprentices, or apprentices under the
program, or who successfully complete the program, as
required under this Act;
``(ii) determining whether the sponsor of the program is
complying with the requirements of this Act;
``(iii) evaluating the performance of the sponsor with
respect to, at a minimum, the indicators described in
paragraph (1)(A)(i), with the performance data disaggregated
as described in paragraph (1)(B)(viii); and
``(iv) ensuring the sponsor's compliance with the
requirement to provide equal opportunity in recruitment,
training, and employment as described in subparagraphs (B)
and (C) of section 111(b)(7).
``(D) Reports.--On completion of a review under this
paragraph, the registration agency shall prepare and submit
to the Administrator a report containing the results of the
review.
``(c) Subsequent Action.--
``(1) Technical assistance.--The registration agency shall
provide technical assistance to the
[[Page H5961]]
sponsor and identify areas that require technical assistance,
including--
``(A) to support the sponsor in creating a plan to meet the
State goals described in section 113(c)(8)(A)(ii), as
applicable; and
``(B) assistance in the development of a performance
improvement plan if the registration agency determines,
pursuant to any review under subsection (b), that the youth
apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, or apprenticeship
program--
``(i) is not in operation;
``(ii) is not in compliance with the requirements of this
Act; or
``(iii) is achieving levels of performance on any
indicators described in subsection (b)(1)(A)(i) that are
lower than the State goals for any program year.
``(2) Corrective action and deregistration of an
apprenticeship program.--The registration agency may take
corrective action, and if warranted, deregister a youth
apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, or apprenticeship
program, after making a determination that the program
demonstrates persistent and significant failure to perform
successfully, which occurs when--
``(A) the sponsor of the program consistently fails to
register at least 1 program participant;
``(B) the program shows a pattern of poor results on the
indicators described in subsection (b)(1)(A)(i) over a period
of 3 years, given the characteristics of program participants
and economic conditions in the area served, or are lower than
the national or State average;
``(C) the program shows no indication of improvement in the
areas identified by the registration agency and in the
performance improvement plan under paragraph (1); or
``(D) the sponsor has not administered the program in
accordance with the program's registration, as applicable, or
with the requirements of this Act.
``(3) Notification and hearing.--If the registration agency
makes a determination described in paragraph (2), the
registration agency shall notify the Secretary and the
sponsor of the determination in writing, and permit the
sponsor to request a hearing by the Office of Administrative
Law Judges. The registration agency shall transmit to the
Secretary a report containing all pertinent facts and
circumstances concerning the determination, including
findings and a recommendation for deregistration, and copies
of all relevant documents and records. If the sponsor does
not request the hearing not later than 15 days after
receiving such notification, the registration agency shall
deregister the program after the period for requesting such a
hearing has expired.
``(4) Notification and treatment of apprentices.--Not later
than 15 days after the registration agency deregisters a
program, the sponsor or program administrator shall notify
program participant--
``(A) of such deregistration and the effective date;
``(B) that such deregistration automatically deprives the
program participant of individual registration as part of
such youth apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, or
apprenticeship program, including the ability to receive a
certificate of completion from the registration agency;
``(C) that the deregistration of the program removes the
program participant from eligibility for any Federal
financial or other assistance, or rights, privileges, or
exemptions under Federal law, that--
``(i) relates to an apprentice; and
``(ii) requires the registration agency's approval; and
``(D) that all youth apprentices, pre-apprentices, or
apprentices are referred to the registration agency for
information about potential transfers to other programs under
the national apprenticeship system.
``SEC. 132. NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM RESEARCH.
``(a) Research.--The Secretary shall conduct, through an
independent entity, research for the purpose of improving the
management and effectiveness of the programs and activities
carried out under this Act and to assist in the evaluation of
the programs as described in section 131.
``(b) Techniques.--The research conducted under this
section shall utilize appropriate methodology and research
designs.
``(c) Contents.--Such research shall address--
``(1) the general effectiveness of such programs and
activities in relation to their cost, including the extent to
which the programs and activities--
``(A) improve the skill and employment competencies of
participants in comparison to comparably-situated individuals
who did not participate in such programs and activities;
``(B) to the extent feasible, increase the levels of total
employment, of attainment of recognized postsecondary
credentials, and of measurable skills, above the levels that
would have existed in the absence of such programs and
activities;
``(C) respond to the needs reflected in labor market data
in the local area and align with high-skill, high-wage, or
in-demand industries or occupations; and
``(D) demonstrate a return on investment of Federal, State,
local, sponsor, employer, and other funding for programs
under the national apprenticeship system, capturing the full
level of investment in, and impact of, such programs under
the national apprenticeship system;
``(2) the impact of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020
on the general effectiveness of programs under the national
apprenticeship system, including the implementation of
policies such as dual or concurrent enrollment programs,
advanced standing, or industry recognized apprenticeable
occupations;
``(3) best practices in increasing nontraditional
apprenticeship populations' participation in programs under
the national apprenticeship system; and
``(4) opportunities to scale up effective models under the
national apprenticeship system.
``(d) Reports.--
``(1) Independent entity.--The independent entity carrying
out the research shall prepare and submit to the Secretary--
``(A) an interim report containing findings from the
research; and
``(B) a final report containing the results of the
research, including policy recommendations.
``(2) Reports to congress.--Not later than 60 days after
receipt of the interim report and final report described in
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1), respectively, the
Secretary shall submit each report to the Committee on
Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the
Senate.
``(e) Public Access.--The Secretary shall make the interim
and final reports available on a publicly accessible website
not later than 60 days after the receipt of the interim and
final report.
``Subtitle D--General Provisions
``SEC. 141. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``(a) Office of Apprenticeship.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out sections 111, 112, 131, and 132--
``(1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2021;
``(2) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
``(3) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
``(4) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and
``(5) $90,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.
``(b) Interagency Agreement.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out section 114--
``(1) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2021;
``(2) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
``(3) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
``(4) $16,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and
``(5) $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.
``TITLE II--MODERNIZING THE NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM FOR THE
21ST CENTURY GRANTS
``SEC. 201. GRANT REQUIREMENTS.
``(a) Authority.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall award grants,
contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible entities on
a competitive basis for one or more of the following
purposes:
``(A) Creation and expansion activities.--To expand the
offerings of programs under the national apprenticeship
system--
``(i) to create new apprenticeship programs in a
nontraditional apprenticeship industry or occupation, such as
for programs demonstrating demand in information technology,
energy, green jobs, advanced manufacturing, health care, or
cybersecurity;
``(ii) to expand existing apprenticeship programs
demonstrating labor market demand;
``(iii) to create new or expand existing pre-apprenticeship
programs; or
``(iv) to create new or expand existing youth
apprenticeship programs.
``(B) Encouraging employer participation.--To encourage
employer participation in programs under the national
apprenticeship system--
``(i) that target individuals with barriers to employment
in youth apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, or
apprenticeship programs, prioritizing nontraditional
apprenticeship populations such as women, minorities, long-
term unemployed, individuals with a disability, individuals
with substance abuse issues, veterans, military spouses,
individuals experiencing homelessness, individuals impacted
by the criminal or juvenile justice system, and foster and
former foster youth;
``(ii) that are in high-need social service-related
industries, sectors, or occupations, such as direct care
workers and early childhood educators;
``(iii) that target individuals currently or recently
incarcerated; or
``(iv) among small- and medium-sized employers.
``(C) Intermediary grants.--If the eligible entity is a
qualified intermediary--
``(i) to support national industry and equity
intermediaries in establishing or expanding sector-based
partnerships to support the delivery or expansion of programs
under the national apprenticeship system to significant scale
in the United States--
``(I) in key sectors, including manufacturing, information
technology, cyber security, health care, insurance and
finance, energy, hospitality, retail, construction, and other
sectors identified by the Administrator and the Advisory
Committee as targeted for expansion under the national
apprenticeship system; or
``(II) for nontraditional apprenticeship populations,
women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and
individuals impacted by the criminal or juvenile justice
system; or
``(ii) to serve programs under the national apprenticeship
system in a local or regional setting.
``(D) Educational alignment.--To strengthen alignment
between programs under the national apprenticeship system and
education and training providers with secondary and
postsecondary education systems, including degree and
credential requirements.
``(2) Duration.--
``(A) In general.--The Administrator shall award grants
under this subsection for a period of not more than 3 years.
``(B) Extension.--The eligible entity may apply for, and
the Administrator may grant, an extension of the grant period
for not more than 1 additional 2-year period, if the grant
recipient demonstrates to the Administrator that the
recipient--
``(i) has effectively implemented a project to achieve its
stated purpose as described in subsections (e) and (f);
``(ii) has complied with the assurances as described in
subsection (e)(9); and
``(iii) has improved applicable outcomes, as demonstrated
through indicators referred to in section 203(a)(2).
[[Page H5962]]
``(b) Funding Requirements.--
``(1) Matching funds required.--The Administrator shall
require, as a condition of receipt of funds under this
section, an eligible entity to match funds awarded under this
section in an amount not less than 25 percent of the funds
awarded to such recipient under this section. Such eligible
entity may make the matching funds available directly or
through donations from non-Federal, public, or private
organizations, in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated.
``(2) Waiver.--The Administrator may waive the requirement
under paragraph (1) if the entity demonstrates that
exceptional circumstances prevent the entity from meeting the
requirement, such as demonstrating that the entity serves a
high proportion of individuals with barriers to employment,
or due to exceptional or uncontrollable circumstances, such
as a natural disaster or a precipitous and unforeseen decline
in the financial resources of the eligible entity.
``(c) Priority and Distribution.--
``(1) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Administrator shall give priority to an eligible entity--
``(A) proposing to serve a high number or high percentage
of participants who are from nontraditional apprenticeship
populations; and
``(B) providing opportunities in high-wage, high-skill, or
in-demand sectors and occupations.
``(2) Geographic distribution.--In awarding grants under
this subsection, the Administrator shall, to the extent
practicable, ensure a geographically diverse distribution of
grants, including a geographically diverse distribution among
regions of the country and among urban, suburban, and rural
areas.
``(d) Eligible Entity.--To be eligible to apply for grants
under this title, an eligible entity shall--
``(1) demonstrate a partnership with two or more of the
following:
``(A) a State or local workforce development board or State
or local workforce agency;
``(B) an education and training provider, or a consortium
thereof;
``(C) a State apprenticeship agency;
``(D) an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization;
``(E) an industry or sector partnership, a group of
employers, a trade association, or a professional association
that sponsors or participates in a program under the national
apprenticeship system;
``(F) a Governor;
``(G) a labor organization or joint labor-management
organization;
``(H) community-based organizations that assist program
participants in accessing supportive services; or
``(I) a qualified intermediary; and
``(2) to the extent practicable, be part of an industry or
sector partnership.
``(e) General Application Requirements.--An eligible entity
applying for a grant under this section shall submit to the
Administrator a description of each of the following:
``(1) Each purpose under subsection (a) for which the
applicant intends to use such grant.
``(2) Each entity with which the eligible entity is
partnered or engaged under subsection (d) and the role of
each such entity in carrying out activities funded under this
subsection.
``(3) The ability of the applicant, directly or through
partners--
``(A) to enroll, instruct, advance, and graduate program
participants served by the grant activities, and enable the
participants to gain employment after program completion;
``(B) to support (including by providing technical
assistance) program sponsors and employers (especially small-
and medium-sized businesses) in the creation of, recruitment
for, and execution of programs under the national
apprenticeship system; and
``(C) to provide opportunities to rural communities, as
applicable.
``(4) A labor market analysis with respect to the
geographic area of service that demonstrates--
``(A) the need to create or expand the program; and
``(B) a plan to align the activities supported by the grant
with the labor market needs of high-skill, high-wage, or in-
demand industry sectors or occupations.
``(5) A plan--
``(A) to comply with requirements for an evaluation and
report under section 203;
``(B) as appropriate, to coordinate activities assisted
under the grant with activities carried out under the Carl D.
Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C.
2301 et seq.), the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.), the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.), and any related
Federal programs and if appropriate, how funds provided under
these programs will be leveraged in support of the programs
supported by this grant;
``(C) to use funds awarded under this section in support of
the programs supported by this grant, as described in section
202;
``(D) to continue the program after the grant period ends;
and
``(E) to recruit and retain program participants for pre-
apprenticeship, youth apprenticeship, and apprenticeship
programs, including from nontraditional apprenticeship
populations, such as women, minorities, individuals with
disabilities, individuals impacted by the criminal or
juvenile justice system, and individuals with barriers to
employment, to ensure program participants are able to access
supportive services, as applicable, and how such plan will
support the eligible entity in meeting the equal opportunity
requirements for diversity described in subparagraphs (B) and
(C) of section 111(b)(7) and section 113(c)(5), as
applicable.
``(6) For any grants expanding existing programs under the
national apprenticeship system, a description of--
``(A) a plan to coordinate the activities carried out under
the grant with the existing program; and
``(B) the effectiveness of the program, including
demonstrations of programmatic components such as program
costs to employers and to program participants, completion
and placement rates, credential attainment, diversity in
populations served, the effectiveness of the program in
increasing participant's wages and benefits, or services
provided to employers and program participants.
``(7) A description of potential program participants and
strategies to support the recruitment, retention, and
completion of such participants, including nontraditional
apprenticeship populations and individuals with barriers to
employment, to the extent practicable.
``(8) A description of strategies to recruit and support
employers involved in programs under the national
apprenticeship system.
``(9) An assurance that the eligible entity will--
``(A) provide information to the Administrator, as
requested, for any such evaluations as the Administrator may
carry out;
``(B) make program performance outcome data available (in
accordance with applicable data privacy laws, including
section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (20
U.S.C. 1232g) and section 4 of this Act) to independent
evaluators to enable the evaluators to prepare the
evaluations and research reports described in section
203(a)(1); and
``(C) coordinate grant activities with a State
Apprenticeship Agency, if such agency exists in the State
where the eligible entity is applying for a grant or carrying
out activities.
``(f) Additional Application Requirements.--The
Administrator shall require an eligible entity applying for a
grant under this title to include as part of their
application in subsection (e) the following information, as
applicable:
``(1) Creation and expansion activities.--
``(A) New apprenticeship programs.--An eligible entity
applying to create new apprenticeship programs and carry out
activities in accordance with subsection (a)(1)(A)(i) shall
include as part of their application a description of--
``(i) any plans for further expansion upon development of
the program; and
``(ii) employers, and to the extent practicable, labor
organizations or joint labor-management organizations,
engaged in the program creation and implementation.
``(B) Expanding apprenticeship programs.--An eligible
entity applying to expand existing apprenticeship programs
and carry out activities in accordance with subsection
(a)(1)(A)(ii) shall include as part of their application a
description of employers engaged in the program expansion.
``(C) Creating or expanding pre-apprenticeship programs.--
An eligible entity applying to create or expand pre-
apprenticeship programs and carry out activities in
accordance with subsection (a)(1)(A)(iii) shall include as
part of their application a description of--
``(i) a partnership between the eligible entity and at
least one apprenticeship program; and
``(ii) existing partnerships with employers acting in
either an advisory capacity or actively participating in the
pre-apprenticeship program.
``(D) Creating or expanding youth apprenticeship
programs.--An eligible entity applying to create or expand
youth apprenticeship programs and carry out activities in
accordance with subsection (a)(1)(A)(iv) shall include as
part of their application a description of--
``(i) an existing partnership with at least one high school
offering related instruction for the youth apprenticeship
program, with existing integration into the academic content
of the high school diploma requirements, or with demonstrated
plans for integration of related instruction into the high
school curriculum; and
``(ii) existing partnerships with employers acting in
either an advisory capacity or actively participating in the
youth apprenticeship program.
``(2) Encouraging employer participation.--
``(A) Individuals with barriers to employment.--An eligible
entity applying to target individuals with barriers to
employment for apprenticeship, youth apprenticeship, or pre-
apprenticeship programs and carry out activities in
accordance with subsection (a)(1)(B)(i) shall include as part
of their application a description of--
``(i) specific strategies to target both individuals with
barriers to employment and employers for participation in the
program; and
``(ii) partnerships with organizations that assist program
participants in accessing supportive services to support
recruitment, retention, and completion of the program by
program participants.
``(B) High-need social service-related industries.--An
eligible entity applying to offer pre-apprenticeship, youth
apprenticeship, or apprenticeship programs in high-need
social service-related industries, sectors, or occupations
and carry out activities in accordance with subsection
(a)(1)(B)(ii) shall include as part of their application a
description of wages and benefits offered to program
participants.
``(C) Individuals currently or recently incarcerated.--An
eligible entity applying to target individuals currently or
recently incarcerated and establish or carry out pre-
apprenticeship programs and apprenticeship programs in
accordance with subsection (a)(1)(B)(iii) shall include as
part of their application a description of--
``(i) a plan to assist the program participants in
obtaining the documentation and work authorization necessary
to participate in such program;
[[Page H5963]]
``(ii) partnerships with organizations that will assist
program participants in accessing activities to improve
financial literacy and supportive services;
``(iii) how the assessments used to support the placement
of potential program participants into a program accurately
reflect the participants' skills and competencies;
``(iv) a plan to provide information about resources to
program participants to address mental health or substance
abuse issues;
``(v) partnerships with organizations that support--
``(I) the transition from incarceration to re-entry, such
as assistance with housing, transportation, and legal
services; and
``(II) successful completion of an apprenticeship or pre-
apprenticeship program;
``(vi) wages and benefits offered to program participants
that are commensurate with wages for similar work in the
State or local area, as allowable; and
``(vii) alignment and necessary supports to comply with and
receive the benefits of the Federal Bonding Program and the
Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program for
employers participating in apprenticeship programs.
``(D) Small- and medium-sized employers.--An eligible
entity applying to engage small- and medium-sized employers
and carry out activities in accordance with subsection
(a)(1)(B)(iv) shall include as part of their application a
description of demonstrated success in engaging small- and
medium-sized employers and the ability to recruit new
employers to participate in related partnerships or programs,
such as small businesses owned or controlled by women,
minorities, or veterans.
``(3) Intermediary grants.--
``(A) Supporting national industry and equity
intermediaries.--An eligible entity applying to carry out
activities in accordance with subsection (a)(1)(C)(i) shall
include as part of their application a description of the
ability of such entity to convene a diverse group of industry
specific stakeholders for the purposes of developing or
expanding programs, including employers, workforce
development organizations, industry associations, labor
groups (including joint labor-management organizations), and
education and training providers at a national level or with
national reach.
``(B) Serving programs in a local or regional setting.--An
eligible entity applying to carry out activities in
accordance with subsection (a)(1)(C)(ii) shall include as
part of their application a description of how such entity
will--
``(i) engage employers, especially small- and medium-sized
businesses, in the formation or ongoing development of
industry or sector partnerships and programs in the national
apprenticeship system;
``(ii) identify the industry or sector partnerships that
will be served, and demonstrate alignment to high-skill,
high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations;
``(iii) leverage additional resources, including funding
provided by Federal and non-Federal resources; and
``(iv) provide services to program sponsors and program
participants.
``(4) Educational alignment.--An eligible entity applying
to carry out activities in accordance with subsection
(a)(1)(D) shall include as part of their application a
description of--
``(A) a demonstration of a partnership with--
``(i)(I) no less than three sponsors or employers; or
``(II) an industry or sector partnership; and
``(ii) at least 1 of the following--
``(I) an educational service agency;
``(II) a high school;
``(III) a local educational agency;
``(IV) State educational agency;
``(V) an Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, Tribal
educational agency, Tribally controlled college or
university, or Tribally controlled postsecondary career and
technical institution, as applicable;
``(VI) a postsecondary educational institution; or
``(VII) a State higher education agency; and
``(B) a commitment to establishing or expanding the
alignment of the related instruction to--
``(i) the requirements for a high school diploma, which may
be fulfilled through a dual or concurrent enrollment program;
or
``(ii) the requirements for a recognized postsecondary
credential, including the degree requirements for an
associate's or bachelor's degree.
``SEC. 202. USES OF FUNDS.
``(a) General Activities.--An eligible entity applying for
any grant activity under section 201(a)(1)--
``(1) shall use at least 5 percent of the grant funds to
provide direct financial assistance to apprentices, pre-
apprentices, or youth apprentices through emergency grants to
support their financial needs to enter, remain enrolled in,
and complete such program, such as support for the related
costs of supplies and equipment, assessment or licensure
fees, courses, transportation, child care, and housing; and
``(2) may use funds for any of the following activities:
``(A) To establish or expand partnerships with
organizations that provide program participants access to
financial planning, mentoring, and supportive services that
are necessary to enable an individual to participate in and
complete a program under the national apprenticeship system.
``(B) To conduct outreach and recruitment activities,
including assessments of potential participants for, and
enrollment of participants in, a program under the national
apprenticeship system.
``(C) To conduct outreach, engagement, recruitment, and
coordination of activities with employers, industry
associations, labor and joint labor-management organizations,
qualified intermediaries, education and training providers,
State or local workforce agencies, potential sponsors,
community-based organizations, communities with high numbers
or percentages of nontraditional apprenticeship populations,
small- and medium-sized businesses, or rural communities to
establish or expand industry or sector partnerships and
opportunities under the national apprenticeship system.
``(D) To carry out grant requirements, including program
evaluation and reporting requirements.
``(E) To conduct any activities as described in the
application that would advance the purposes of the grant.
``(F) To support the transition to virtual or remote
learning or training, as necessary and as approved by the
registration agency.
``(b) Additional Uses of Funds.--
``(1) Creation or expansion activities.--
``(A) Apprenticeship program creation.--An eligible entity
that receives funds under section 201(a)(1)(A)(i) shall use
such funding to create and implement an apprenticeship
program, which may include--
``(i) creating and providing training and related
instruction based on employer engagement;
``(ii) applying apprenticeship frameworks as described in
section 111(b)(5)(C) to the State or local labor market and
employer needs; or
``(iii) aligning the new program with existing
apprenticeship programs.
``(B) Apprenticeship program expansion.--An eligible entity
that receives funds under section 201(a)(1)(A)(ii) shall use
such funds to expand an existing apprenticeship program,
which may include--
``(i) expanding and enhancing related instruction;
``(ii) conducting outreach to and engagement with employers
for the purposes of program expansion, including creation of
new or expansion of existing industry or sector partnerships;
``(iii) preparing additional instructors or mentors needed
for program expansion;
``(iv) building awareness of apprenticeship program
opportunities for State or local workforce development,
education, and economic development entities; and
``(v) providing commensurate wages to wages for on-the-job
training for program participants during related instruction,
as applicable.
``(C) Pre-apprenticeship programs.--An eligible entity that
receives funds under section 201(a)(1)(A)(iii) shall use such
funds to create a new pre-apprenticeship program or expand an
existing pre-apprenticeship program, which may include--
``(i) coordinating pre-apprenticeship program activities
with an apprenticeship program in a high-skill, high-wage, or
in-demand industry sector or occupation, including the
creation or expansion of work-based learning opportunities,
and articulation agreements for those who successfully
complete a pre-apprenticeship to earn academic credit and
enroll in an apprenticeship program;
``(ii) creating, expanding, or integrating related
instruction and work-based learning, which may include
training in the workplace and supporting partnerships to
create opportunities for pre-apprentices to earn credit at a
postsecondary educational institution for skills and
competencies acquired during the pre-apprenticeship program;
``(iii) providing participants with career exploration and
career planning activities and with exploration of
postsecondary opportunities including apprenticeship
programs;
``(iv) with respect to participants without a high school
diploma or a generally recognized equivalent, paying the
costs affiliated with acquiring such equivalent, and the
costs of any related assessments of potential pre-apprentices
or active pre-apprentices, including those that would verify
the attainment of foundational knowledge and skills necessary
to succeed in an apprenticeship program;
``(v) development or expansion of partnerships with
organizations that assist program participants in accessing
supportive services, which may include the 12-month period
after the conclusion of a pre-apprenticeship program;
``(vi) providing commensurate wages to the linked
apprenticeship program for pre-apprentices as they
participate in and complete the pre-apprenticeship program,
as appropriate;
``(vii) paying the cost of related instruction or
assessment or licensure fees associated with the pre-
apprenticeship program, as appropriate; or
``(viii) creating or expanding industry or sector
partnerships to support the pre-apprenticeship program and to
provide additional opportunities to the pre-apprentices.
``(D) Youth apprenticeship programs.--An eligible entity
that receives funds under section 201(a)(1)(A)(iv) shall use
such funds to create a new youth apprenticeship program or
expand an existing youth apprenticeship program, which may
include--
``(i) paying for the costs associated with curriculum
development and alignment of that curriculum with recognized
postsecondary credentials including industry-recognized
credentials, high school graduation requirements, and related
instruction, including curriculum development for dual or
concurrent enrollment;
``(ii) providing employers, and to the extent practicable,
labor organizations and joint labor-management organizations,
technical assistance to support the participation of youth
apprentices under the age of 18;
``(iii) integrating work-based and academic learning, which
may include training in the workplace;
``(iv) providing career exploration and career planning
activities, including exploration of postsecondary
opportunities such as apprenticeship programs;
[[Page H5964]]
``(v) providing technical assistance to support the
participation of small- and medium-sized businesses in youth
apprenticeship programs;
``(vi) developing or expanding partnerships with
organizations that assist program participants in accessing
supportive services, which may include the 12-month period
after the conclusion of such a youth apprenticeship program;
or
``(vii) providing teachers, career guidance and academic
counselors, school leaders, administrators, specialized
instructional support personnel, and paraprofessionals with
professional development opportunities to build an
understanding of apprenticeship opportunities available to
students, including experiential opportunities like
externships.
``(2) Incentive funds.--
``(A) Barriers to employment.--An eligible entity that
receives funds under section 201(a)(1)(B)(i) shall use such
funds to encourage employer participation in programs under
the national apprenticeship system that target individuals
with barriers to employment, which may include--
``(i) providing financial assistance to employers to
support costs related to the programs, such as training
incumbent workers for participation as mentors or employees
supervising the on-the-job learning;
``(ii) supporting the cost of related instruction,
assessment or licensure fees, or wages for program
participants during related instruction; and
``(iii) establishing or expanding partnerships with
organizations that assist program participants in accessing
supportive services to support recruitment, retention, and
completion, including providing supplies and equipment
necessary to begin a program under the national
apprenticeship system.
``(B) High-need social service-related industries.--An
eligible entity that receives funds under section
201(a)(1)(B)(ii) shall use such funds to incentivize employer
participation in programs under the national apprenticeship
system in high need social service-related industries,
sectors, or occupations, which may include--
``(i) providing financial assistance to employers to
support costs related to the program, such as training
incumbent workers as mentors, or employees providing on-the-
job training;
``(ii) supporting the cost of related instruction,
assessment or licensure fees, or wages for program
participants during related instruction;
``(iii) establishing or expanding partnerships with
organizations that assist program participants in accessing
supportive services to support recruitment, retention, and
completion, including providing supplies and equipment
necessary to begin a program under the national
apprenticeship system; or
``(iv) aligning such program with career pathways and
opportunities for advancement along such career pathways.
``(C) Individuals impacted by the justice system.--An
eligible entity that receives funds under section
201(a)(1)(B)(iii) shall use such funds to incentivize
employer participation in programs under the national
apprenticeship system that target individuals impacted by the
criminal or juvenile justice system, which may include--
``(i) providing financial assistance to employers to
support costs related to the program, such as training
incumbent workers as mentors or employees supervising the on-
the-job learning; or
``(ii) supporting the cost of related instruction,
assessment or licensure fees, or wages for program
participants during related instruction.
``(D) In-demand industry sector or occupation grants for
small- and medium-sized businesses.-- An eligible entity that
receives funds under section 201(a)(1)(B)(iv) shall use such
funds to encourage participation of small- and medium-sized
businesses in programs under the national apprenticeship
system, which may include--
``(i) providing financial assistance to employers to
support costs related to the program, such as training
incumbent workers as mentors or employees supervising the on-
the-job learning;
``(ii) supporting the cost of related instruction,
assessment or licensure fees, or wages for program
participants during related instruction;
``(iii) providing technical assistance to small- and
medium-sized businesses on the program registration process
and leveraging other available funds to support carrying out
programs supported by this grant; or
``(iv) establishing or expanding partnerships to support
program development or expansion, including establishing or
expanding industry or sector partnerships to ensure inclusion
of small- and medium-sized businesses.
``(3) Intermediary grants.--
``(A) National industry and equity intermediaries.--An
eligible entity that receives funds under section
201(a)(1)(C)(i) shall use such funds to carry out activities
at a national and regional level to support the promotion and
expansion of industry or equity intermediaries, which may
include--
``(i) creating partnerships and leveraging collaborations
with employers, workforce development organizations, industry
associations, labor organizations, and education and training
providers to help multiple employers make education and
training more affordable and accelerate the expansion of
programs under the national apprenticeship system nationwide;
``(ii) assisting employers in expanding programs, starting
new programs, and working together to create a pipeline of
skilled workers;
``(iii) increasing the participation and completion of
nontraditional apprenticeship populations in programs under
the national apprenticeship system, which may include--
``(I) supporting the development, implementation, and
scaling of plans and practices; and
``(II) identifying, developing, and disseminating effective
program tools and strategies;
``(iv) providing national activities to increase awareness
and access to programs, including strategic marketing and
outreach, technology improvements, and innovations that make
it easier for employers to start programs and for individuals
to connect with program opportunities;
``(v) developing and disseminating training or related
instruction associated with the program or for curriculum
improvements that align with the requirements of the program
and learning assessments; or
``(vi) providing industry employees or potential employees
with a clear understanding of future career paths and the
skills needed to succeed, along with cost effective ways of
acquiring those skills through youth apprenticeship, pre-
apprenticeship, or apprenticeship programs.
``(B) Local intermediaries.--An eligible entity that
receives funds under section 201(a)(1)(C)(ii) may use such
funds to carry out activities at a local or regional level to
support the promotion and expansion of programs under the
national apprenticeship system, which may include--
``(i) providing training or related instruction associated
with the programs or for curriculum improvements that align
with the requirements of the programs and learning
assessments;
``(ii) engaging with local education and training providers
to support related instruction aligned with the needs of
high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors and
occupations, and to the extent practicable, support the
provision of academic credit for related instruction;
``(iii) providing services, including business engagement,
classroom instruction, and development of partnerships with
organizations that assist program participants in accessing
supportive services (which may include the 12-month period
after the conclusion of the other activities in the youth
apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs involved);
``(iv) providing technical assistance on the registration
process for a sponsor of a youth apprenticeship, pre-
apprenticeship, or apprenticeship program;
``(v) connecting businesses, labor organizations, or joint
labor-management organizations with education and training
providers to develop related instruction to complement the
on-the-job learning portion of a youth apprenticeship, pre-
apprenticeship, or apprenticeship program;
``(vi) providing training to employees to serve as on-the-
job trainers or mentors to program participants; and
``(vii) providing career exposure, career planning, and
career awareness activities.
``(4) Educational alignment grants.--An eligible entity
that receives funds under section 201(a)(1)(D) shall use such
funds to strengthen alignment between programs under the
national apprenticeship system and education and training
providers with secondary and postsecondary education systems,
including degree and credential requirements, which may
include--
``(A) creating and aligning the related instruction to
requirements for a high school diploma or an associate's or
bachelor's degree, including through--
``(i) dual enrollment and credit articulation for youth
apprenticeship programs;
``(ii) articulation agreements; or
``(iii) credit transfer agreements;
``(B) creating or expanding career pathways aligned with
pre-apprenticeship, youth apprenticeship, or apprenticeship
programs;
``(C) providing professional development for teachers,
career guidance and academic counselors, school leaders,
administrators, specialized instructional support personnel,
and paraprofessionals to build an understanding of
opportunities in the national apprenticeship system available
to students and to incorporate such opportunities into
academic content and offerings;
``(D) offering prior learning assessments, which may
include credit for prior learning to grant advanced standing
in a program under the national apprenticeship system and
credit towards an associate's or bachelor's degree;
``(E) maintaining a connection between a pre-apprenticeship
or youth apprenticeship program and an apprenticeship
program; and
``(F) providing training for instructors or mentors.
``SEC. 203. GRANT EVALUATIONS.
``(a) Recipient Reports.--Each recipient of a grant under
this section shall--
``(1) provide for an independent evaluation of the
activities carried out under this title during the grant
period;
``(2) provide for an annual report and for a final report
at the conclusion of the grant period, which include--
``(A) a description of how the funds received through the
grant were used and how the uses of funds aligned with the
description in the application specified in section
201(e)(5)(C);
``(B) in the case of an eligible entity that is required to
report data under section 131(b)(1), the data collected under
such section for the grant period;
``(C) the total number of active program participants
served by each of the grant programs;
``(D) the total number that obtained unsubsidized
employment in a field related to the apprenticeable
occupation;
``(E) the total number of program participants that
completed the program in which they were enrolled;
``(F) the average time to completion for each program as
compared to the program standards description under
paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 123(b);
``(G) the average cost per participant during the most
recent program year and the 3 preceding program years;
``(H) the percentage of participants who received support
services; and
[[Page H5965]]
``(I) the disaggregation of performance data described in
subparagraphs (A) through (H)--
``(i) by the program type (apprenticeship, youth
apprenticeship, or pre-apprenticeship program) involved; and
``(ii) by race, ethnicity, sex, age, and membership in a
population specified in section 3(24) of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102(24)); and
``(3) submit each report under paragraph (2)--
``(A) to the registration agency; and
``(B) to the Administrator.
``(b) Administrator Evaluations.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall prepare--
``(A) not later than 36 months after the date of enactment
of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, an interim
evaluation on the activities carried out under grants awarded
under this section; and
``(B) not later than 60 months after the date of enactment
of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, a final
evaluation containing the results of the grant activities.
``(2) Contents.--Such evaluations shall address, for the
activities carried out under each grant awarded under this
section, the general effectiveness of the activities in
relation to their cost, including the extent to which the
activities--
``(A) improve the participation in, retention in, and
completion of youth apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and
apprenticeship programs by nontraditional apprenticeship
populations;
``(B) to the extent feasible, increase the levels of total
employment, of attainment of recognized postsecondary
credentials, and of measurable skills, above the levels that
would have existed in the absence of such activities;
``(C) respond to the needs reflected in State, regional, or
local labor market data;
``(D) align with high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand
industries or occupations; and
``(E) reach a wide variety of industry sectors and
occupations;
``(3) Reports to congress.--Not later than 60 days after
the completion of the interim evaluation and the final
evaluation described in this section, the Administrator shall
submit to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report summarizing the
findings of the interim evaluations and a report summarizing
the final evaluations.
``(4) Public access.--The Administrator shall make the
interim and final reports available on a publicly accessible
website not later than 60 days after the completion of the
interim report and the final report.
``SEC. 204. GRANT APPROPRIATIONS.
``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
title:
``(1) $400,000,000 for fiscal year 2021;
``(2) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
``(3) $600,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
``(4) $700,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and
``(5) $800,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.''.
SEC. 4. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
(a) American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act
of 1998.--Section 414(c) of the American Competitiveness and
Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2916a) is
repealed.
(b) Immigration and Nationality Act.--Section 286(s)(2) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1356(s)(2)) is
amended--
(1) in the heading, by striking ``for job training'' and
inserting ``for programs under the national apprenticeship
system''; and
(2) by striking ``for demonstration programs and projects
described in section 414(c) of the American Competitiveness
and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998'' and inserting ``to
carry out title II of the National Apprenticeship Act''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The bill, as amended, shall be debatable for
1 hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority
member of the Committee on Education and Labor.
The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) and the gentlewoman from
North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) each will control 30 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
General Leave
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 8294, the National
Apprenticeship Act of 2020.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8294, the National
Apprenticeship Act of 2020.
Our economy continues to permanently lose jobs due to the COVID-19
pandemic. In fact, it is estimated that 7 million of those who lose
jobs during the pandemic will not return to those jobs.
Congress has a responsibility to help workers not only find jobs, but
also prepare them for long-term employment. Expanding the registered
apprenticeship system, our most successful workforce development
initiative, is the proven solution we need.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of workers count on registered
apprenticeships to learn in-demand skills, earn wages that grow along
with those skills, and receive nationally recognized credentials that
lead to rewarding careers. Registered apprenticeships are also so
successful that 94 percent of apprentices are employed upon completion
and earn an average starting wage of more than $70,000 a year.
Despite the growing demand for apprenticeship opportunities, Congress
has not reauthorized the National Apprenticeship Act since it was first
passed in 1937.
The legislation before us will invest $3.5 billion in our
apprenticeship system; ensures consistency and quality across programs;
increases opportunities for diverse groups of workers who have not
traditionally been included; and expands registered apprenticeships in
emerging sectors, such as healthcare, finance, and technology.
This investment alone would create approximately 1 million
apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, and youth apprenticeships, and it
would yield roughly $10.6 billion in benefits to taxpayers through
higher tax revenues and decreased spending on social safety net
programs.
Construction trades and their industry partners have long proven that
the registered apprenticeship model works. It is long past time that we
expand registered apprenticeship opportunities to benefit workers
across other industries and across the country.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on the Judiciary,
Washington, DC, November 5, 2020.
Hon. Robert C. ``Bobby'' Scott,
Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Scott: This is to advise you that the
Committee on the Judiciary has now had an opportunity to
review the provisions in H.R. 8294, the National
Apprenticeship Act of 2020, that fall within our Rule X
jurisdiction. I appreciate your consulting with us on those
provisions. The Judiciary Committee has no objection to your
including them in the bill for consideration on the House
floor, and to expedite that consideration is willing to waive
sequential referral, with the understanding that we do not
thereby waive any future jurisdictional claim over those
provisions or their subject matters.
In the event a House-Senate conference on this or similar
legislation is convened, the Judiciary Committee reserves the
right to request an appropriate number of conferees to
address any concerns with these or similar provisions that
may arise in conference.
Please place this letter into the Congressional Record
during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank
you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked
regarding this matter and others between our committees.
Sincerely,
Jerrold Nadler,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Education and Labor,
Washington, DC, November 5, 2020.
Hon. Jerrold Nadler,
Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Nadler: In reference to your letter of
November 5, 2020, I write to confirm our mutual understanding
regarding H.R. 8294, the ``National Apprenticeship Act of
2020.''
I appreciate the Committee on the Judiciary's waiver of
consideration of H.R. 8294 as specified in your letter. I
acknowledge that the waiver was granted only to expedite
floor consideration of H.R. 8294 and does not in any way
waive or diminish the Committee on the Judiciary's
jurisdictional interests over this or similar legislation.
I would be pleased to include our exchange of letters on
this matter in the committee report for H.R. 8294 and in the
Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill
to memorialize our joint understanding.
Again, thank you for your assistance with this matter.
Very truly yours,
Robert C. ``Bobby'' Scott,
Chairman.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 8294, which kills the
ability for businesses and industry to fill in-demand jobs.
Republicans and Democrats agree that apprenticeships play a critical
role in addressing our Nation's workforce needs and preparing workers
for meaningful, well-paying careers; however, the narrow-minded
approach
[[Page H5966]]
taken by Democrats in H.R. 8294 doubles down on a system that limits
apprenticeship opportunities.
Many who know me here in Congress know that I have advocated for
these job-creating programs all my career. Nothing can prepare a
student quite like on-the-job experience, and apprenticeships are a
tried-and-true method of preparing students to enter the workforce with
the skills they need to succeed.
Unfortunately, the potential for a strong bipartisan effort to expand
beyond the existing registered apprenticeship model to reach more
workers and industries has been eclipsed by the Democrats' typical
partisan games.
While our economy continues to recover from COVID-19, workers and job
creators need the flexibility to innovate. Republicans understand that
employers, not Washington bureaucrats, know best what skills their
employees require to excel in the workplace.
The Trump administration also recognizes the importance of employer-
led innovation in the apprenticeship space and has taken important
steps to expand and innovate work-based learning programs. More than
430 companies and organizations have signed the President's pledge to
American workers, committing to providing more than 16 million new
education and on-the-job learning opportunities for American students
and workers.
Additionally, the Department of Labor is moving forward with
Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs to give employers the
flexibility to shape apprenticeship programs that will attract workers
and prepare them for the 21st century.
We have seen real success stories unfold when we let employers
innovate. Opportunity America and the Brookings Institution recently
published a study on the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing
Education, or FAME, an organization that connects educators, employers,
and students with hands-on learning to strengthen the manufacturing
industry.
The study found Kentucky FAME graduates, when compared to their non-
FAME counterparts, earned up to 63 percent more 1 year after
graduation. Five years after, FAME graduates earned $98,000, compared
to $52,783 for non-FAME graduates.
This study represents not only a success story in Kentucky, but it
uncovers a larger narrative. There is untapped potential in the
apprenticeship space waiting to be unleashed because the existing
registered model doesn't meet the need of many companies right now.
Instead of giving workers and employers more autonomy to create
programs that are responsive to workforce needs, the Democrats' bill
clings to an 80-year-old system that shuts the door on flexibility and
innovation and enshrines union giveaways.
In a letter to Committee Republicans, John Pallasch, Assistant
Secretary for Employment and Training at the Department of Labor,
cautioned that ``if enacted, this bill would inhibit the ability of the
Department to fulfill its mission in providing more Americans access to
apprenticeships.'' Mr. Pallasch went on to warn that H.R. 8294 puts
job-filling programs in jeopardy due to an ``excessive number of
requirements that are overly prescriptive.''
Still, House Democrats want to make registered apprenticeships the
only possible model under the National Apprenticeship Act. This
approach is flawed. The numbers speak for themselves. In fiscal year
2019, 252,000 individuals entered apprenticeships, and only 81,000
graduated from the registered system.
It is obvious that we can and should do better, but Democrats are
turning a blind eye to needed improvements that will allow more
Americans to get back to work and achieve the American Dream.
The bill before us will force job creators to deal with overly
prescriptive requirements, additional bureaucracy, and time-consuming
paperwork. This stifling environment has discouraged new and small
businesses from participating in the registered apprenticeship system
for years now.
The majority claims that this legislation will create 1 million new
apprenticeship programs simply by virtue of throwing more money at the
registered system without solving the underlying problems that prevent
employers from participating or allowing for alternative models. It
seems the new definition of insanity is the Federal Government spending
more taxpayer dollars on decades-old programs and expecting different
results.
An all-of-the-above approach is the best way to connect more workers
with apprenticeship opportunities so they can secure meaningful, well-
paying careers. That is why Republicans on the Education and Labor
Committee introduced a commonsense amendment during the bill's markup
to unleash the full potential of apprenticeships and help fill in-
demand jobs.
Among other provisions, it would allow the Department of Labor the
flexibility to pursue other forms of work-based learning under the
National Apprenticeship Act, including in response to COVID-19. It
would reduce the paperwork burden on States by allowing them to submit
State plans under the preexisting framework of the Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act rather than forcing them to establish a duplicative
application process.
{time} 1515
Rarely is more government intervention the solution, which is why the
amendment would strike provisions in H.R. 8294 that would add to the
existing bureaucracy in the form of advisory committees and interagency
agreements. The amendment also provides States with more discretion
over how they spend their money, instead of letting the Federal
Government dictate where their dollars must go.
This amendment also makes it easier for more programs, and therefore,
more apprentices to access the registered apprenticeship system by
removing the requirement setting an uneven playing field between union
and nonunion program sponsors for the ratios of apprentices to
instructors. This particular provision is just another scheme by
Democrats to force workers into unions. Unfortunately, this
commonsense, forward-looking amendment was struck down on a party line
vote by committee Democrats.
Thankfully, the full House will have the opportunity to vote on this
amendment during floor consideration, and I hope Democrats will take
this opportunity to adopt legislation that will actually increase work-
based learning opportunities.
At a time when workers and job creators are working hard to overcome
the challenges presented by COVID-19, we shouldn't close potential
pathways to work. Apprenticeships can help put more Americans to work
as we recover from the pandemic, but only if job creators are given the
flexibility to innovate and develop high quality earn-and-learn
programs. And the Democrat bill fails on that front.
I urge a ``no'' vote, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman
from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the House majority leader.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the chairman of the
Education and Labor Committee, Mr. Bobby Scott, for yielding. He has
done such an extraordinary job through the years in the minority and in
the majority watching out for workers and creating jobs and security
for our workers.
I rise in strong support of this legislation.
Two weeks ago, Mr. Speaker, we saw deep divisions within our country,
divisions that we must heal.
Part of that division, I believe, comes from a broad lack of faith in
government to deliver on what the American people need to get ahead in
our economy.
Americans, in my view, want their elected officials to focus on
reaching consensus on broadly popular initiatives that expand
opportunity and connect people with good careers.
This legislation, Mr. Speaker, that we are considering today, falls
within the scope of the Make It In America plan that I have been proud
to lead since 2010.
That plan seeks to make our workers and businesses more competitive
by legislating in the three key areas of education and skills training,
infrastructure, and entrepreneurship. It is based on bipartisan ideas
that most Americans support.
One of those ideas is reauthorizing enhancing the National
Apprenticeship
[[Page H5967]]
Act for the 21st century in order to help more of our people reach for
the opportunities that enable them to make it in America.
This bill would have been, Mr. Speaker, and should have been,
bipartisan, were it not for the Trump administration's insistence on
including unaccredited and unproven apprenticeship programs that do not
have adequate worker protections or quality standards.
That is a shame. And I hope we can revisit this effort and make it
truly bipartisan once President-elect Biden has taken office.
At a moment when our economy is in crisis as a result of the COVID-19
pandemic, many Americans are out of work and looking for new ways to
get back into the workforce.
They recognize that this moment presents an opportunity to gain new
skills and move up in their careers, as Mr. Scott has pointed out.
That is why, Mr. Speaker, congressional support for apprenticeship
programs is so important.
According to the Labor Department, 94 percent of participants in
registered apprenticeships are employed upon completion with an average
salary of $70,000.
This bill would permanently authorize the Labor Department's office
of apprenticeship and direct it to promote new partnerships among
labor, industry, and educational institutions to create new
apprenticeship tracks.
It will also codify standards, Mr. Speaker, for registered
apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and preapprenticeship programs.
This legislation would invest more than $3 billion in the National
Apprenticeship System, an investment that will pay off geometrically to
our country and to our families and to our workers. That will be spent
over the next 5 years in order to create nearly one million additional
apprenticeship opportunities by 2025.
For those worried about the cost of this legislation, here is another
figure to consider: The $10.6 billion in increased tax revenues and
decreased spending on public assistance programs and unemployment
insurance that will be saved. Let me reiterate that. $10.6 billion in
increased tax revenue as a result of the success of the apprenticeship
program.
At the same time, this bill includes measures to promote greater
diversity among those accessing apprenticeship programs. This is
critical at a moment when the pandemic has led women's workforce
participation to fall to a level unseen since 1988.
Right now, only 10 percent of apprenticeships are held by women.
By promoting greater diversity of access, we can increase that
percentage dramatically and help millions of women jump-start their
return to the workforce while helping them get ahead in their careers.
Good for them, good for their families, good for America.
I want to thank Representative Susan Davis of California for her
leadership over the years and for sponsoring this bill. She has been a
champion for workers and apprenticeship opportunities for decades. She
will be leaving the Congress, and she will be sorely missed. She will
be leaving voluntarily, I may add. But she will be sorely missed,
because, not only in the civilian sector but on the defense side, she
has looked at personnel and how to enhance work opportunities, worker
skills, and their success.
I also thank Chairman Scott of the Education and Labor Committee for
his work moving this bill through committee.
I also want to thank the ranking member because I believe that, in
fact, what she said is she is interested in apprenticeship programs,
and I am hopeful that Mr. Scott and Ms. Foxx and others on both sides
of the aisle continue to work to expand apprenticeship opportunities.
We do not want to constrict opportunities; we want to expand them.
In spite of the Trump Administration's attempts to sabotage it, I
hope this legislation will pass with the kind of strong bipartisan
support it deserves.
I urge all my colleagues to join me in voting for a bill that will
give all of our people faith that Washington is united in our
determination to help them get through this crisis and build back
better in the future.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson).
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished
Republican leader of our Education and Labor Committee for yielding and
for her service.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 8294, the National
Apprenticeship Act of 2020.
Originally passed in 1937, the National Apprenticeship Act
established the registered apprenticeship system that we have come to
know.
For more than 80 years, this system has provided many Americans with
opportunities to learn tangible skills they need for high-wage, high-
skill, and in-demand jobs that will lead to fulfilling careers.
Most recently, we have seen interest for apprenticeships surge as
more employees and small businesses are recognizing the critical role
that they play in the development of a skilled workforce.
This law is in desperate need of reforms that will both strengthen
and expand this traditional system while empowering employers and
others to pursue work-based learning innovation.
As co-chair of the bipartisan Career and Technical Education Caucus,
I have always supported, and will continue to support, legislation that
promotes skills-based education for a 21st century economy.
With that being said, we must acknowledge that the registered
apprenticeship system created during the Great Depression will never be
suitable by itself for a modern workforce.
And on this point, this bill ignores the needs of our workers and our
economy now in the 21st century.
The Trump administration has taken tremendous steps to grow the
number of high quality apprenticeships and modernize work-based
learning programs, especially through the Department of Labor's
Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs, or IRAPS.
This program is aimed to help foster continued innovation that
recognizes the dignity of all work and provides another tool for
apprentices to move into meaningful work in our rapidly evolving
economy.
Mr. Speaker, there is room for an all-of-the-above approach that both
improves the registered system while also allowing for future
innovation and other earn-and-learn models.
However, this legislation does not change the current status quo.
For that reason, I must urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.
We must craft a bipartisan bill that encourages employers to innovate
and develop apprenticeship programs that meet the needs of the current
workplace.
Employers are struggling enough with the challenges presented by
COVID-19. The last thing they need is additional red tape and tenuous
requirements.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis), chair of the Subcommittee on
Higher Education and Workforce Investment and the lead sponsor of the
legislation we are considering today.
Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Scott for
yielding and for being a strong partner over the years in recognizing
the importance of investing in America's workforce development.
While we look to the robust apprenticeship systems of Switzerland,
the U.K. and other countries, we know that the United States has the
potential to have our own unique, highly effective environment for a
mentor-led workforce. And today we can put resources behind our need to
match employers addressing community needs with our constituents who
seek skills and education.
At a time when many workers have been forced to look for new pathways
to financial stability, we have a responsibility as Members of Congress
to expand employment opportunities that provide meaningful work and
family-supporting wages.
The legislation under consideration today will do just that.
We have had many conversations in our Education and Labor Committee
about providing high quality educational pathways, and I appreciate the
work of the ranking member on that
[[Page H5968]]
regard. And we have spent much time together talking about this issue.
But I want to go on to pinpoint those issues that have to be
included. The educational pathways that we know do not require a 4-year
college degree that allow people to earn while they learn. Makes sense.
And provide nationally portable and recognized credentials.
We have tirelessly worked for months with our Republican colleagues
to make sure this legislation achieves these goals.
This past March, just before the world changed as we know it, we made
public a draft of this legislation that was open for feedback. We were
able to incorporate comments from over 20 groups and stakeholders. And
this legislation also incorporated feedback from the bipartisan
hearings and round tables we had with employers and apprenticeship
stakeholders.
One of the legislation's primary goals is to ensure that people
across the country are speaking the same language regarding
apprenticeships.
It is designed to demonstrate that apprenticeships are an equal,
high-quality, post-secondary, prestigious alternative to the
traditional 2- or 4-year college degrees.
Of great interest, this bill codifies youth apprenticeships as
opportunities that prepare high school students for post-secondary
education, much like advanced placement classes.
We have already seen how a small investment from the Federal
Government results in enormous returns. In 2017, the insurance company
Aon started their business in Chicago with only two employees and 25
apprentices. Now, they have over 50 employees and over 750 apprentices
all across the country. In fact, they have announced the expansion of
their Chicago apprenticeship network to cities and employers across the
country who are following their lead in looking at registered
apprenticeship credentials as alternatives to a 4-year degree.
{time} 1530
But here is the key. As the CEO of AON himself stated: ``The biggest
obstacle to success at scale is not in finding a qualified supply of
talent, it is incenting employers to create the demand for quality,
career-track jobs that look beyond traditional hiring practices,''
which is precisely what this bill sets out to do.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from AON's CEO Greg
Case highlighting their and other employers' excitement about the
expansion of the registered apprenticeship system and demonstrating how
many firms have not only not been hindered by the current registered
system, but rather are enormous beneficiaries of it.
Aon,
Chicago, IL, November 16, 2020.
Hon. Robert C. ``Bobby'' Scott,
Chairman, House Committee on Education and Labor, Washington,
DC.
Dear Chairman Scott: Thank you for your leadership and
support in the effort to grow apprenticeship programs across
the country. Our employees are the foundation of our company
and young people across the country are the future of our
workforce. Finding a way to both create opportunity and by
doing so, reach the best talent, is a challenge we can all
embrace. We are very proud that the apprentice model we
created in Chicago in 2017 with two employers and 25
apprentices has grown to 43 employers and over 750
apprentices--it proves that talent plus opportunity equals
success.
Because of the success of the Chicago Apprentice Network
and the positive impact this talent strategy has had for our
firm, Aon announced yesterday that we will be expanding our
Apprenticeship commitment to seven cities across the United
States supported by an investment of $30 million over the
next five years.
Aon will initiate the Apprenticeship program expansion next
year in the metropolitan areas of Chicago, Houston,
Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and
Washington, D.C. Along with this expansion, Aon will lead the
development of a nationwide network of employers to create
10,000 new apprenticeships across the United States by 2030.
This development of apprenticeships in the office and
corporate sector allows a model that has been successful in
the trades--earning while you learn--to expand to fast
growing areas of the economy. And like other successful
apprenticeship programs, ours are and will continue to be,
registered with the Department of Labor to ensure quality of
both training and work.
We live in a world of rapid change and increased volatility
in the economy and the job market. In building the workforce
of the future, the biggest obstacle to success at scale is
not in finding a qualified supply of talent, it is incenting
employers to create the demand for quality, career track jobs
that look beyond traditional hiring practices. By creating a
working model that has grown across industries, we can show
others the path to success in creating apprentice programs in
the corporate sector.
Aon's apprenticeship program has brought so many talented
colleagues to our firm and we know it has tremendous
potential to create similar opportunities and professional
networks for both apprentices and participating employers
across the United States.
We thank you again for your efforts and stand ready to
assist in the expansion of our model to communities across
the United States as we create the workforce of the future.
Best,
Greg Case.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to
the gentlewoman.
Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Scott for yielding
me the additional time.
We all talk a good game in wanting to build this economy and build
opportunities for our constituents who do not want to pursue a 4-year
degree, but we haven't put financial muscle and know-how behind
creating these valued credentials that employees seek.
In closing, I want to make one point, that this legislation only
codifies the standards for programs that have registered for access to
the credentials and funding provided for in this bill. Unregistered
workforce programs that do not want access to this bill's resources
will not need to change their programs.
We are simply strengthening the known registered apprenticeship
system that is in place today with more clearly established programs.
Families can sit down at the kitchen table, discuss their futures, and
look to the rejuvenated registered apprenticeship system as one of many
high-quality pathways to post-secondary education.
Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I want to compliment the
gentlewoman from California (Congresswoman Davis) for her work on this
bill and her career in Congress. We all respect her. And I earnestly
wish we could have come up with a bipartisan bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania
(Mr. Smucker).
Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding.
And I agree. I wish we could have come here with a bill that we all can
agree upon. Unfortunately, instead, I have to say I oppose the bill
that we are discussing today.
This is particularly important because, over the past few months, we
see the impact that the pandemic has had on our workforce. All of us
standing here today are fortunate to be in positions where we can learn
to do our jobs differently. We can do them differently whether it is
remotely, or we can implement new safety measures, or some combination
of the two.
But there are millions of Americans who don't get that opportunity to
work remotely. Instead, they have lost their jobs.
We all know that the workforce will not look the same once this
public health emergency is over. So it is more imperative than ever
that we take actions to help job-displaced individuals learn new skill
sets to be competitive and to fit these new jobs that will be
available.
Expanding apprenticeships is one tool to help accomplish that goal.
The bill before us today presented a real opportunity for Congress to
make smart reforms to our apprenticeship system when it is needed most,
but unfortunately, H.R. 8294 comes up short in achieving this.
Now, I will say as well that throughout my past 2 years serving as
the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and
Workforce Investment, I have enjoyed working alongside Chairwoman
Davis.
As we looked at other models, we studied both U.S. models and
international models of apprenticeship as well. We held hearings and
received testimony from officials from countries like Switzerland,
Australia, Germany, and Belgium.
What struck us most was that each of those nations has
apprenticeships in nearly every single industry, not just a few like we
have here in the U.S. From banking to positions in the healthcare
[[Page H5969]]
industry, these nations have managed to find a structure, a system that
can respond to labor market demands while preparing the next generation
with valuable skill sets.
While we do agree in a bipartisan fashion that these are models that
we could learn from as we reauthorize our own system, my colleagues on
the other side of the aisle have chosen to steamroll over proposals for
flexibility and double down on a registered system that places much of
the decisionmaking authority into the hands of labor unions.
The majority leader was correct when he said just a little while ago
on the floor that that is the fundamental difference of the two sides
on this bill.
This bill as written strips the Department of Labor's authority to
pursue more flexible partnerships for work-based learning models. This
legislation would prevent the Department from moving forward with the
Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs, or IRAPs.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30
seconds to the gentleman.
Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, even though IRAPs are in the early stages,
we are already seeing many new stakeholders getting involved. The
program is showing tremendous promise, and we are finally starting to
grow apprenticeship programs in industries that have never used them
before.
We believe in allowing businesses to make the decisions they believe
are best for their employees to learn the skills that they need. That
is the fundamental difference in the approach to apprenticeship.
I will be offering an amendment that will allow the law to reach the
full potential of apprenticeships to help fill in-demand jobs by
addressing some of these issues.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Adams), the chair of the
Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr.
Scott), our distinguished Education and Labor Committee chair, as well
as the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment chair,
Mrs. Davis, for this bill and for all of their support.
I rise today in strong support of the National Apprenticeship
Reauthorization Act. By creating 1 million new apprenticeship
opportunities and yielding over $10 billion in net benefits, this
legislation is a lifeline for our economy and for countless Americans,
including those in my home State of North Carolina.
With a proven track record of success, we know this is a safe and
smart investment.
I am also pleased that this legislation includes my bill, the
Apprenticeship Access for All Act. This language will advance programs
that promote the recruitment, employment, and retention of people of
color, individuals with disabilities, and individuals facing barriers
to employment, especially in high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand
sectors and occupations. After all, we must be sure that everyone has
access to opportunity.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds
to the gentlewoman.
Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, to my colleagues, especially those on the
other side of the aisle, I want to be clear about what we are voting to
do here.
We are voting to ensure our workforce gets the investment it needs
and the support it deserves. We are voting to show the American people
that they are seen, that they are heard, and that we care deeply about
providing them pathways to a stable future. And we are voting to uphold
Congress' commitment and obligation to serve every American.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).
Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to, with the other people,
say it was very enjoyable working with Congresswoman Davis. I wish she
would have given me a chance before she made a decision to try to
convince her to stay here because we are going to miss her.
Apprenticeships are very important. We have a good apprenticeship
program in Wisconsin. We are told that, right now, people who complete
both the work and classroom requirements of the apprenticeship program
have a median income of $80,000. That shows the importance of having a
bill like this brought to the floor. And I will tell you, it is not
only an $80,000 salary but, I am sure, a much lower debt load than many
people who use a 4-year degree.
I think it is important for everybody in this Chamber to continue to
emphasize to young people the pathway to a career through
apprenticeships, which probably results in more job security, more
income, and less debt than other things.
It is with great regret I am going to vote against this bill today.
I do believe that there is such a high demand for what I call skills-
based education that it is important we open up alternative avenues to
apprenticeships.
We have talked today about a need to recognize the apprenticeship
programs. That is certainly one way. It is unfortunate that didn't make
it in this bill. I know a lot of effort was made to make this a
bipartisan bill, and maybe we can come back in the appropriations
process or something and somehow make a few tweaks in there to make it
something that would be more bipartisan.
But I am glad the bill is coming this far. It provides us all an
opportunity to go back home in our districts and bring it up to young
people and tell them about the benefits of apprenticeships and that you
are missing something big-time if you don't take advantage of it.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Norcross), a graduate of a registered
apprenticeship program himself and a member of the Committee on
Education and Labor.
Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the importance
of the National Apprenticeship Reauthorization Act.
Personally, Mr. Speaker, I want to say thank you to Susan Davis and,
certainly, Chairman Scott for putting this bill up. I am thankful that
so many of the priorities are included in this, ones that I have spoken
so highly of.
Last week was National Apprenticeship Week. As many may know,
registered apprenticeship programs have literally shaped my life. While
my three brothers went to college, I went to the other 4-year school. I
did an IBEW apprenticeship program to become an electrician.
``Learn while you earn'' was my life. I understood that, that you
could take the knowledge that you learn at night at school in the books
and take it right to the job. That is the heart of what an
apprenticeship program is.
I supported my young family. I was able to continue that. I literally
went from the construction site to Congress.
Education is not one-size-fits-all. We hear that. For many, they
don't know if they want to go to college, build the college, or defend
the college. We need all of those, and that is how important it is.
The registered apprenticeship system is the most successful Federal
workforce training program in the history of the United States. Ninety-
four percent of those people will have a job, when they complete their
apprenticeship, with a starting wage average of $70,000. It works.
But it is more than just a paycheck. It is about the dignity of a
job, the respect that comes with that.
In our country, there are so many ways that you can succeed. Whether
you are an apprentice in the shipyard, a medical tech, a Ph.D. from
Harvard, they are all the same in terms of value to this great country.
We need all of them.
The National Apprenticeship Act invests $3.5 billion in a proven,
successful system that has created over 1 million new opportunities.
But how important the standards are, particularly in the world that I
come from.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds
to the gentleman.
Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Speaker, why standards are so important is because
[[Page H5970]]
when storms hit our coast, electricians, linemen, come from around the
country to put that system back together. Could you imagine if they all
had their own program?
This is why standards count, particularly in the building trades,
because when there is not work in your hometown, you go to work in
another. We all work together, and that is why this is so important.
Since 1937, we haven't updated it. But just because it is old doesn't
mean it is not good.
It is handed down through generations. This is how we have trained
and given the next generation a proven, successful model.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the North
America's Building Trades Unions that talks about the importance of
what we are talking about today.
North America's
Building Trades Unions,
Washington, DC, November 18, 2020.
Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
Speaker, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Kevin McCarthy,
Republican Leader,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader McCarthy: On behalf of the
over 3 million skilled craft professionals that comprise
North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU), I write in
support of H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of
2020.
I first would like to commend the work of the House
Committee on Education and Labor for their diligent efforts
to maintain the integrity of the Registered Apprenticeship
system and for their willingness to engage us on this bill,
which reauthorizes the foundational law on which our
apprenticeship programs are built. In the eighty-three years
since the Registered Apprenticeship system was created, our
nation, the economy, our industry and technology have
drastically changed. What has not changed is the need to
forever protect and enshrine the rights of those individuals
who enter an apprenticeship program, and H.R. 8294 continues
to protect the safety, well-being, and economic trajectory of
the apprentice.
More than two-thirds of all civilian registered apprentices
in the United States are trained in the construction
industry. Among these construction apprentices, seventy-five
percent receive their training at one of the 1,600 privately
funded training centers which are jointly administered by
construction contractors and building trades unions.
Investing over $1.6 billion in private capital annually in
our Registered Apprenticeship programs, the affiliated unions
of NABTU provide a debt-free ladder of opportunity to those
who seek a career in the construction industry. Our joint
labor-management programs have long been considered the gold
standard of the Registered Apprenticeship system.
The National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 protects many of
the hallmarks of the current system. This bill protects the
progressive wage scale for apprentices, which is often a
target of those in our industry who seek to put profits above
the well-being and economic security of the people they
employ. This bill protects the time-based model of
apprenticeship training that our programs have effectively
utilized for decades, while providing flexibility for new
industries that wish to enter the Registered Apprenticeship
system. This bill also protects apprentices by codifying
regulations that recognize collective bargaining agreements
contain exceptionally strong apprentice-to-journeyworker
ratios that not only ensure on-going, targeted instruction,
but also the level of supervision apprentices need to
guarantee their safety.
H.R. 8294 also makes some very important changes to the
Registered Apprenticeship program that NABTU has long fought
for. For the first time, there will be concrete standards
associated with pre-apprenticeship programs, which have
exponentially grown over the last several years as we
continue to work with our industry partners to increase the
diversity of apprenticeship candidates by recruiting women,
people of color and veterans. No longer can unscrupulous
contractors prop up pre-apprenticeship programs without
having clear and defined pathways into a Registered
Apprenticeship program.
Furthermore, H.R. 8294 codifies the Office of
Apprenticeship, with established funding streams to ensure
the necessary oversight of the program and expand technical
assistance that will grow Registered Apprenticeship
opportunities in new sectors. This bill strengthens the
National Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship, ensuring that
practitioners of Registered Apprenticeship, both industry and
labor, are given a voice to offer recommendations to further
strengthen the program.
While there are other avenues one may take to be trained in
the construction crafts, for generations, the safest, most
highly-skilled and productive construction craft workers in
the world have received their training through the Registered
Apprenticeship system. H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship
Act of 2020, will ensure the Registered Apprenticeship system
not only remains the gold standard in workforce training in
the construction industry, but that it is accessible for all
industries that seek a productive and highly-skilled
workforce. I urge swift passage of this bill, and look
forward to working with you to strengthen economic
opportunities in every community, both large and small,
across our great nation.
Sincerely,
Sean McGarvey,
President.
Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the
National Apprenticeship Reauthorization Act so we can make sure we put
America back to work.
{time} 1545
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen).
Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R.
8294. I, too, come from the construction industry, which I learned from
the ground up, and I know firsthand how apprenticeships provide our
workforce with a unique opportunity to gain valuable skills that are
needed to secure a good-paying job and a long-lasting career.
The reason apprenticeships are so successful is because employers
know exactly what skills are in demand. That is why we must encourage
more employer-led innovation in the apprenticeship space.
This legislation denies workers and employers autonomy to create
programs that are responsive to workforce needs. This shortsighted bill
would undo the Department of Labor's industry-recognized apprenticeship
programs created under President Trump. This program provides companies
an alternative avenue to train skilled workers and develop
apprenticeship programs for their specific industry needs.
This year has already been tough on our employers with COVID-19,
devastating businesses across the country, and the last thing we need
is to impose more bureaucratic red tape and requirements.
I am disappointed that my Democrat colleagues are pushing a plan that
would put these job-filling programs in jeopardy and prevent more
workers from accessing these opportunities.
I believe that this is a space for bipartisanship, and I urge my
colleagues to oppose this flawed approach and work with us to encourage
innovation and flexibility.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, could you advise us how much time
is remaining on both sides.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Virginia has 16\1/2\
minutes remaining. The gentlewoman from North Carolina has 12\1/2\
minutes remaining.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Hayes), a member of the Committee on
Education and Labor.
Mrs. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the National
Apprenticeship Act of 2020.
My State of Connecticut was still recovering from the 2008 recession,
and now COVID-19 has again thrown it into dire economic straits.
With businesses shuttered from prolonged economic pause, nearly
200,000 Connecticut residents are now forced into unemployment. If we
say we agree on this, then now is the time to create pathways to high-
wage employment with long-term prospects. While a 4-year degree is a
great opportunity for many, it cannot be the only option.
I include in the Record a letter in support of the National
Apprenticeship Act from the National Education Association.
National Education Association,
Washington, DC, November 18, 2020.
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Representative: On behalf of our 3 million members,
who prepare students across America to pursue fulfilling
careers that support their families and communities, we urge
you to vote YES on the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020
(H.R. 8294). Votes on this issue may be included in the NEA
Report Card for the 116th Congress.
Apprenticeship programs are a key part of the education
landscape, yet the National Apprenticeship Act has not been
significantly updated in the nearly 80 years since it was
signed into law. H.R. 8294 recognizes that programs offering
on-the-job training and mentoring pave the way to successful
careers, and helps bring these programs into the 21st
century. The legislation is particularly timely given rising
joblessness and financial insecurity stemming from the COVID-
19 pandemic.
[[Page H5971]]
The National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 would:
Create the Office of Apprenticeship in the U.S. Department
of Labor, with responsibilities including supporting
development of apprenticeship models, providing technical
assistance to state agencies, updating requirements for each
occupation in the program, and determining whether to approve
new occupations for the program;
Codify provisions implemented over the years regarding
registered apprenticeship programs and expand the programs to
new industries;
Amend the existing law to include pre-apprenticeships and
youth apprenticeships; and
Authorize annual grants ranging from $400 million to $800
million to expand apprenticeship programs and encourage
employer participation in them.
The National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 recognizes the
value of apprenticeships in supporting the dreams and
ambitions of students of all ages and preparing them for
high-wage careers. We urge you to vote YES on H.R. 8294.
Sincerely,
Marc Egan,
Director of Government Relations,
National Education Association.
Mrs. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, the National Apprenticeship Act ensures that
today's workforce can fill the jobs of tomorrow by creating 1 million
apprenticeship opportunities over the next 5 years.
With an average starting salary, after completion, of around $70,000,
registered apprenticeships create the opportunity to attain critical
training while earning an income and incurring little to no student
debt. Apprenticeships also ensure businesses can fill key vacancies
with credentialed, skilled employees--in short, putting people back to
work.
The National Apprenticeship Act will invest in Connecticut workers
and our country's workers and businesses at a time when we need it
most. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to
the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Keller).
Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 8294, the
National Apprenticeship Act of 2020.
Apprenticeship programs are a tremendous benefit to our economy. They
provide a diverse range of opportunities for emerging workers to hone
and develop specific skills while providing competitive salaries that
strengthen our economy.
I agree with my colleagues that the National Apprenticeship Act needs
to be updated and reauthorized; however, Congress needs to ensure that
changes to this act accurately reflect the needs and challenges of the
current economy and the modern workforce.
H.R. 8294 fails to address and expand work-based learning programs
beyond the traditional registered model. Now, more than ever, we need
an apprenticeship system that provides tools and opportunities for
workers to succeed and will encourage our small- and medium-sized
businesses to participate.
The existing apprenticeship system is severely outdated and is
unresponsive to the needs and challenges of a dynamic workforce. The
current administration has addressed these needs by creating the
Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program, commonly referred to as
IRAP.
Twenty-five years working in private industry taught me that no one
knows the needs of workers more than America's employers. It is time
that we allow these job creators to participate in a system that is
reflective of their needs and the needs of the workforce. Doing so will
open greater pathways to work for current workers and job seekers and
ultimately get more Americans back to work.
In addition to these concerns, I must convey my strong opposition to
the amendment offered by Representative Levin. The amendment
essentially restricts nonunion entities from being able to apply for
funding under title II, allowing taxpayer dollars to go to
apprenticeship programs that partner only with unions.
At best, it is signaling that Congress would rather double down on a
union-registered model for large employers rather than expanding to new
participants for America's small business. This is an attempt to
elevate the wants of unions over the needs of the American worker.
Voting for H.R. 8294 in its current form supports outdated policies
and bureaucratic red tape that too often prevents innovation and needed
change.
Most importantly, this bill would actively prevent IRAPs from moving
forward, decimating thousands of opportunities for workers to
participate in a dynamic and innovative apprenticeship system. This is
why we should not support this bill in its current form.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Suozzi).
Mr. SUOZZI. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Scott for yielding.
I rise in support of the National Apprenticeship Act.
Since the late 1980s, the Dow Jones has gone up 1,400 percent; GDP
has gone up 600 percent; enormous wealth has been created; yet workers'
wages during the same period of time have gone up only 20 percent or
less. Hardworking men and women have been left behind.
Everyone in America believes, from the most conservative to the most
progressive, that if you are willing to go to work every day, you
should make enough money so you can have a decent place to live, you
can have health insurance, you can educate your children, and you can
retire one day without being scared.
Unfortunately, that American Dream is no longer a reality for many
Americans. The National Apprenticeship Act says learn while you earn,
because we all know, the more you learn, the more you earn. Yet 60
percent of Americans do not attend college or do not graduate from
college.
We must return to honoring the dignity of work. We must make the
skills necessary to be a welder or a plumber or a computer machinist or
any skilled worker widely available to any high school student or
graduate so that they can pursue noncollege opportunities like
apprenticeship programs. There they can acquire the skills necessary to
do the jobs that pay the wages necessary to live a decent life. The
National Apprenticeship Act does just that. It is the key to the middle
class.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, our bench on the Republican
side is very strong, and it is especially strong because of the
Representatives from Pennsylvania.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania
(Mr. Meuser).
Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the incredible gentlewoman from
North Carolina for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, in the last 10 years, the number of Americans entering
apprenticeship programs has more than doubled--a success. The demand
among employers and workers in a variety of industries is an
endorsement of the apprenticeship model's promise to close the skills
gap and provide opportunities to millions of Americans--a great thing.
The legislation we are considering today, however, would shut down
efforts to expand apprenticeships and make the existing 80-year-old
registered apprenticeship program and system the only option.
Talking to job creators in my district, which I do extensively, I
have heard firsthand the needs for talented, new workers and their
challenges with the cumbersome apprenticeship system that limits
employer-led innovation for union and nonunion employment.
The registered apprenticeship system is not the gold standard; it is
the old standard. American workers and employers need a system as
innovative and dynamic as our current American economy.
Republicans offered an all-of-the-above approach that improves the
registered apprenticeship system and promotes flexibilities to
strengthen our workforce, particularly in manufacturing and
construction, and would allow the apprenticeship model to be applied
across all new industries such as tech, healthcare, logistics, and
energy--particularly, Mr. Speaker, as we strive to fortify U.S.
manufacturers and rebuild our infrastructure and repatriatize
manufacturers from around the world, including China.
We should not insist on ratio standards, but we should set very high
gold standards. So we should focus on baking pies, not cutting them up.
The economy workforce has evolved over the past 80 years. Our laws
should, too. I urge a ``no'' vote on this bill.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), a senior member of the Committee on
Appropriations.
[[Page H5972]]
Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 8294, the
National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, and thank the gentleman for his
enormous leadership, as well as Chairwoman Susan Davis.
This legislation takes real meaningful steps to increase access to
registered apprenticeships, one of the most successful workforce
development programs we have ever had in our country, where 94 percent
of people who complete them actually earn an average salary of over
$70,000 a year.
As Representative of the cities of Toledo, Lorain, and Cleveland, all
of which boast a strong industrial and automotive heritage, it is
difficult to overemphasize the value that these apprenticeships have
for young people and adults starting careers in the industrial and
automotive trades.
Whether it is the expertise it takes to rebuild an engine or build it
to begin with, replace a battery in a hybrid vehicle or TIG weld the
rear quarter of an old Wagoneer, there will always be a market for
skilled craftspeople who can repair or restore modern and classic
vehicles. It is these curious minds and hands that are America's
inventors of the future for new power systems and new engines.
This legislation is estimated to create over 1 million apprenticeship
opportunities over the next 5 years and will strengthen our workforce,
ensuring businesses large and small can recruit the skilled workers
they need.
I include in the Record a letter from the National Task Force on
Tradeswomen's Issues that supports this legislation.
National Task Force
on Tradeswomen's Issues,
November 18, 2020.
Re H.R. 8294 Letter of Support, NAA Reauthorization.
To: Committee on Education and Labor
Chairperson Robert C. ``Bobby'' Scott
Attention: Katherine McClelland.
The National Taskforce on Tradeswomen's Issues (TWTF) is a
coalition of tradeswomen organizations, advocates, allies and
individual tradeswomen. TWTF promotes public policies and
best practices towards equity in apprenticeship, training,
workforce development, career and technical education, and in
workplace experience in construction and other nontraditional
occupations for women. Women make up close to 50% of the
nation's workforce. Women occupy 2/3's of the minimum wage
jobs in this country. Yet, women comprise only 7% of our
nation's apprenticeship programs. Apprenticeship is a
critical component of our efforts to increase economic
opportunity for women, particularly women of color, in blue-
collar occupations.
TWTF very much appreciates the interest of the House of
Representatives Education & Labor Committee and its Higher
Education & Workforce Investment Subcommittee in
reauthorizing the National Apprenticeship Act in a way that
best protects apprentices and enhances their opportunities
for meaningful, well-compensated careers. TWTF is grateful
for the careful attention that the National Apprenticeship
Act of 2020, H.R. 8294, pays to ensuring that women and
people of color--populations that have historically been too
often unfairly denied opportunities because of their gender,
race, or ethnicity--can gain access to and retain high-skill,
high-wage jobs through registered apprenticeships, pre-
apprenticeships, and youth apprenticeships. Finally, we are
very appreciative of the open and consultative process that
you and your staff have engaged in to get public input as you
developed this bill, including allowing us to submit detailed
comments on a publicly available discussion draft, and your
staff's willingness to respond to questions and concerns on
an on-going basis. H.R. 8294 could well be a key piece to
remedy the enduring skills and pay gap as we move beyond the
``She-cession.''
TWTF is pleased to support H.R. 8294. In particular, we
support the bill's incorporation of nondiscrimination and
affirmative action standards for apprenticeship programs
currently codified in 29 CFR part 30; the requirement that
funded entities devote a minimum of 5 percent of grant funds
to direct financial assistance to apprentices, pre-
apprentices, or youth apprentices for supportive services;
and the significant investments that the bill makes in
registered apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and youth
apprenticeship programs and technical assistance to make
progress on equity and inclusion for women and people of
color. We look forward to continuing to work with your staff
to accommodate remaining concerns as the legislation moves
forward in the next Congress.
Respectfully,
Connie Ashbrook,
Leah Rambo,
TWTF Co-Chairs.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Byrne), who has been an extremely valuable
member of this committee, and we will miss him in the next term.
Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 8294, the
National Apprenticeship Act of 2020.
The original National Apprenticeship Act was passed in 1937 and is
now over 80 years old. There is no doubt that Congress should update
the Apprenticeship Act; however, the legislation being considered today
will harm apprenticeships rather than aid workforce development.
H.R. 8294 removes the Department of Labor's ability to administer
industry-recognized apprenticeship programs, making only DOL-registered
programs available. While DOL-approved programs work for many
employers, one-size-fits-all solutions don't work for many industries
and are simply not the answer.
Industry-recognized apprenticeship programs are developed by third-
party groups that are recognized by the Department of Labor. They are
held to high standards to ensure apprentices are receiving the training
that they need.
IRAPs have already proven to be successful in helping to expand
access to apprenticeships. Somebody argued that IRAPs are harmful
because they think it might limit involvement in union-sponsored
apprenticeships. What these individuals do not think about are the
areas of the country like mine where union-sponsored apprenticeships do
not exist or are extremely limited. My home district has none.
Not only does this legislation try to force one-size-fits-all
programs on to apprentices and employers while favoring unions, it also
drastically increases the amount of bureaucratic red tape placed on
States and program sponsors.
Apprenticeship programs are fantastic options for individuals to gain
skills and find well-paying jobs and for businesses to grow and expand
their workforce. Especially in a year that has greatly affected our
workers, we should not pass legislation that threatens to reduce access
to workforce development or makes it more difficult to run or establish
an apprenticeship program. I urge a ``no'' vote.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Wild), a member of the Education and
Labor Committee.
Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter dated
November 17, 2020, from the International Union of Operating Engineers
in support of this bill, addressed to the Honorable Robert C. Scott,
chair of the Committee on Education and Labor.
International Union of
Operating Engineers,
Washington, DC, November 17, 2020.
Hon. Robert C. Scott,
Chair, Committee on Education and Labor,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Scott: The International Union of Operating
Engineers supports H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act
of 2020, and we appreciate your work to strengthen and expand
opportunities in America's most successful training model for
blue-collar workers: apprenticeship.
The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE)
represents 400,000 operating and stationary engineers who
build the transportation, water systems, and energy networks
that comprise the nation's core infrastructure. In
partnership with construction contractors and employers of
stationary engineers, the IUOE dedicates resources to develop
and implement nearly 100 registered apprenticeship programs.
The programs possess over 550 instructors. and they train
tens of thousands of apprentices and journey-level workers
every year. This focus on training is reflected in the
safety, skills. and productivity of members of the Operating
Engineers. Labor-management apprenticeship program of the
IUOE and our employers are widely recognized as the gold
standard of our industries and our occupations.
Since the National Apprenticeship Act was first authorized
in 1937, the Registered Apprenticeship system has served as a
model for delivering industry-driven training in the
construction sector and beyond. According to the Department
of Labor, 94 percent of apprentices who complete Registered
Apprenticeships are employed upon completion, earning an
average starting wage of above $70,000 annually. Apprentice
wages are connected to experience, skill development, and
productivity. The increase annually and include benefits like
health insurance and a pension plan. The Registered
Apprenticeship system remains a highly successful path for
thousands of workers, providing a stable and predictable
career path with economic security.
H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 expands
the limited framework of the existing Registered
Apprenticeship program to reinforce quality standards that
safeguard the welfare of apprentices. The legislation
codifies and streamlines the existing regulations and
includes important reporting and
[[Page H5973]]
evaluation requirements to guarantee program effectiveness
and accountability. The legislation strengthens the
connections to the career ladder for apprentices, more
closely linking pre-apprenticeship and youth apprenticeship
programs with the system of registered apprenticeship. The
enhanced technical assistance in the legislation will help
expand Registered Apprenticeship opportunities into new
sectors. That technical assistance will also support more
opportunities to improve diversity, bringing more women,
people of color, and veterans into the system of
apprenticeship.
The value of this proven on-the-job training model is even
more evident today as we navigate the unprecedented
challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The response
to this extraordinary crisis will require extensive public
investment to rebuild America's infrastructure and its
workforce. The National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 provides
historic investments in workforce training, laying the
foundation for economic recovery and preparing the skilled
and qualified workforce to rebuild our country. While the
nation continues to experience staggering levels of
unemployment, the reauthorization of the National
Apprenticeship Act, will expand job opportunities and
increase access to high-paying careers for millions of hard-
working Americans.
The International Union of Operating Engineers proudly
endorses H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020,
and we look forward to working with you to enact it into law
during this session of Congress.
Sincerely,
James T. Callahan,
General President.
Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the National
Apprenticeship Act of 2020.
COVID-19 has exposed shortcomings in our workforce infrastructure,
but those shortcomings are the result of a long history of making only
marginal investments in our national apprenticeship model. It seems we
are always reacting to crisis rather than planning in advance.
In response to the Great Recession of 2008, Congress invested
significant funding in our workforce systems. In this Congress, we made
investments through the CARES Act, but only as this COVID crisis
spiraled.
{time} 1600
It should not take a recession or a pandemic to invest in workers in
communities like mine. Lehigh, Northampton, and Monroe Counties are
replete with potential, but it is critical that we invest in times of
prosperity, too. For every dollar invested in our registered
apprenticeship program, we see a return of $28 in benefits, but the
U.S. invests just $195 in public money per apprentice while a system
like Canada spends $1,300 per apprentice.
This bill would reset our approach. It makes long-term investments
regardless of our economic fortunes or misfortunes. It provides grants
for employers to incentivize the hiring of apprentices. At the same
time, it provides workers with the opportunity to earn while they learn
and obtain portable credentials without incurring significant debt.
This bill emphasizes the importance of apprenticeship programs' high-
need social service occupations, like apprenticeship programs for early
childhood educators, something Congressman Guthrie and I have sought to
do with our Early Educators Apprenticeship Act.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Representative Susan Davis, for her
leadership on this bill, and I urge a ``yes'' vote.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume
Mr. Speaker, others have spoken to this bill being a gift to the
unions this afternoon. It is no surprise that the Democrats want to pay
favor to the union bosses who line their pockets. Their end goal must
be what all socialist countries have in common: control of the
workforce through unions. After all, they have spent this Congress
pushing one socialist agenda after another.
The bill before us is just another example. Democrats' blatant
favoritism towards unions will block countless jobseekers from
receiving apprenticeship opportunities. America's workers and their
families will pay the price. This bill reinforces the idea that there
is only one way to do things--the government's way.
When will Democrats learn that the American people are not interested
in government-mandated socialist policies?
Once again, Democrats are choosing to bend to the will of Big Labor
instead of putting American workers first. It is shameful, Mr. Speaker,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia for
yielding and for his leadership, and I thank the gentlewoman from
California for her leadership.
Mr. Speaker, I rise with great enthusiasm to support this outstanding
legislation which is H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of
2020.
Mr. Speaker, 250,000 Americans have died from COVID-19. Today 720,000
Americans applied for unemployment insurance, and here we are today
recognizing the pain that America is experiencing, but more importantly
giving an opportunity for young Americans and others to be part of a
major apprenticeship program which invests more than $3.5 billion over
5 years in expanding opportunities and access to registered
apprenticeship, youth apprenticeship, and preapprenticeship.
I am glad to be an American. I am glad to be a union supporter, and
one of the reasons is that I look over the landscape of my mother's
work and my father's work, and I saw lives improve as unions gathered
together to ensure that Americans could have a decent living, support
their family, and provide opportunities for their children.
Here we are today investing $3.5 billion, but the return will be
$10.6 billion in net benefits to the United States taxpayers. I believe
that that is a real darn good return.
This legislation could not be more timely because of the record
unemployment and because of the pain America is experiencing. This
legislation also creates an additional 1 million new apprenticeship
opportunities.
Let me tell you what I did before I flew up here to Washington. I
visited Lone Star College--it hadn't opened yet--at the Fallbrook
campus. But they understood what apprenticeship is all about. They have
a logistics apprenticeship that is going to be part of their
educational system. That will give people the opportunity in this whole
new business of online selling and buying. Yes, it is innovative.
HCC apprenticeship program, Houston Community College, has electrical
contractors, plumbers, masonry, ironworkers, asbestos workers,
glaziers, painters, and stationary engineers. Let me tell you the real
picture that we see of this issue of helping with apprenticeship, Mr.
Speaker. These are the faces from all over our city.
And guess what?
According to the Houston Chronicle: ``Interested in a new career?
Consider an apprenticeship. Union-sponsored programs build skills,
careers.''
Mr. Speaker, I include that article in the Record.
[From the Houston Chronicle]
Interested in a New Career? Consider an Apprenticeship Union-Sponsored
Programs Build Skills, Careers.
Houston Community College is restoring an old high school
and converting it into college classrooms. And it's using
some of its own apprentices to do it.
San Jacinto Senior High was built in 1960, and the
community college is gutting it for new academic classrooms.
The project started about a year ago, and is scheduled to be
completed in October.
The eight apprentices--six plumbers and two pipe fitters--
are among the thousands of student workers in Houston who
spend their days doing construction and their nights hitting
the books. Houston's 11 union-sponsored programs, including
the plumbers and the pipe fitters, last for five years; other
programs, such as ironworkers and glaziers, last three years.
But once the newly minted journeymen and women graduate,
they should have great skills and--if the economy
cooperates--a great career path.
Chuck Fell, president of CFI Mechanical, which is
installing the plumbing, heating and air conditioning in the
new community college building, gave the group of apprentices
a pep talk last week at the job site.
``You are learning skills,'' Fell said to the plumbers and
pipe fitters who are spending their days assembling and
installing the massive piping systems and four hours a night,
two nights a week in school learning their craft.
Those skills can take you a long way, whether you opt to
stay working in the craft or move up to foreman,
superintendent or project manager, said Fell, who attributed
his own success and that of nearly all of his project
managers to their own apprenticeship training.
``You could be an owner of a company,'' said Fell, who
became a plumber/pipe fitter apprentice in Orlando, Fla.,
after graduating from college with a degree in architecture.
[[Page H5974]]
He went to work for a mechanical contractor who suggested
that to really learn the business, Fell needed to become an
apprentice.
As part of that training, Fell spent two years at Walt
Disney World's Epcot Center installing the mechanical and
plumbing systems.
``Set your sights high,'' Doug Posey, director of
apprenticeship programs for Houston Community College, told
the apprentices. ``The opportunities are just incredible to
excel and to do great things.''
Posey recalled how he put himself through college as a pipe
fitter apprentice. He started his apprenticeship immediately
after high school and eventually ended up with a degree in
mechanical engineering from the University of Houston.
While the concept of apprenticing yourself to a master
craftsman and learning a trade is centuries old, it's not
exactly a well-known career path today. But two apprentices
who are working on the CFI Mechanical project are glad they
discovered the old-fashioned way to learn a skill.
Jaime Moncivais, a third-year apprentice, said he would
never have heard about the program if it hadn't been for his
cousin and his uncle, who are foremen at the job site. He was
working for a small company for two years before he left to
join the program.
Moncivais is 23 and earns about $43,000 a year, plus health
insurance and retirement benefits, by working full time
during the day. After work two nights a week, he attends
class for four hours. That costs him $88 a semester.
``I'm enjoying it,'' said Moncivais, who says he's going to
get his state plumbing license before he decides what's next.
So does his fellow apprentice Rudy Flores, who said he was
drawn by the money. He estimates he earns about $50,000 a
year.
Flores, a fifth-year apprentice who has already received
his state plumbing license, found out about the
apprenticeship training program while working for a plumber
in Houston who was also a former apprentice.
He said he appreciates the intensive training of the
program that sets him and the other apprentices apart.
``We like to see institutions put their money where their
mouth is,'' said Richard Shaw, secretary-treasurer of the
Harris County AFL-CIO. ``It sends a message that you ought to
be training our students.''
Shaw has been critical of school districts and other
community colleges for not hiring their own graduates when
the schools need construction work.
Funding for the apprenticeship programs comes in part from
the state of Texas. But the bulk of the money comes from
contractors and union members.
For example, members of the plumbers union as well as
plumbing contractors each contribute 55 cents per work hour
for the training program.
HCC is the fiscal administrator of the union programs as
well as the two nonunion programs that train building
engineers and electrical workers.
Calvin Speight, business manager of Plumbers Local Union
No. 68, said he has 60 apprentices starting in the fall and
another 30 the following semester.
In the meantime, they're working as ``provisionals'' to see
if they like the job. Apprentices must be 18 years of age and
either have graduated from high school or have a general-
equivalency degree.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE. Then I would like to emphasize real-life activity
that comes about through the apprenticeship: HCC apprenticeship
students help build a new hospital.
Mr. Speaker, I don't think we are doing anything better today and
this week by providing for $3.5 billion in apprenticeship programs and
$10.6 billion in return to the United States. I ask my colleagues to
support this legislation and put Americans back to work.
Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Committees on the Judiciary,
on Homeland Security, on the Budget, and as a cosponsor, I rise in
strong support of H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020,
which invests more than $3.5 billion over 5 years in expanding
opportunities and access to Registered Apprenticeships, youth
apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeships.
I thank my colleague and good friend, Congresswoman Susan Davis of
California and Chairman Bobby Scott for introducing this important
legislation that has the potential to yield $10.6 billion in net
benefits to U.S. taxpayers in the form of increased workers'
productivity and deceased spending on public-assistance programs and
unemployment insurance and which bring America's investments in
apprenticeship more in line with countries around the world.
Mr. Speaker, the Registered Apprenticeship (RAs) system is America's
most successful federally authorized workforce development program.
According to the Department of Labor, 94 percent of people who
complete RAs are employed upon completion, earning an average starting
wage of above $7,000 annually.
Yet, according to the most recent data, only 0.3 percent of the
overall workforce in America have completed an apprenticeship.
Mr. Speaker, this legislation could not be more timely because during
a time of record unemployment, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020
invests more than $3.5 billion over 5 years in expanding opportunities
and access to Registered Apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and
pre-apprenticeships.
This legislation also creates an additional 1 million new
apprenticeship opportunities on top of the current expected growth of
the apprenticeship system, an investment that not only will pay off for
workers and employers, but also benefit the taxpayers.
Mr. Speaker, this legislation is critical to expanding the nation's
workforce development system during our country's deepest economic
downturn since the Great Depression.
Specifically, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 Authorizes $400
million for fiscal year (FY) 2021, increasing $100 million annually to
$800 million for FY 2025, to support the creation or expansion of
registered apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships and pre-
apprenticeships programs, including in non-traditional apprenticeship
occupations and for nontraditional populations.
This funding will also attract and encourage employer participation
and recruitment for individuals with barriers to employment, including
individuals impacted by the criminal justice system.
Additionally, to ensure that apprenticeship agreements and program
registration to ensure consistency in quality standards and worker
protections, H.R. 8294 codifies and streamlines standards for
registered apprenticeships, youth apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship
programs.
Also, codified are the existing regulations and practices to ensure
that all individuals have an equal opportunity to participate in
programs under the national apprenticeship system, and to increase
diversity in the occupations offered and the individuals participating
in programs, especially in high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand
industry sectors and occupations.
The legislation institutionalizes, and establishes by statute, the
Department of Labor's (DOL) Office of Apprenticeship, and vests it with
the following roles and responsibilities:
1. Increasing participation in programs under the national
apprenticeship system through technical assistance and program
recognition activities;
2. Bringing together industry sector leaders and experts, including
employers, industry associations, joint labor-management organizations,
labor organizations, education and training providers, credential
providers, and apprentices to establish national frameworks to expand
apprenticeships to new occupations and sectors; and
3. Improving the data infrastructure to improve reporting and
publicly disseminating information about apprenticeship programs.
Another strong feature of this legislation is that it codifies the
roles and responsibilities of the State Apprenticeship Agencies (SAAs)
by:
1. Authorizing annual funding for State Apprenticeship Offices and
SAAs at $75 million for fiscal year (FY) 2021, increasing by $10
million annually to reach $15 million for FY 2025, with one-third of
funds equally distributed to all States and outlying areas, and two-
thirds of funds distributed via formula to SAAs; and
2. Requiring SAAs to submit plans for registered apprenticeship
activities, which generally mirror existing state requirements under
the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and the Carl D. Perkins
Career and Technical Education Act.
My concluding reason for supporting this important legislation is
that it strengthens the connections between the Department of Education
and Department of Labor through an interagency agreement to support the
creation and expansion of youth apprenticeships, college consortiums,
and data sharing agreements.
I strongly support this legislation and urge all Members to join me
in voting for its passage.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, millions of workers will need reskilling due to
pandemic-related job loss and displacement.
The World Economic Forum discusses this issue at length in their
recent report titled: ``The Future of Jobs Report 2020.'' In the report
they point to a double disruption scenario impacting workers due to
both automation and COVID-19 workplace disruptions. This double
disruption is further reinforced in their findings that ``84 percent of
employers are set to rapidly digitalize working processes.''
The demand for reskilling workers is high, and we will be left
chasing the needs of our workforce with the current one-size-fits-all
approach this bill seeks to enshrine into law. As in-demand skills
evolve in the years to come, the skills gap will continue to
[[Page H5975]]
grow in the absence of forward-thinking reform.
I, again, urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to join
Republicans in creating new apprenticeship pathways through innovative
models such as the industry recognized apprenticeship model.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, could you advise how much time is
remaining on both sides.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Cuellar). The gentleman from Virginia
has 8\1/2\ minutes remaining. The gentlewoman from North Carolina has 3
minutes remaining.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman
from the Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan), who is the chairman of
the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary
Education.
Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8294.
For 83 years, the National Apprenticeship Act has helped local
economies grow by providing unprecedented career opportunities to young
people. However, the National Apprenticeship Act has not supported
apprenticeships in the Northern Mariana Islands and other insular
areas. That inequity changes today.
H.R. 8294 incorporates my bill, the Outlying Area Apprenticeship
Expansion Act, investing more than $11.2 million over 5 years to create
and expand apprenticeships to the insular areas. Our schools already
provide students with the skills employers seek. But we need to build
the connection between the classroom and real-world work.
Apprenticeships provide that link.
I thank Congresswoman Davis and Chairman Scott for their leadership
on apprenticeships and for working with me to include a technical fix
to fully include the insular areas in the act. With widespread
unemployment due to the coronavirus, we need to help people get to
work. H.R. 8294 will help accomplish that goal.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 8294. I am
going to miss Chairwoman Susan Davis as well.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, earlier we heard from our
colleagues that there is going to be a $3 return to the American people
for every tax dollar they give up to get this program funded in the
next 5 years. I want to tell you that I think the American people would
be happy to see that return.
Show me any Federal program that returns to hardworking taxpayers $3
for every dollar they pay in, and I will show you some swampland in New
Mexico.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Mrs. Trahan), who is a member of the
Committee on Education and Labor.
Mrs. TRAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer my strong support for the
National Apprenticeship Act of 2020.
Especially I would like to commend the bill's author, my friend,
Representative Susan Davis. It is due to her steadfast and visionary
leadership on the Higher Education and Workforce Development
Subcommittee that we are here today advancing this important and timely
legislation. This bill is an apt capstone on her remarkable legacy.
Registered apprenticeships are a tried and true system for preparing
our workforce for stable jobs that provide family sustaining wages and
benefits. I have seen firsthand how unions have put this tool to
excellent use over the years. In fact, just last year I visited the
Laborers' training facility in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, where young
apprentices are training for careers in construction. The Laborers
recognize the importance of this bill, which is why they have endorsed
it and urged its passage.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter.
LiUNA!,
Washington, DC, November 18, 2020.
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Representative: I write on behalf of the 500,000
hardworking men and women of the Laborers' International
Union of North America (LIUNA) to ask you to vote for H.R.
8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, when it comes
to the House floor for a vote this week. LIUNA is proud to
support this important bill to keep our union apprenticeship
programs strong.
Registered Apprenticeship Programs, like the ones that
LIUNA has had for decades, help workers earn while they
learn. H.R. 8294 invests more than $3.5 billion over five (5)
years in expanding opportunities and access to Registered
Apprenticeship Programs and Preapprenticeship Programs, among
others. The bill creates nearly a million new apprenticeship
opportunities on top of the current expected growth of the
apprenticeship system. It would also yield $10.6 billion in
net benefits to U.S. taxpayers in the form of increased
workers productivity and decreased spending on public
assistance programs and unemployment insurance. The rigorous
standards in the bill ensure that the programs that
apprentices will work in will be top-quality.
At a time when our nation's infrastructure needs are so
great, H.R. 8294 will ensure that we continue to train the
best workforce in the world.
Again, I ask that you vote in favor of this important bill
on the House floor.
With kind regards, I am.
Sincerely yours,
Terry O'Sullivan,
General President.
Mrs. TRAHAN. However, for far too long, apprenticeship opportunities
have been utilized almost exclusively for just a handful of
construction-oriented occupations. It is time to open this successful
model to a wider range of careers and invite folks from a more diverse
array of backgrounds to participate. This bill accomplishes both.
I am particularly pleased it includes legislation that Representative
Morelle and I filed to assist small businesses in participating in
registered apprenticeship programs and provide a particular focus on
opportunities for people of color, women, and veterans.
At a time when college students are drowning in debt, we need to
advance measures that offer more affordable pathways to the middle
class. The bill before us will help countless people achieve the
American Dream.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair and Representative Davis for their
excellent work, and I urge the bill's passage.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, actions speak louder than words. When it comes to
Democrats' delivering on promises, Americans are often left
disappointed. Workforce development and apprenticeships are no
exception. Take their so-called Heroes Act as an example.
Democrats tout the impactful role apprenticeships will play as our
country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet their bill allocates a
miniscule percentage of money for workforce development initiatives,
and it doesn't do anything to ensure the money is used to develop and
educate workers.
In the first Heroes Act only .07 percent of total funding was
allocated to the Employment and Training Administration.
Unsurprisingly, in the Heroes Act 2.0, only 0.1 percent of total
funding was allocated to the Employment and Training Administration.
This is hypocrisy at its best.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
gentlewoman from Georgia (Mrs. McBath), who is a member of the
Committee on Education and Labor.
Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 8294, the
National Apprenticeship Act of 2020.
We are in the midst of our country's worst economic crisis in
decades, and to better serve the American people, we must invest in our
workforce and invest in the American Dream.
Registered apprenticeships prepare people for the jobs of the 21st
century, and with the evolution of technologies like 5G, Congress and
the Department of Labor should be laser focused on encouraging and
incentivizing apprenticeships for advanced wireless deployment. By
supporting these programs, we can ensure that Georgia remains the best
State in the country to live and to do business.
For decades, the registered apprenticeship program has proven to be
an entry into the middle class for many people. Congresswoman Davis'
National Apprenticeship Act would support a successful workforce
program at a time when our Nation needs it the most.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
[[Page H5976]]
{time} 1615
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, workforce programs like apprenticeships will aid in
closing the skills gap and put more Americans to work, but only if
employees and job creators are given the flexibility to innovate and
develop high-quality earn-and-learn programs without overreach from
Washington.
That is why Republicans want to expand employers' opportunities to
address the needs of their current and prospective workers through an
all-of-the-above approach to apprenticeships rather than closing
potential pathways to work.
Unfortunately, H.R. 8294 doubles down on a narrow and prescriptive
approach and gives Washington bureaucrats, not job creators, more
control. This flawed legislation will prevent more job seekers from
accessing apprenticeship opportunities.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in voting ``no'' on
H.R. 8294, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, while I am disappointed that some of my Republican
colleagues now appear to be opposed to some parts of the National
Apprenticeship Act of 2020, I still remain hopeful that we can come
together to pass this critical legislation.
All of us agree that Congress must prioritize investing in
apprenticeship opportunities. That is why the committee members on both
sides of the aisle spent months working in good faith toward a
bipartisan proposal.
The tried-and-true registered apprenticeship programs funded in this
bill provide valuable credentials that are nationally recognized. We
have heard about the new, untried program, the IRAP, industry-
recognized apprenticeship programs. Unfortunately, those programs do
not create valuable credentials and are not nationally recognized.
Our work on this is even more important now, considering the
significant work we have to do because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr. Speaker, as we often have a strong voice in support of
apprenticeship programs, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 offers
us a real opportunity to actually match our words with action.
Mr. Speaker, I hope that today we can set our politics aside and make
the investment in registered apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, and
youth apprenticeships that our economy needs and our workers deserve.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis) for
her steadfast leadership on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues
to support the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters from the United
Association of Union Plumbers and Pipe Fitters, the National Electrical
Contractors Association, and Third Way in support of the legislation.
We write to urge the strong support and swift passage of
H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020. This bill
would protect and expand union apprenticeship opportunities
and codify the Office of Apprenticeship, helping to
strengthen Registered Apprenticeships and protect the more
than 359,000 men and women of the United Association of Union
Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA), and union members everywhere,
from unscrupulous contractors looking to cut corners.
It is no secret that the safest, most highly-skilled, and
most cost-effective workers come from Registered
Apprenticeships like that of the United Association. We are
immensely proud of the robust investments--more than $275
million annually--that the UA makes in training and
apprenticeship programs to ensure our members are the most
highly-trained and most highly-skilled craftspeople in the
world. On the jobsite, that translates to not only fewer
accidents and injuries, but more projects of the highest
standard completed on time and on budget.
H.R. 8294 makes crucial changes to the Registered
Apprenticeship program and sets firm standards for pre-
apprenticeship programs, which have exponentially grown over
the last several years; no longer can exploitative
contractors prop up pre-apprenticeship programs without
having clear and defined pathways into a Registered
Apprenticeship program. Further, H.R. 8294 adds statutory
protections and enshrines the Office of Apprenticeship into
law, which will result in established funding streams that
ensure the necessary oversight of the program and expand
technical assistance to help Registered Apprenticeship
opportunities reach new sectors. In addition, this bill
strengthens the National Advisory Committee on
Apprenticeship, meaning practitioners of Registered
Apprenticeships in both industry and labor are given a voice
to offer recommendations to further strengthen the program.
Our members clearly understand the ramifications of any
proposed changes to our apprenticeship programs and
standards. That is why this bill to reauthorize the National
Apprenticeship Act and codify protections and funding sources
for Registered Apprenticeships is critical for our members.
We urge you to support this bill and ensure that the Building
Trades Registered Apprenticeships remain the Gold Standard of
the construction industry.
As always, feel free to reach out with any questions. The
entire UA stands ready to assist in any way possible.
Best,
Russ Breckenridge,
United Association of Union Plumbers & Pipefitters,
Legislative and Political Affairs.
Calla Brown,
United Association of Union Plumbers & Pipefitters,
Legislative and Political Affairs.
National Electrical
Contractors Association,
November 17, 2020.
Dear Representative: On behalf of the nearly 4,000-member
companies of the National Electrical Contractors Association
(NECA) and the $171 billion industry that brings power.
light, and communication technology to communities across the
U.S. I write to you in strong support of H.R. 8294, the
``National Apprenticeship Act of 2020,'' which would work to
strengthen the time-tested apprenticeship model that has
sustained the level of excellence our contractors exhibit.
For over 70 years, our electrical industry apprenticeship
program, a joint labor/management venture between NECA and
the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, has
allowed participants the opportunity to learn a skilled trade
in the electrical industry while receiving fair wages, health
care, and retirement benefits. With the combination of both
on the job training (8,000 hours), classroom learning (900
hours), and remote virtual labs, our apprenticeship model
offers the highest quality instruction at minimal cost to the
apprentice or the Federal Government while producing the
nation's finest electricians.
Even with this model firmly in place, more must be done. As
our nation continues to grapple with the effects of the
ongoing pandemic, our contractors find themselves in
continuous need of more skilled workers to help rebuild this
nation. NECA believes this legislation is a step in the right
direction towards fulfilling this need. H.R. 8294 would work
to bring greater funding to proven program models, expand the
standards approval process, and bridge the gaps between
apprenticeship programs and the secondary/postsecondary
education system.
We at NECA look forward to monitoring the floor debate on
this topic and encourage your support for H.R. 8294, the
``National Apprenticeship Act of 2020.'' Thank you for your
consideration.
Sincerely,
Marco A. Giamberardino,
Vice President,
Government and Public Affairs.
Third Way,
Washington, DC, November 19, 2020.
Hon. Bobby Scott,
House Committee on Education and Labor,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Scott: We are pleased to see that the
National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 is receiving a vote this
week on the House floor. With millions of Americans out of
work due to the COVID--0919 pandemic, it is vital that
policymakers work toward an inclusive economic recovery.
That's why we encourage House lawmakers to pass the National
Apprenticeship Act of 2020, which would provide a much-needed
revamp of the nation's registered apprenticeship system.
Apprenticeships can play a key role in our economic recovery
and help people regain their footing in the job market.
Through your leadership, the National Apprenticeship Act of
2020 would take important steps to bolster apprenticeships
across the country. It would broaden economic opportunity by
expanding apprenticeships to women, people of color, and
people facing barriers to employment. The legislation would
help small and medium-sized businesses create apprenticeship
programs. Further, it would modernize our nation's
apprenticeship system by expanding apprenticeships in growing
fields like information technology, advanced manufacturing,
and health care.
The bill would also expand apprenticeships in part by
relying on intermediaries, or apprenticeship hubs, which
would bring together employers, education providers, unions,
and other organizations in each state that will work in
concert to expand apprenticeships. This is an approach Third
Way has long advocated for, and we're thrilled that it's a
key part of this legislation.
Through the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, this
country can promote apprenticeships as a key tool in our
economic recovery and ensure everyone has pathways to in-
demand, good-paying careers. We thank you,
[[Page H5977]]
Chairwoman Susan Davis, and House Education and Labor
Committee Democrats for their leadership on this legislation
and urge Members to support it.
Sincerely,
Gabriel Horwitz,
Senior Vice President,
Third Way.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8294, the
National Apprenticeship Act.
In my home state of Oregon and around the country, Registered
Apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, and youth apprenticeships are
helping workers, particularly those with barriers to employment, access
meaningful employment. This is even more important at a time when
hundreds of thousands of people are out of a job because of the
economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally,
significant sectors of our economy are on the brink of transformation
as the future of work evolves.
Recently I held a virtual roundtable discussion with apprentices,
pre-apprentices, and union leaders from across Northwest Oregon. I
heard from apprentices like Melissa who said that joining the
Boilermakers Local 242 apprenticeship was a ``life-changing decision.''
And Lacy who said, ``I don't know where I would be or what I would be
doing'' without her apprenticeship with Laborers Local 737, because it
``made it possible to pay my bills and feed my kid.'' By supporting the
National Apprenticeship Act, we can strengthen investments in
Registered Apprenticeships and help workers like Melissa and Lacy gain
the skills and support services they need to be able to provide for
themselves and their families.
Last month, I visited with apprentices at IBEW Local 48 in Portland,
Oregon. Through a partnership with the National Electrical Contractors
Association, IBEW's electrical apprenticeship program demonstrates how
our transition to a clean energy economy provides an extraordinary
opportunity to create good-paying jobs. Earlier this year, I joined my
colleagues on the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis in releasing a
bold, comprehensive, science-based Climate Action Plan, which
emphasizes the need to reauthorize the National Apprenticeship Act as
part of supporting the increasing demand for skilled workers in the
clean energy sector. Efforts at the NECA/IBEW Local 48 Electrical
Apprenticeship Training Program provide an excellent example of the
need to protect and strengthen our Registered Apprenticeship system.
Industry partnerships can be one helpful tool in scaling up
Registered Apprenticeships. For example, the Oregon Manufacturing
Innovation Center, or OMIC, is bringing together industry leaders with
educational institutions such as Oregon Institute of Technology, Oregon
State University, Portland State University, and Portland Community
College to develop a Registered Apprenticeship program in advanced
manufacturing. My bipartisan Promoting Apprenticeships through Regional
Training Networks for Employers' Required Skills Act is modeled on the
efforts at OMIC to help small and medium sized businesses develop
Registered Apprenticeships. The bill supports industry partnerships
that bring together employers, education, training, labor, and
community-based organizations to create paid, on-the-job training
programs that meet the needs of employers and provide workers with
important support services, like access to tools, work attire,
transportation, child care, and mentorship support. I am grateful that
Chair Davis incorporated many of our PARTNERS Act provisions in the
National Apprenticeship Act.
Registered Apprenticeships provide meaningful upskilling and
reskilling opportunities and supportive services for displaced and
dislocated workers. I am pleased to be co-leading this important bill
with Chair Davis to create nearly one million new Registered
Apprenticeship, youth apprenticeship, and preapprenticeship positions
over the next five years. I thank Chairman Scott and Chair Davis for
their leadership, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 8294, the
National Apprenticeship Act. This bill, while well intentioned, fails
to deliver on the goal of strengthening our registered apprenticeship
system and expanding earn-and-learn opportunities for Americans across
the nation.
Our country's workforce is facing a unique crisis, and we must ensure
that our apprenticeship system is up to the task to meet the needs of
our evolving workforce. For instance, the COVID-19 crisis has
highlighted that connectivity and the digital world are an integral
part of our daily lives. Developing a high-skilled workforce is
critical as we seek to expand technologies like broadband and 5G to
underserved areas across the country, including my district in
Michigan.
Winning the global race to 5G will have a lasting economic benefit to
the United States. In fact, 5G will create 3 million jobs and
contribute $500 billion to the U.S. economy over the next five years.
However, as wireless technology evolves, the workforce needs to evolve
along with it. Unless the U.S. has a large enough and properly trained
workforce, we will not be able to fully reap the economic and
technological benefits of 5G.
Apprenticeships are a proven solution for meeting workforce needs,
especially in wireless technologies. They provide the in-the-field
experience and the necessary classroom instruction to build these
advanced wireless networks. Congress and the Department of Labor should
be laser focused on encouraging and incentivizing apprenticeship for 5G
and advanced wireless deployment. Unfortunately, the bill we are
considering would hinder the flexibility of employers to create earn-
and-learn programs to teach job seekers the skills they need to build-
out and deploy the 5G and wireless infrastructure America so
desperately needs.
For these reasons I must oppose H.R. 8294 and urge my colleagues to
work on a bipartisan solution that will empower workers and employers
to create apprenticeships that are responsive to our modern economy.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
Each further amendment printed in part B of House Report 116-593 not
earlier considered as part of amendments en bloc pursuant to section 3
of House Resolution 1224, shall be considered only in the order printed
in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the
report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time
specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent
and an opponent, may be withdrawn by the proponent at any time before
the question is put thereon, shall not be subject to amendment, and
shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question.
It shall be in order at any time for the chair of the Committee on
Education and Labor or his designee to offer amendments en bloc
consisting of further amendments printed in part B of House Report 116-
593, not earlier disposed of. Amendments en bloc shall be considered as
read, shall be debatable for 20 minutes equally divided and controlled
by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Education
and Labor or their respective designees, shall not be subject to
amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the
question.
Amendments En Bloc No. 1 Offered by Mr. Scott of Virginia
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Pursuant to section 3 of House Resolution
1224, I rise to offer amendments en bloc No. 1.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will designate the amendments en
bloc.
Amendments en bloc No. 1 consisting of amendment Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 16, printed in part B of House Report 116-
593, offered by Mr. Scott of Virginia:
Amendment 1 Offered by Mr. Beyer of Virginia
Page 94, strike lines 15 through 18 and insert the
following:
``(3) The program provides--
``(A) all individuals with an equal opportunity to
participate in the program as described in subparagraphs (B)
and (C) of section 111(b)(7); and
``(B) materials that conform with accessibility standards
under section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29
U.S.C. 794d), such as materials that conform with the most
recent Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.''
Page 85, line 9, strike ``and''.
Page 85, line 12, strike the period and insert ``; and''.
Page 85, after line 12, insert the following:
``(v) where appropriate and to the extent practicable,
incorporate the principles of universal design for learning
under section 103 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1003).''
Page 115, beginning on line 9, strike ``nontraditional''
and all that follows through ``participation'' and insert
``participation of nontraditional apprenticeship populations
and individuals with barriers to employment, including
individuals with disabilities,''.
Amendment 2 Offered by Mr. Brown of Maryland
Page 35, after line 19, insert ``(at least 1 of which
represents a women, minority, or veteran-owned business)''
after ``program''.
Amendment 3 Offered by Mr. Cardenas of California
Page 37, line 11, strike ``an apprentice'' and insert ``a
program participant''.
Amendment 4 Offered by Mr. Castro of Texas
Page 117, line 19, insert ``media and entertainment,''
after ``healthcare,''.
Amendment No. 5 Offered by Mr. Crow of Colorado
Page 117, line 19, insert ``education,'' after ``health
care,''.
[[Page H5978]]
Page 118, line 22, insert ``, elementary school, and
secondary school'' after ``childhood''.
Amendment No. 6 Offered by Mr. Horsford of Nevada
Page 11, beginning on line 7, strike ``connecting'' and all
that follows through ``system'' and insert ``supporting the
recruitment, retention, and completion of potential program
participants, including nontraditional apprenticeship
populations and individuals with barriers to employment''.
Page 29, line 2, insert ``national qualified
intermediaries, including those supporting increased
participation of nontraditional apprenticeship populations
and nontraditional apprenticeship industries or
occupations,'' after ``program participants,''.
Page 37, strike lines 9 and 10, and insert the following:
``(VIII) a national qualified intermediary, including a
national qualified intermediary that supports increased
participation of nontraditional apprenticeship populations
and nontraditional apprenticeship industries or occupations;
and''
Page 77, line 13, insert ``including minority serving
institutions,'' after ``postsecondary educational
institutions,''.
Amendment No. 10 Offered by Ms. Meng of New York
Page 23, line 17, insert before the period the following:
``, in user-friendly formats and languages that are easily
accessible, as determined by the Administrator''.
Page 38, line 5, strike ``and''.
Page 38, line 6, strike the period and insert ``; and''.
Page 38, after line 6, insert the following:
``(xi) the Federal Communications Commission.''.
Page 76, line 3, insert before the semicolon the following:
``, and that are in user-friendly formats and languages that
are easily accessible, as determined by the Secretaries''.
Amendment No. 11 Offered by Ms. Moore of Wisconsin
Page 22, line 11, insert ``developing the state plan in
section 113(c),'' after ``including''.
Page 22, line 12, insert a comma after ``subtitle B''.
Page 29, after line 24, insert the following:
``(E) Nontraditional apprenticeship populations.--The
Administrator shall regularly evaluate the participation of
the nontraditional apprenticeship populations for each of the
approved apprenticeable occupations, such as women,
minorities, long-term unemployed, individuals with a
disability, individuals with substance abuse issues,
veterans, military spouses, individuals experiencing
homelessness, individuals impacted by the criminal or
juvenile justice system, and foster and former foster youth.
Page 30, line 10, strike ``and'' at the end.
Page 30, line 12, strike the period at the end and insert
``; and''.
Page 30, after line 12, insert the following:
``(D) require regular reports on the performance of state
agencies, including on efforts state agencies make to
increase employer awareness of apprenticeship programs for
employers who have not participated.
Page 31, line 20, insert ``low-income participants in
related federal programs,'' after ``disabilities''.
Page 32, line 15, strike the period at the end and insert
``, to better promote participation in the national
apprenticeship program.''.
Page 104, after line 15, insert the following: `` and''
``(D) List of disapproved programs.--The registration
agency shall maintain a list of programs that were
disapproved which includes the reasons for each such
disapproval and provide such list to the Administrator at
least annually.
Page 114, line 21, strike ``and'' at the end.
Page 115, line 2, insert ``and'' at the end.
Page 115, after line 2, insert the following:
``(E) regularly assess the impact of apprenticeship
programs under the national apprentice system in effectively
increasing the participation of women, minorities,
individuals with disabilities, long term unemployed,
individuals impacted by the criminal and juvenile justice
system, foster and former foster youth, and individuals with
barriers to employment;
Amendment No. 12 Offered by Mr. Pappas of New Hampshire
Page 41, line 14, strike ``and''.
Page 41, line 24, strike the period and insert a ``; and''.
Page 41, after line 24, insert the following:
``(5) make recommendations on the development of
demonstrations projects as described in section 132(f).
Page 116, after line 8, insert the following:
``(f) Demonstration Authority.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to initiate
demonstration projects, subject to the recommendation of two-
thirds of the voting members of the Advisory Committee, such
that each demonstration project--
``(A) is limited in size and scope;
``(B) has a duration of no more than 3 years;
``(C) is carried out in nontraditional apprenticeship
industries or occupations; and
``(D) which may include activities that respond to the
COVID-19 public health emergency.
``(2) Limitation on funding.--In initiating demonstration
projects under subsection (a), the Secretary may not use more
than $2,000,000 annually from the funding authorized under
section 141(a).
Amendment No. 13 Offered by Mr. Ryan of Ohio
Page 120, line 7, insert a comma after ``secondary''.
Page 120, line 8--
(1) strike ``and''; and
(2) insert ``, and adult'' after ``postsecondary''.
Amendment No. 14 Offered by Mr. Smith of Washington
Page 141, line 24, strike ``or''.
Page 141, after line 24, insert the following:
``(viii) providing stipends to pre-apprentices enrolled in
a pre-apprenticeship program to cover costs such as housing,
transportation, childcare or out of pocket expenses resulting
from the pre-apprenticeship program such as assessments and
fees for industry-recognized credentials or drivers licenses
during the time of enrollment; or''.
Page 142, line 1, strike ``(viii)'' and insert ``(ix)''.
Amendment No. 16 Offered by Ms. Stefanik of New York
Page 86, beginning line 12, strike ``Secretary and''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 1224, the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) and the gentlewoman from North
Carolina (Ms. Foxx) each will control 10 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, these amendments generally ensure
accessibility for those with disabilities, increase equity, and
increase opportunities. They are not controversial, and I would hope
they would be accepted.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition, though
I am not opposed to the amendment.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to see that Representative Stefanik's
amendment was made in order.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman
from New York (Ms. Stefanik).
Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Foxx.
Mr. Speaker, as our Nation recovers from the economic toll of the
COVID pandemic and strives to restore the livelihood of America's
workers, we must take every opportunity to strengthen the pathways to
meaningful, family-sustaining careers.
The apprenticeship model of providing paid work experience, coupled
with classroom instruction and on-the-job mentorship, is a proven
approach to equip workers with the skills they need for lifelong
success.
Individuals who complete high-quality apprenticeship programs
immediately enter into well-paying jobs and do so without the debt that
often saddles our younger generation of workers.
Despite this track record of success, apprenticeships remain the
pathway to opportunity for far too few. Less than 3 percent of the
workforce comes up through the apprenticeship system, and the vast
majority of registered apprenticeship programs are concentrated in just
a handful of industries.
This stark reality leaves one of the strongest workforce development
strategies vastly underutilized in developing talent for the modern
economy. In order to achieve our common goal of expanding
apprenticeships to a more expansive set of occupations, we must develop
a system that is responsive to the demands of the 21st century
workplace and accessible to employers in emerging industry sectors.
Mr. Speaker, my amendment offers a simple step in the right
direction: removing a barrier for employers who seek more freedom to
design a program that fits their unique needs.
For the nontraditional occupations and sectors, the mandated minimum
of 2,000 hours of on-the-job learning may not fit the nature of the job
and thus prevent interested employers from ever developing an
apprenticeship program. While H.R. 8294 provides a process for these
employers to pursue an alternative time-based model that fits their
industry, the legislation requires approval from both the State
registration agency and the Secretary of Labor.
A State apprenticeship agency seeking to foster the growth of
apprenticeships in their State could grant approval to an innovative
model only to have these efforts stifled by Department officials in
Washington. The bureaucratic nature of this process may discourage
employers from even attempting to use this flexibility in the first
place.
[[Page H5979]]
My amendment removes the Department of Labor from the process and
leaves it solely at the discretion of States to approve alternative
program models, empowering workforce leaders across the country to
inject needed dynamism in the age-old system.
Yet, this amendment alone cannot atone for the countless missed
opportunities to incorporate additional Republican amendments,
amendments that would have allowed innovation to thrive while still
upholding the safety and accountability standards necessary to underpin
the taxpayers' investment in apprenticeship programs.
Revitalizing economic opportunity for America's workers and small
businesses will require a robust pipeline of earn-and-learn models that
can serve an ever more diverse group of job seekers, and I believe more
work must be done before this legislation can truly fulfill that
promise.
Mr. Speaker, as we stand here in the final weeks of the 116th
Congress and recognize that we will be back at this issue next year, I
wholeheartedly believe that we can reestablish the bipartisan spirit
that has been a hallmark of our efforts on workforce development.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis) for
her passion and commitment on this important issue and for her
leadership on the Higher Education and Workforce Investment
Subcommittee as well as her leadership on the House Armed Services. I
serve with Mrs. Davis on two committees. She will be deeply missed.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Horsford), who actually ran a program in
Nevada to increase job skills.
Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Scott from Virginia for
his kind words and leadership, and I want to commend Congresswoman
Susan Davis from California for leading on this important issue.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8294, the National
Apprenticeship Act, and to urge my colleagues to support my amendment,
which would ensure equity and fairness in our national apprenticeship
system.
Specifically, my amendment would support the recruitment, retention,
and completion of nontraditional apprenticeship populations, including
women, people of color, and individuals with barriers to employment.
Now more than ever, in response to the economic challenges posed by
COVID-19, people need access to opportunities in apprenticeships. This
is especially true for my constituents throughout Nevada, which has
been one of the hardest hit economic regions in the country.
My amendment would ensure that women like Evelyn Pacheco, who is the
founder and president of Nevada Women in Trades, continue to have
opportunities to provide apprenticeships to women of color throughout
southern Nevada. The opportunities presented by women like Evelyn
matter because 94 percent of apprentices who complete an apprenticeship
program retain employment with an average annual salary of $70,000.
Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that this pandemic has
disproportionately impacted workers of color, particularly women of
color, who have shouldered the greatest job losses due to their
concentration in low-wage service industries that have been hardest hit
by the economic downturn.
That is why we must do everything in our power to ensure that we have
equity and fairness in our national apprenticeship system so that every
person can have access and support for desperately needed job training.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of my
amendment, and I support the passage of H.R. 8294.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Congressional Record a letter from the
National Urban League supporting my amendment and the National
Apprenticeship Act of 2020.
National Urban League,
November 19, 2020.
Dear Representative: On behalf of the National Urban League
and its 90 affiliates located in 36 states and the District
of Columbia, I urge you to vote ``Yes'' on the National
Registered Apprenticeship Act (NAA) and associated equity
amendments, including those put forth by Representatives
Brown, Horsford, Moore, Ryan/Rice and Smith/Langevin.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shuttered businesses all across
America, leaving millions of workers unemployed and devasting
our national economy. Research shows that Black and Latino
workers are more likely to be working in hard-hit industries
that may never bounce back. The NAA represents an important
step towards stemming that job loss by creating one million
new apprenticeship opportunities over the next five years, in
addition to the opportunities that are already being created.
These apprenticeships result in substantially higher earnings
compared to nonparticipants. By some accounts, the average
starting salary of an apprentice is $70,000, a family-
sustaining middle-class income.
Yet, more work is needed to ensure equitable access to
apprenticeship opportunities to nontraditional populations,
including people of color and women, as apprenticeship
programs are often less diverse than the occupations they
ultimately serve. According to the Department of Labor's
(DOL) Equal Employment Opportunity study, African Americans
represented only 10% of registered apprentices and are the
most underpaid compared to other ethnic groups. Across 25
states in which DOL tracks registered apprenticeships, the
data show the opportunities are dominated by white men.
The National Urban League has worked to advance economic
opportunity for African Americans and other underserved
communities for more than 110 years. Our job training
programs target workers with multiple barriers to employment
to help them secure full-time jobs and career advancement
opportunities. Through DOL's Equity in Apprenticeship
program, the National Urban League and eleven affiliates have
increased opportunities in nontraditional fields through pre-
apprenticeship and registered apprenticeships to more than
1,200 African American and other nontraditional populations.
The National Urban League urges you to support the National
Registered Apprenticeship Act and accompanying equity
amendments to ensure nontraditional populations have access
to the support they need to thrive and businesses have the
skilled workforce they need to succeed in this uncertain
economy.
Sincerely,
Marc H. Morial,
President and CEO,
National Urban League.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, Representative Stefanik's
amendment is a valuable change that would make it easier for programs
of shorter length to be approved specifically in fields where
apprenticeships have not traditionally seen growth or expansion.
While most of the other amendments in this en bloc are
unobjectionable, I do want to highlight three amendments where I have
concerns.
The amendment offered by Representatives Beyer and Pressley is mostly
unobjectionable. We certainly share the majority's intent in ensuring
access to apprenticeships for people with disabilities. However, it
also includes a provision that would actually hold apprenticeship
program sponsors to a higher standard than the standard to which
section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 currently holds Federal
agencies, which are the target of that particular provision.
While this was likely well intentioned, the underlying bill already
prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability and requires
program sponsors to provide accommodations for individuals with
disabilities, so holding small business and other employers who are
seeking to expand opportunities for individuals with disabilities to a
higher standard than we hold ourselves in the Federal Government is a
guaranteed way to ensure fewer apprenticeship opportunities rather than
more.
{time} 1630
Another amendment concealed within the en bloc is offered by
Representative Moore, which will lead to excessive paperwork and little
real outcomes for low-income individuals or individuals with barriers
to employment.
Finally, the amendment offered by Representative Horsford claims to
ensure equity and opportunity in the apprenticeship system. In reality,
I am afraid it may cause confusion at best. The amendment would add new
criteria to the definition of ``national qualified intermediaries,''
requiring them to support the increased participation of nontraditional
apprenticeship populations and nontraditional apprenticeship industries
or occupations.
Even if they wanted to, some national qualified intermediaries may
not be in a position to do this, either because of their location or
the nature of their program.
[[Page H5980]]
If there is an opportunity in the new Congress to resume bipartisan
conversations on reauthorization of the National Apprenticeship Act, I
welcome the chance to discuss what the intent is here and to seek out
common ground. In fact, I hope the new Congress brings about true
bipartisan work from my colleagues.
While these three specific amendments cause me concern, on balance,
this en bloc consideration is worthy of support even if it won't
ultimately redeem the underlying bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman
from Virginia (Mr. Beyer), the chair of the Joint Economic Committee.
Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my amendment with
Representative Ayanna Pressley. This amendment works to ensure that
people with disabilities are able to access registered apprenticeships
on an equal basis with their nondisabled peers.
Three cogent facts: The workforce participation rate for people with
disabilities is still less than one-third that of nondisabled peers;
number two, among people with disabilities actively seeking work, the
unemployment rate is twice that of nondisabled workers; and number
three, people with disabilities are less likely to have meaningful
access to participate in apprenticeship programs.
This amendment ensures that individuals with disabilities will be
able to access apprenticeship programs that will help them develop the
skills and build a work history that will open doors to their future.
This can also help employers understand the value of this workforce
and learn from experience that accommodating a disabled employee is
usually a simple, inexpensive process that benefits the employee, the
employer, and, ultimately, all of us who benefit from having an engaged
and diverse workforce.
I thank Representative Susan Davis for this bill and the leadership
of our chairman, Bobby Scott.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated--and several have
spoken on their amendments--I would hope that we would adopt the
amendment en bloc, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance
of my time.
Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that we aren't here debating a bloc of
amendments that will work to address the failings of the underlying
bill.
I am pleased to see at least one amendment in this group will help
bring some flexibility to States.
I urge support of the en bloc consideration of these amendments, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 8294, the
National Apprenticeship Act of 2020.
The programs being addressed in this bill support on the job
training, mentoring, and other assistance to help individuals gain
employment and build careers in high paying and/or high skilled
occupations. Registered Apprenticeships are our nation's most
successful federal workforce training program. According to the DOL, 94
percent apprentices are employed after completing a Registered
Apprenticeship and earn an average starting wage of $70,000. That
success is to be applauded.
Yet, this powerful tool can be improved. Just consider these two
facts: Registered Apprenticeships only account for 0.3 percent of our
workforce and nearly two-thirds of active apprentices are employed in
just one industry, construction. It's long past time we bring these
federal efforts into the 21st Century and expanding access to
apprenticeship opportunities is now especially important as we work to
build back our economy from the lasting effects of the COVID-19
pandemic.
Key provisions to me in this bill are the calls to strengthen equity
and promote equal opportunity to participate in youth apprenticeships,
pre-apprenticeships, and apprenticeships, especially for nontraditional
apprenticeship populations. Who are they? These are individuals who
have traditionally faced barriers to accessing these opportunities,
including low-income individuals, those with disabilities, foster youth
and former foster youth, and the formerly incarcerated, among others.
I don't have to tell you that low-income workers frequently face
barriers . . . as do those who were previously or recently
incarcerated. But we might remind ourselves ``[a] history of
incarceration does not disqualify a person's skills, initiative, or
humanity.'' Thanks to Chairman Scott and the sponsor of this
legislation, Chairwoman Susan Davis, among others for their efforts
that have resulted in the legislation before us today.
It recognizes that we need to keep working to ensure equal
opportunity for all to participate in these programs. Pre-
apprenticeships and apprenticeships are key gateways to potentially
good paying careers. It's critical that we work to ensure that
populations that have barriers to entry into these programs and are
underrepresented. Inclusive workforce development practices will help
us achieve a more diverse workforce that leverages each individual's
talents, skills and abilities to determine their success, rather than
the barriers they may face.
My amendment, which is included in this en bloc, builds on the base
bill to ensure we do not forget populations that have traditionally
been underrepresented in these programs. This includes requiring
regular reviews by the federal government of participation by
nontraditional populations in these programs and assessing how these
programs increase participation of these populations, especially in
occupations where we know that their involvement is underrepresented.
My amendment would also ensure that federal coordination among a host
of programs serving low-income individuals helps to promote their
participation in the efforts supported by this bill.
It is estimated that the efforts in this bill could create nearly 1
million new apprenticeship opportunities in addition to expected growth
in the apprenticeship system. But it's not enough just to increase the
number of opportunities. We must expand access to the opportunities.
Truly expanding access to these opportunities for all, including
women, minorities, and other underrepresented and nontraditional
populations, will benefit not only the workers who we connect to
stable, good-paying jobs but also their communities.
I urge my colleagues to support this en bloc and the underlying bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 1224, the
previous question is ordered on the amendments en bloc offered by the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott).
The question is on the amendments en bloc.
The en bloc amendments were agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
amendments en bloc no. 2 offered by mr. scott of virginia
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 3 of House
Resolution 1224, I rise to offer amendments en bloc No. 2.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will designate the amendments en
bloc.
Amendments en bloc No. 2 consisting of amendment Nos. 7, 8, and 17,
printed in part B of House Report 116-593, offered by Mr. Scott of
Virginia:
Amendment No. 7 Offered by Mr. Kilmer of Washington
Page 117, line 18, insert ``computer science,'' after
``technology,''.
Amendment No. 8 Offered by Mr. Lamb of Pennsylvania
Page 12, line 9, strike ``or''.
Page 12, line 10, insert ``or veterans-service
organizations,'' after ``partners,''.
Page 21, line 9, insert ``veterans-service organizations,''
after ``facilities,''
Page 107, line 21, insert ``veteran status,'' after
``age,''
Amendment No. 17 Offered by Ms. Titus of Nevada
Page 117, line 19, insert ``hospitality and tourism,''
after ``health care,''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 1224, the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) and the gentlewoman from North
Carolina (Ms. Foxx) each will control 10 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
These are expected to be noncontroversial. The amendments generally
expand the industries to be affected by the opportunities for
apprenticeships and adds veterans service organizations as partner
organizations.
I hope that we would adopt these, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, this en bloc incorporates three amendments to the
underlying bill that would enhance opportunities in the registered
apprenticeship system.
[[Page H5981]]
The amendment offered by Mr. Kilmer of Washington and Mr. Fitzpatrick
of Pennsylvania amends the grant program within the underlying bill to
promote offerings for computer science programs.
Modernizing the 80-year-old National Apprenticeship Act ought to
include apprenticeship opportunities within a variety of sectors. Far
too often, society paints apprenticeships as only applying to the
``trades.'' While there are certainly valuable pathways within those
fields, we need to expand the horizons of what apprenticeships are
capable of providing for workers. This is also why I think it is
important to call these ``professions'' rather than the ``trades.'' A
broader policy should not be limited by how it has traditionally been
viewed or how we speak about it.
Computer science is a high-growth and promising career path leading
to in-demand lucrative jobs for workers.
We hear too often that students are graduating without the technical
skills they need to be successful in today's workforce. This amendment
would support employers in recruiting and developing new employees with
the computer science competencies they need to make up for these
deficits and help fill a widening skills gap.
Similarly, the amendment offered by Ms. Titus of Nevada and
cosponsored by several Members on both sides of the aisle adds
hospitality and tourism to the list of nontraditional apprenticeship
industries that are eligible for grants under this act.
If this grant program is to live up to its name and reflect the
economy of the 21st century, we must break free from antiquated, narrow
ideas of apprenticeships and bring more opportunities to promising
sectors. The hospitality and tourism industries are a prime example of
areas in which students would benefit from more on-the-job learning
experiences and employer-led instruction than they would from a
traditional college education.
Finally, the amendment offered by Mr. Lamb of Pennsylvania and Mr.
Taylor of Texas includes veterans service organizations in several key
places. Specifying VSOs as partner organizations for involvement in the
registered apprenticeship system ensures the needs of veterans will be
considered and incorporated into apprenticeship programs.
The amendment also highlights the VSOs as entities that should be
contacted for promoting and raising awareness about apprenticeship
opportunities, making sure our veterans have full access to and
information about apprenticeship opportunities.
Because apprenticeships recognize and build on prior knowledge and
skills, veterans stand to benefit greatly from these opportunities and
should be engaged in the system as much as possible.
We want apprenticeships to support all workers seeking to access and
enhance career opportunities. These amendments ensure the 21st Century
Grant program expands opportunities in promising sectors and that the
registered apprenticeship system engages veterans.
I support these amendments, encourage my colleagues to do the same,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman
from Washington (Mr. Kilmer).
Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this package of
en bloc amendments, which includes a bipartisan amendment I offered
along with my good friend and colleague from Pennsylvania,
Representative Fitzpatrick, to expand access to computer science youth
apprenticeship programs that are critical to the 21st century
workforce.
We know education is the door to economic opportunities, and one of
the most American and foundational paths to high-quality, work-based
learning and education are apprenticeship programs.
In today's changing economy, it is important to continue to find ways
to prepare our kids for the jobs of the future: jobs in advanced
manufacturing, healthcare, technology, green jobs, and, yes, computer
science.
According to Code.org, across 24 States, only 35 percent of high
schools in the U.S. teach computer science. That same study found that
Black and Hispanic students, students receiving free and reduced lunch,
and students from rural areas are less likely to attend a school that
provides access to this critical subject.
Not everyone is going to have a tech-related job, but we know that
there is a growing demand--a demand that we are struggling to meet--for
students able to fill these in-demand jobs and for equipping workers
with advanced computer science skills.
To prepare students to be successful and innovative in the workforce,
the Federal Government needs to expand computer science education and
pathways to more students. That is why my amendment would ensure that
computer science youth apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and
apprenticeship programs are prioritized.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to
the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Kilmer).
Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, it would provide priority for funding
through this historic National Apprenticeship Act of 2020.
Growing the number of computer science programs for students in high
school and beyond will provide more 21st century job opportunities for
our kids, more high-skilled and qualified employees for our employers,
and more economic resiliency for our communities.
I thank the chairman for his support of this simple, yet important,
amendment. I thank Representative Susan Davis from California for her
leadership on this issue, and I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes''
on this package and ``yes'' on this bill.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Lamb).
Mr. LAMB. Mr. Speaker, for the last 2\1/2\ years, I have been a
member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs; and during that
time, one of the things I have seen is the way that our veterans
service organizations, particularly the American Legion, the VFW, the
Vietnam Veterans of America, but several others, too, play an essential
role in connecting all of the good things that we are trying to do with
government programs with the people who actually need to benefit from
them and take advantage of them.
So often in government, we have a hard time getting our ideas and our
solutions beyond the walls of the Federal office building and into the
communities and streets and homes where we want them to be, and these
organizations are very, very good at doing that.
So I want to thank my colleague, Republican Representative Van Taylor
from Texas, for partnering with me on these amendments to bring in
these veterans service organizations as part of signing people up and
enrolling them in apprenticeship programs so that the veterans who are
out there who are most in need of up-skilling or creating a new career
path can actually find out about these opportunities and take advantage
of them.
There is probably no one in America more qualified and a better bet
for this investment than a veteran. On-the-job training is what we do.
These people have the patience and discipline to complete these
programs and make our entire workforce stronger and better off, and I
know that the veterans service organizations will help us get there.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan).
Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, the Titus amendment is simple. It includes
hospitality and tourism as an eligible industry for expansion of
registered apprenticeship opportunities.
The hospitality and tourism industry is a major source for the
Marianas. The GAO's February 2020 report on Economic and Workforce
Trends in the Marianas found that hospitality and tourism account for
45 percent of GDP.
We are not unique. The industry is critical to many communities
across the Nation, but it is considered a nontraditional industry for
apprenticeships and has been unable to take full advantage of the
apprenticeship system. The Titus amendment fixes that.
As I stated earlier, for 83 years, the National Apprenticeship Act
has helped local economies grow by providing career opportunities to
young people. The Titus amendment guarantees that H.R. 8294 will build
on that
[[Page H5982]]
success by ensuring that the apprenticeship system is modernized to
address the workforce needs of the 21st century.
I support the Titus amendment and urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
I also am grateful that the ranking member is supportive of the Titus
amendment. I thank everyone for their consideration, and I wish
everyone a happy Thanksgiving, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the American Hotel
and Lodging Association.
American Hotel & Lodging Association,
November 18, 2020.
Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
Speaker of the House,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Hon. Kevin McCarthy,
Republican Leader,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader McCarthy: On behalf of the
American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), the sole
national association representing all segments of the U.S.
lodging industry, including iconic global brands, hotel
owners and franchisees, lodging real estate investment trusts
(REITs), hotel management companies, independent properties,
bed and breakfasts, state hotel associations, and industry
suppliers, I write in support of H.R. 8294, National
Apprenticeship Act of 2020. This important legislation would
expand the national apprenticeship system to include
nontraditional apprenticeship industries and create a grant
program to support registered apprenticeship, pre-
apprenticeship, and youth apprenticeship programs. AHLA also
strongly supports the bipartisan amendment offered by
Representatives Dina Titus (NV-1) and Gus Bilirakis (FL-12)
that would specifically identify the hospitality and tourism
industries as a nontraditional apprenticeship industry under
Sec. 201 of the Act.
Prior to the pandemic, filling service positions was one of
the hospitality industry's most significant challenges.
According to the Department of Labor (DOL), it was estimated
that nearly one million job vacancies remained unfilled. In
order to meet the needs of the industry, AHLA and the AHLA
Foundation, the charitable giving arm of the association, are
developing innovative programs that invest in our workforce
and are designed to open opportunities for underprivileged
communities, build careers, and strengthen the lodging
industry. The National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 would
enable our Foundation to achieve this mission through grant
programs specifically targeted to our industry. Additionally,
the legislation updates the National Apprenticeship Act to
provide the flexibility we need to reflect modem practices
while maintaining the high standards set forth by DOL.
On behalf of the more than 33,000 small business hotels,
which represents over half of hotels in the country, and the
millions of associates they employ, I urge the House of
Representatives to swiftly pass H.R. 8294 and provide
nontraditional apprenticeship industries, like the
hospitality and tourism sectors, an avenue to continue to
grow our workforce and support our communities. Thank you for
your consideration of this critical matter.
Sincerely,
Brian Crawford,
Executive Vice President,
Government Affairs.
{time} 1645
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I support the three amendments en
bloc. I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, along with these
three amendments.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 1224, the
previous question is ordered on the amendments en bloc offered by the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott).
The question is on the amendments en bloc.
The en bloc amendments were agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, further
consideration of H.R. 8294 is postponed.
____________________