[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 3, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E195-E196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 447 NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2021

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 3, 2021

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam 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. 447, the National 
Apprenticeship Act of 2021, 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 Congressman Scott, the Chairman of the Education and Labor 
Committee, for reintroducing this legislation which passed by a 
substantial margin in the 116th Congress as H.R. 8294.
  This important legislation has the potential to 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 and which bring America's investments in 
apprenticeship more in line with countries around the world.
  Madam 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 $70,000 annually.
  Yet, according to the most recent data, only 0.3 percent of the 
overall workforce in America have completed an apprenticeship.
  Madam Speaker, this legislation could not be more timely because 
during a time of record unemployment, the National Apprenticeship Act 
of 2021 invests more than $3.5 billion over 5 years in expanding 
opportunities and access to Registered Apprenticeships, youth 
apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeships.
  The 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.
  Madam 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 2021 authorizes $400 
million for fiscal year (FY) 2022, increasing by $100 million annually 
to $800 million for FY 2026, to support the creation or expansion of 
registered apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships and pre-
apprenticeship 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. 447 codifies and streamlines standards for registered 
apprenticeships, youth apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs.

[[Page E196]]

  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:
  Increasing participation in programs under the national 
apprenticeship system through technical assistance and program 
recognition activities;
  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
  Improving 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:
  Authorizing annual funding for State Apprenticeship Offices and SAAs 
at $75 million for fiscal year (FY) 2022, increasing by $10 million 
annually to reach $115 million for FY 2026, with one-third of funds 
equally distributed to all States and outlying areas, and two-thirds of 
funds distributed via formula to SAAs; and
  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.

                     Apprenticeship Success Stories


                         Apprenticeship Program

       The Houston Community College (HCC) Apprenticeship Program 
     is a partnership between HCC and 11 U.S. Department of Labor 
     approved Apprenticeship programs in Houston. The program 
     provides a 3-5 year job training system for skilled trade and 
     craft workers.
       Employers, employer associations, and joint-labor 
     management organizations known collectively as apprenticeship 
     sponsors provide apprentices with on-the-job instruction that 
     reflects industry needs, while HCC provides the classroom-
     related instruction. HCC apprentices can study in eight 
     different disciplines including: carpenters, electricians, 
     millwrights, pipe-fitters, welders, masons, stationary 
     engineers, and glaziers.
       In 2013, HCC launched a 35-million renovation project of 
     the San Jacinto building on its Central campus with HCC 
     apprentices contributing to the massive renovation and 
     restoration project.
       Ten HCC plumber and pipefitter apprentices helped upgrade 
     the building's pool, basketball gymnasium, laid pipes and 
     redesigned Memorial Green.
       HCC apprenticeship program prides itself on the rapid 
     development and professionalism of its students. Thus far, 
     HCC apprentices can boast a zero OSHA injuries and a 24% 
     increase in productivity and 43% decrease in job turnover.
       ``The quality of the work on this project will provide 
     lower maintenance and operating cost for Houston Community 
     College and is referred to as Life Cycle Engineering Cost. 
     This project provides a win-win opportunity for Houston 
     Community College and their students,'' said Apprenticeship 
     Director, Doug Posey.
       When the San Jacinto project is complete, it will become an 
     academic center for Central College. The project is scheduled 
     to be completed by the end of 2013.


                          John Soileau's Story

       John Soileau knows his way around a plumbing system. He's 
     spent the last 5-years learning to install and repair 
     commercial and residential plumbing systems, as well as 
     designing new systems, laying or fitting pipes and repairing 
     and maintaining appliances in Houston Community College's 
     (HCC) apprenticeship program.
       ``I've learned so much over the five year period. From math 
     basic, AutoCAD, shop classes to welding and learning how to 
     pipe a dollhouse,'' said Soileau.
       Unlike many college students, Soileau got paid to go to 
     school. The 3-5 year apprenticeship program mixes paid on-
     the-job training with classroom instruction allowing the 
     student to earn as they learn.
       ``This program gave me the opportunity to make a living and 
     eliminate any doubts I had about how I was going to pay my 
     tuition. It was a win/win situation for me.''
       As Soileau nears the end of the apprenticeship program, he 
     is looking forward to starting his career as a Master Plumber 
     and with a five-year work history; he says he is confident 
     about his training and his future.


            HCC apprentice students help build new hospital

       Eleven Houston Community College (HCC) and Independent 
     Electrical Contractors (IEC) apprentice students broke ground 
     on the Jeanie Sealy Hospital construction project in 
     Galveston, Texas in September 2012. In collaboration with 
     numerous contracted workers, HCC students are proving on a 
     daily basis that their apprentice training is valuable to the 
     project.
       ``The project is an example of the quality of electricians 
     being trained at their apprentice school. The old time skills 
     of electrical workers simply are no longer sufficient to meet 
     the demands of modern day technology in accomplishing the 
     work,'' said Eddie Rodriquez, Director of IEC Apprentice 
     School.
       The total project was design by computer aided drafting or 
     AutoCAD with prefabrication of all conduits including the 
     smaller \3/4\'' size conduit at their fabrication shop and 
     shipped to the job site for installation. The complexity of 
     this project has construction veterans in awe of the 
     students' knowledge and success.
       ``I was totally impressed with the complexity and quality 
     of the conduit installation in such a complex and compact 
     facility as a modern hospital requires,'' said Doug Posey, 
     HCC Director of Apprenticeship Programs.
       Apprentice workers training has been recognized in 
     providing increased productivity by 24%, worker turnover down 
     by 43%, job site absenteeism down by 59%, Occupational Safety 
     & Health Administration (OSHA) recordable injuries down by 
     67%, and first aid cases down by 90%.
       ``IEC continues to modernize their training methods and the 
     technology needed to satisfy the contractor's needs to stay 
     productive and competitive in today's market place,'' said 
     Rodriquez.
       The Jeanie Sealy Hospital project contract is valued at 
     $27.4 million. The project is scheduled to conclude August 
     2015.

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