[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 7, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H5253-H5255]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1615
             SMALL BUSINESS WORKFORCE PIPELINE ACT OF 2022

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 7622) to amend the Small Business Act to include 
requirements relating to apprenticeship program assistance for small 
business development centers, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 7622

       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 ``Small Business Workforce 
     Pipeline Act of 2022''.

     SEC. 2. SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER APPRENTICESHIP 
                   PROGRAM ASSISTANCE.

       Section 21(c)(3) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
     648(c)(1)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (T), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in clause (v) of the first subparagraph (U) (relating 
     to succession planning), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting a semicolon;
       (3) in second subparagraph (U) (relating to training on 
     domestic and international intellectual property 
     protections)--
       (A) in clause (ii)(II), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (B) by redesignating such subparagraph as subparagraph (V); 
     and
       (4) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(W) providing information and assistance to small 
     business concerns, including by disseminating relevant 
     information from the Department of Labor and other Federal 
     agencies, on how to establish and improve--
       ``(i) work-based learning opportunities (as defined in 
     section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical 
     Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302));
       ``(ii) apprenticeship programs registered under the Act of 
     August 16, 1937 (50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; commonly known as 
     the `National Apprenticeship Act'; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.);
       ``(iii) pre-apprenticeship programs; and
       ``(iv) job training programs.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New York (Ms. Velazquez) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Williams) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New York?

[[Page H5254]]

  There was no objection.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7622, the Small 
Business Workforce Pipeline Act of 2022, introduced by Mr. Crow and 
cosponsored by Mr. Fitzgerald.
  H.R. 7622 allows small business development centers to disseminate 
information from the Department of Labor regarding job training 
programs like apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships, as well as other 
work-based learning opportunities.
  Throughout the past year, small businesses have been hit hard by 
tightening labor markets, often struggling to compete with their larger 
counterparts. As the recovery continues, unemployment drops, and job 
openings grow to record heights, the smaller firms in our economy have 
found it harder than ever to recruit and retain qualified workers.
  One of the most effective workforce training methods used in the U.S. 
today is the registered apprenticeship program, an earn-while-you-learn 
system that combines classroom instruction with on-the-job training. 
According to the Department of Labor, the average starting salary for a 
graduate of an apprenticeship program is $72,000, and businesses retain 
these employees at a rate of 92 percent.
  Not only do apprenticeships provide a reliable pathway into the 
middle class for workers, but they also provide top-quality talent to 
the business that trained them.
  With assistance provided by the SBDC network, more small firms will 
have access to resources to attract and retain high-quality talent, 
helping them both establish and improve these programs for their 
businesses while providing training opportunities and job security to 
workers.
  I thank Mr. Crow for leading on this issue with a variety of hearings 
on the topic and for listening to witnesses as he worked to craft this 
legislation with Mr. Fitzgerald, Ms. Houlahan, and Mr. Garbarino. These 
bipartisan efforts will have a lasting impact on our Main Street firms.
  I urge Members to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7622, the Small Business 
Workforce Pipeline Act of 2022.
  Small businesses across the country are facing labor shortages and 
skills gaps as our Nation remains 820,000 jobs short compared to prior 
to the pandemic.
  Just last week, the NFIB reported that over half of small businesses 
have unfilled job openings. This is more than double the almost 50-year 
historical average of 23 percent. Further, of those owners hiring or 
trying to hire, 92 percent of owners reported few or no qualified 
applicants for the positions they were trying to fill.
  The Small Business Administration offers multiple resources to small 
businesses to help them face the current economic headwinds and labor 
challenges. One of these resources is the small business development 
centers, which have served to be a valuable tool for entrepreneurs and 
offer free training, counseling, and support for small businesses.
  This legislation will further improve SBDCs by expanding their 
ability to assist small businesses in establishing and improving work-
based learning opportunities and apprenticeship programs.
  To be clear, this legislation supports all work-based learning 
opportunities.
  I thank Congressman Crow as well as Congressman Fitzgerald, 
Congresswoman Houlahan, and Congressman Garbarino for working in a 
bipartisan manner to ensure this bill reached the House floor. I also 
thank the chair for advancing this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support H.R. 7622, 
which was unanimously reported out of our committee. I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Colorado (Mr. Crow).
  Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7622, the Small 
Business Workforce Pipeline Act of 2022.
  As we help small businesses navigate the labor shortage, it is more 
important than ever that we support small businesses as they work to 
find quality workers and fill positions.
  I am a huge proponent of work-based learning opportunities like 
apprenticeships that help small businesses fill job openings and help 
their workers get the skills they need so they can support their 
families. Work-based learning opportunities are a great way to attract 
quality candidates who may not be able to attend traditional education 
models.
  The Small Business Workforce Pipeline Act of 2022 aims to empower 
small business development centers, like the Aurora-South Metro SBDC in 
my district, to help small businesses establish and improve their 
apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and job training programs.
  This bill would help workers gain the skills they need for in-demand 
jobs and help small businesses grow their business.
  I thank Chairwoman Velazquez and Ranking Member Luetkemeyer for 
bringing this bill to the floor and Representatives Fitzgerald, 
Houlahan, and Garbarino for their partnership on this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 
7622.
  Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to my colleague from Wisconsin (Mr. Fitzgerald), a tireless 
advocate for small business in Wisconsin and around the country.

  Mr. FITZGERALD. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Texas (Mr. 
Williams) for yielding me time. I thank my colleagues, specifically Mr. 
Crow, for co-leading H.R. 7622, the Small Business Workforce Pipeline 
Act of 2022.
  The bill would allow small business development centers to provide 
information and assistance to small businesses on how to establish and 
improve work-based learning opportunities. It also would enhance 
apprenticeship programs, pre-apprenticeship programs, and other job 
training programs that many of us are very familiar with.
  I hear all the time from Wisconsin small businesses back in my 
district about how the country's labor shortage is affecting not only 
the recruitment of skilled employees but, in particular, manufacturing 
and, in my district, light manufacturing.
  The latest National Federation for Independent Businesses' economic 
trends report showed that while optimism in recovering to prepandemic 
employment levels is increasing, we still are very much behind the 
eight ball. Sixty percent of manufacturing firms report unfilled job 
openings.
  Apprenticeships and other job training programs provide a solution to 
address the needs of the manufacturing sector. Apprenticeships are 
among the most successful forms of workforce development, and through 
paid and on-the-job training programs, alongside classroom education, 
we can make significant strides.
  This bill would directly benefit manufacturers and other businesses 
in Wisconsin's Fifth District by having apprenticeships and other job-
training materials readily available to them.
  Madam Speaker, I support the passage of this bill.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, the SBDC program has delivered 
for small businesses for many years. The Small Business Workforce 
Pipeline Act of 2022 will help combat labor shortages by supporting 
apprenticeships and learning opportunities through SBDCs. This bill 
will help small businesses grow and equip American workers with new 
skills.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7622, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, there is no question that small firms 
are facing the most dire consequences of a tight labor market. At a 
time when the economy is recovering and businesses are seeking to 
expand their operations, lack of access to a highly skilled workforce 
can be frustrating to business owners and harmful to their recovery.
  Maintaining economic competitiveness on the world stage means 
investing in our workforce, and nobody is better equipped to do that 
than the

[[Page H5255]]

small businesses fueling our economic recovery.
  H.R. 7622 empowers SBDCs to expand workforce training resources to 
small employers struggling to find workers, which will, in turn, grow 
the skill sets of workers and the workforces of businesses.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7622, ``The 
Small Business Workforce Pipeline Act of 2022.''
  This bill's purpose is to amend the Small Business Act requirements 
relating to apprenticeship program assistance for small business 
development centers, and other purposes.
  The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a labor shortage, that affected 
businesses in unimaginable ways, especially small businesses. 
Alarmingly, 23 percent of small businesses closed due to the pandemic 
and 20 percent of small businesses that were in their first year of 
operation also failed.
  This is why now, more than ever, small businesses need our support by 
updating the laws that support them and to encourage apprenticeships.
  I support this bill's effort to establish a clear and concise plan of 
action for programing and other resources from which small businesses 
and their employees can benefit.
  I am in favor of this legislation because apprenticeships are 
tangible opportunities for successful workplace development. They 
enable young workers to gain on-the job training with educational 
resources that deliver practical experience and skills, equipping them 
for future career opportunities.
  This ``learn as you work'' style gives access to people who may not 
be able to purse traditional educational routes.
  Historically, apprenticeships focused on skills for a narrow range of 
industries that could also benefit from the academic credit and 
mentorship opportunities. For employers finding a hard time hiring 
qualified employees, apprenticeships are a direct investment that small 
businesses realize will successfully impact them.
  Madam Speaker, this bill will provide much needed assistance to 
businesses and enable them to continue their good work of providing 
training skills that will allow opportunities for employees to succeed 
in the workplace. This legislation will prepare workers for the 21st 
century workforce, while helping businesses find the skilled employees 
they need to compete.
  I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting passage of H.R. 
7622.
  SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 7622.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ROY. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________