[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1271-S1272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. THUNE (for himself, Mr. Braun, Mr. Scott of South 
        Carolina, and Mr. Tuberville):
  S. 1213. A bill to require the Secretary of Labor to implement the 
industry-recognized apprenticeship program process, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1213

       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 ``Training America's Workforce 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.

        The Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the 
     ``National Apprenticeship Act''; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 
     29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating section 4 as section 5; and
       (2) by inserting after section 3 the following:

     ``SEC. 4. INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Industry-recognized apprenticeship program.--The term 
     `industry-recognized apprenticeship program'--
       ``(A) means a high-quality, competency-based apprenticeship 
     program that is--
       ``(i) recognized by a standards recognition entity; and
       ``(ii) developed or delivered by an entity such as a trade 
     or industry group, corporation, nonprofit organization, 
     institution of higher education, labor organization, or 
     labor-management organization (among other entities, as 
     determined appropriate by the Secretary); and
       ``(B) may include a program that meets the requirements of 
     subparagraph (A) and trains apprentices to perform 
     construction activities.
       ``(2) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
     of Labor.
       ``(3) Standards recognition entity.--The term `standards 
     recognition entity' means a private sector or public sector 
     entity that--
       ``(A) is recognized by the Secretary (acting through the 
     Administrator of the Office of Apprenticeship of the 
     Department of Labor) for purposes of recognizing 
     apprenticeship programs as industry-recognized apprenticeship 
     programs;
       ``(B) has a demonstrated ability to ensure an industry-
     recognized apprenticeship program meets the standards 
     described in subsection (d); and
       ``(C) has the capacity to perform the oversight necessary 
     to ensure the ongoing compliance of an industry-recognized 
     apprenticeship program with such standards.
       ``(b) Recognition of Industry-recognized Apprenticeship 
     Programs.--
       ``(1) In general.--By not later than 1 year after the date 
     of enactment of the Training America's Workforce Act, the 
     Secretary,

[[Page S1272]]

     after consultation with private sector industry associations, 
     institutions of higher education, State, local, and Tribal 
     governmental agencies, and other stakeholders the Secretary 
     determines appropriate, shall establish a process to 
     recognize entities as standards recognition entities for 
     purposes of recognizing industry-recognized apprenticeship 
     programs under this Act.
       ``(2) Limited discretion.--The Secretary shall not deny 
     recognition as a standards recognition entity to a private 
     sector or public sector entity that meets the requirements of 
     subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subsection (a)(3) and 
     satisfactorily completes the process established under 
     paragraph (1).
       ``(3) Administrative flexibility.--The Secretary shall 
     ensure that the recognition process for standards recognition 
     entities established under paragraph (1) is a flexible 
     process with low administrative and reporting burdens for the 
     standards recognition entities and industry-recognized 
     apprenticeship programs.
       ``(c) Requirements.--The recognition process of standards 
     recognition entities and the activities and procedures 
     carried out by the standards recognition entities shall, to 
     the maximum extent practicable and except as otherwise 
     explicitly provided in this section, be consistent with the 
     requirements, activities, and procedures under subpart B of 
     part 29 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, as such 
     subpart was in effect on May 11, 2020.
       ``(d) Standards.--Each standards recognition entity shall 
     establish standards for the industry-recognized 
     apprenticeship programs recognized by the entity that, at a 
     minimum, ensure that each industry-recognized apprenticeship 
     program--
       ``(1) includes--
       ``(A) paid work;
       ``(B) on-the-job learning;
       ``(C) a mentorship component;
       ``(D) education and classroom instruction;
       ``(E) a written training plan and apprenticeship agreement; 
     and
       ``(F) safety and supervision components; and
       ``(2) provides, during participation in or upon completion 
     of the apprenticeship, an industry-recognized credential.
       ``(e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall 
     be construed as affecting apprenticeship programs registered 
     under this Act and recognized by the Secretary.''.

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