    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 133, 116th Congress, 1st Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 9964 of November 8, 2019

    National Apprenticeship Week, 2019

    By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    Our Nation's robust economy continues to flourish, creating new
    opportunities for Americans and securing our continued dominance of
    global markets. As President, I have reduced tax burdens and eliminated
    unnecessary regulations, producing the lowest unemployment rate in 50
    years and more job openings than there are job seekers for 19 months in
    a row. My Administration is committed to helping all Americans take
    advantage of this historically strong job market and secure lasting
    prosperity by ensuring they have access to skills-training that will
    enable them to launch successful careers in any industry. As we observe
    National Apprenticeship Week, we celebrate the growing optimism of
    workers across our country and strengthen our resolve to continue
    empowering our workers to achieve the American Dream.
    Encouraging the creation and expansion of apprenticeships is a
    cornerstone of my commitment to helping improve employment prospects for
    students and workers. My Administration continues to make unprecedented
    investments to ensure apprenticeships remain accessible to all
    Americans, allocating more than $300 million to that mission this year
    alone. We awarded nearly $184 million to the Scaling Apprenticeship
    Through Sector-Based Strategies grant program to encourage private-
    public partnerships in high-growth industries, including information
    technology, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare. We have also
    invested $160 million to expand the number of apprentices in Registered
    Apprenticeship programs nationwide, helping to increase the number and
    diversity of apprentices in every State.
    Through workplace and classroom education, apprentices gain valuable
    knowledge and credentials, drastically improving their future ca

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    reer trajectory. Apprenticeship programs enable Americans to
    simultaneously earn and learn while avoiding burdensome student loans.
    They also guarantee American companies access to the skilled employees
    they need to accelerate growth and innovation. We have achieved great
    success increasing the availability of these invaluable programs, with
    240,000 new apprentices hired and 3,300 new programs launched just last
    year.
    I am determined to build upon our economic successes and encourage
    business leaders, industry experts, and educational institutions to
    seize the opportunity to expand career-changing apprenticeship programs.
    I have called on the private sector to invest in the education and
    skills training of their future and current workers so that all
    Americans are prepared for the jobs of today and tomorrow. To date, more
    than 360 companies have committed to investing in over 14 million
    students and workers through our Pledge to America's Workers. My
    Administration is also developing standards for industry-recognized
    apprenticeship programs, which will assist workers in obtaining the
    knowledge they need to secure family-sustaining careers by taking
    advantage of high-quality, demand-driven opportunities. Additionally, we
    are supporting the growth of youth apprenticeship programs that combine
    academic and technical classroom instruction with work experience and
    increasing awareness among middle and high school students about the
    many benefits of apprenticeships.
    This week, we recommit our efforts to fostering greater opportunity for
    current and future workers by supporting expanded access to
    apprenticeships. By increasing training and educational programs, we
    will renew our Nation's workforce and help hardworking Americans create
    a brighter future for themselves and their families while further
    strengthening our robust economy.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of
    America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
    the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 11 through
    November 17, 2019, as National Apprenticeship Week.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of
    November, in the year of our Lord two thousand nineteen, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
    fourth.
    DONALD J. TRUMP