Reps. Norcross, McKinley, Sens. Coons, Young Bill to Expand Registered Apprenticeships in High-Growth Job Sectors Passes House

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representatives Donald Norcross, (NJ-01) and David McKinley P.E. (R-W.Va.) and U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) celebrated the House passage of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020. The bill, which includes their bipartisan and bicameral Apprenticeship Hubs Across America Act, will invest more than $3.5 billion to create nearly one million new apprenticeship opportunities over the next five years.

“A Registered Apprenticeship shaped my life – laying the foundation for me to go from the construction site to Congress,” said Congressman Norcross. “I am pleased that the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 includes our Apprenticeship Hubs Across America Act, which will provide students and workers across the country access to apprenticeship opportunities by expanding and strengthening the proven models developed by the Registered Apprenticeship Program. Expanding access to Registered Apprenticeships – our country’s most successful workforce training program – will allow workers to earn while they learn and accelerate our economic recovery. I urge our colleagues in the Senate to consider the National Apprenticeship Act and support American workers and their futures.”

“Investing in job training programs and apprenticeships is crucial, especially when COVID-19 has left millions of Americans without work,” said Congressman McKinley. “By increasing access to apprenticeships, we will close the skilled workers gap, create good-paying jobs in our communities, and help aid in our economic recovery.”

“I am proud that the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 includes our Apprenticeship Hubs Across America Act, a bill to expand organizations like Delaware Pathways that help employers design, develop, and deliver Registered Apprenticeship Programs,” said Senator Coons. “As the economic disruption of COVID-19 has left millions of Americans without work, it is more important than ever for the government to invest in quality job training programs, like Registered Apprenticeships, and create more opportunities for America’s displaced workers and youth. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to consider the National Apprenticeship Act immediately.”

“As a member of the Senate Career and Technical Education Caucus, I have witnessed the benefits of apprenticeships and the opportunities they provide,” said Senator Young. “Now that a global pandemic has left countless Americans without work, it is more important than ever that we invest in career-supporting apprenticeship programs. I’m pleased that our Apprenticeship Hubs Across America Act is one step closer to becoming law.”

The National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 is endorsed by American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), Jobs for the Future (JFF), National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), National Skills Coalition (NSC), National Taskforce on Tradeswomen’s Issues (TWTF), North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), and Third Way.

The bill text of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 is available here.

A one-pager for the Apprenticeship Hubs Across America Act is available here.

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