Washington, DC - Today, the House passed the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, bipartisan legislation backed by Rep. Kuster that will invest more than $3.5 billion over five years to create nearly 1 million additional apprenticeship opportunities. The bill would reauthorize the National Apprenticeship Act for the first time since its enactment in 1937. Registered apprenticeships provide apprentices with paid, on-the-job training and are the nation’s most successful federal workforce training program. 

“As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt our economy and force people out of work, it is critical for us to take additional action to mitigate the harmful impacts of this crisis,” said Kuster. “This legislation makes key investments in a work training program that has proven results of success for both workers and employers and will help put workers on the path to a bright future. I’m thrilled this commonsense and much-needed measure has passed the House, and I urge my Senate colleagues to swiftly bring it to a vote.” 

The National Apprenticeship Act of 2020:

-Authorizes $400 million for fiscal year 2021, increasing by $100 million annually to $800 million for FY 2025 to support the creation or expansion of registered apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeship programs.

-Codifies and streamlines standards for apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship programs.

-Codifies existing regulations and practices to ensure that all individuals have an equal opportunity to participate in programs under the national apprenticeship system.

-Codifies the roles and responsibilities of the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Apprenticeship.

-Codifies the roles and responsibilities of the State Apprenticeship Agencies (SAAs).

-Strengthens the connections between the Department of Education and the Department of Labor through an interagency agreement to support the creation and expansion of youth apprenticeships, college consortiums, and data sharing agreements. 

Congresswoman Kuster has worked tirelessly to invest in workforce development programs and expand economic opportunity for all Granite Staters and people across the country. Last month, she unveiled her 2020 Jobs and Opportunity Agenda, which outlines a comprehensive approach to help alleviate the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis and get our country on the road to recovery. The agenda addresses numerous areas of need and includes policies to create more apprenticeship programs. 

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