Washington, D.C. — Today, the House passed the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021, bipartisan legislation supported by Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02) that will invest more than $3.5 billion over five years to create nearly 1 million additional apprenticeship opportunities. This 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. 

“A year into this public health crisis, COVID-19 continues to disrupt our economy and force people out of work,” said Rep. Kuster. “As we continue to combat this pandemic, it’s critical we take action to mitigate its economic and societal impact. The National Apprenticeship Act of 2021 seeks to do just that. 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 Granite State workers on the path to a brighter future. I’m thrilled this commonsense and much-needed measure has once again passed the House, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to swiftly bring it to a vote.”

The National Apprenticeship Act of 2021:

• Authorizes $400 million for the fiscal year 2022, increasing by $100 million annually to $800 million for FY 2026 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. 

Rep. Kuster has been a consistent advocate for investing in workforce development programs and expanding economic opportunity for all Granite Staters and people across the country. Last year, 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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