Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes the Office of Apprenticeship under the Employment and Training Administration within the Department of Labor and provides for related grant programs, effective July 1, 2021.

Highlights:

• Establishes an Office of Apprenticeship under the Employment and Training Administration within the Department of Labor (Sec. 111).

• Requires the Administrator of the Office of Apprenticeship to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible entities on a competitive basis for one or more of the following purposes (Sec. 201):

• To expand the offerings of programs under the national apprenticeship system:

• To create new apprenticeship programs in a non-traditional apprenticeship industry or occupation, such as programs demonstrating demand in information technology, computer science, energy, green jobs, advanced manufacturing, health care, media and entertainment, education, hospitality and tourism, or cybersecurity;

• To expand existing apprenticeship programs demonstrating labor market demand; 

• To create new or expand existing pre-apprenticeship programs; or

• To create new or expand existing youth apprenticeship programs;

• To encourage employer participation in programs under the national apprenticeship system: 

• That target individuals with barriers to employment in youth apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, or apprenticeship programs, prioritizing non-traditional apprenticeship populations such as women, minorities, long-term unemployed individuals, individuals with disabilities, individuals experiencing homelessness, individuals impacted by the criminal or juvenile justice system, and foster youth; 

• That are high-need social services-related industries, sectors, or occupations, such as direct care workers and early childhood, elementary school, and secondary school educators; 

• That target individuals currently or recently incarcerated; or 

• Among small and medium-sized employers;

• If the eligible entity is a qualified intermediary: 

• To support national industry and equity intermediaries in establishing or expanding sector-based partnerships to support the delivery or expansion of programs under the national apprenticeship system to significant scale in the United States: 

• In key sectors, including manufacturing, information technology, cybersecurity, healthcare, insurance and finance, energy, hospitality, retail, and construction; or

• For the non-traditional apprenticeship populations, women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and individuals impacted by the criminal or juvenile justice system; 

• To serve programs under the national apprenticeship system in a local or regional setting; or

• To strengthen the alignment between programs under the national apprenticeship system and education and training providers with secondary, postsecondary, and adult education systems, including degree and credential requirements. 

• Authorizes the following amounts in appropriations to carry out the above-mentioned grants (Sec. 204):

• $400 million for the 2021 fiscal year; 

• $500 million for the 2022 fiscal year; 

• $600 million for the 2023 fiscal year; 

• $700 million for the 2024 fiscal year; and

• $800 million for the 2025 fiscal year.

• Authorizes the following amounts in appropriations to fund programs within state apprenticeship agencies and state offices of apprenticeship (Sec. 113):

• $75 million for the 2021 fiscal year; 

• $85 million for the 2022 fiscal year; 

• $95 million for the 2023 fiscal year; 

• $105 million for the 2024 fiscal year; and 

• $115 million for the 2025 fiscal year.

• Requires any funds appropriated under this bill to be used only for programs under the national apprenticeship system, including any funds awarded for the purposes of grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, or for the development, implementation, or administration of programs under the national apprenticeship system (Sec. 3).

• Defines an “eligible entity” as (Sec. 2):

• A program sponsor; 

• A state workforce development board or state workforce agency; 

• An education and training provider; 

• If the applicant is in a state with a state apprenticeship agency, such state apprenticeship agency; 

• An Indian tribe or tribal organization; 

• An industry or sector partnership, a group of employers, or a trade association;

• A governor of a state; 

• A labor organization; or 

• A qualified intermediary.

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text