National Apprenticeship Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. CROW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my amendment.

The registered apprenticeship system is one of America's most successful Federal workforce programs and has created a pathway for millions of Americans to achieve the American Dream.

With more than 600,000 apprenticeships nationwide, including more than 6,000 in Colorado, apprenticeships provide workers with paid, on- the-job training, and more than 94 percent of apprentices have a job after completing their program.

The National Apprenticeship Act would bring this successful program into the 21st century by investing more than $3.5 billion annually and creating 1 million new apprenticeships over the next 5 years.

Mr. Speaker, my amendment will ensure that we include educators in this program. Across the country, there is a growing demand for qualified teachers. Schools, particularly low-income schools, are struggling to hire and retain qualified teachers.

In Colorado, we have a critical shortage of thousands of teachers. Simply put, today, we can't even fully staff our classrooms. By including teachers in the expansion of this program, we will help solve this problem.

I grew up going to neighborhood public schools. I know the lasting impact teachers can have on students. Without them, I wouldn't be standing here today.

Investing in teachers and in our children should always be a top priority, and I urge my colleagues to support my amendment in the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record this letter of support from the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada. United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada, Annapolis, Maryland, February 4, 2021.

Dear Representative: On behalf of the more than 359,000 members of the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA), I write in support of H.R. 447, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021. As you know, the Registered Apprenticeship programs of the UA and North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU) are the gold standard in the industry. This bill would protect that status while also ensuring Registered Apprenticeships are more accessible for all industries seeking a highly skilled workforce.

The United Association is extremely proud of our Registered Apprenticeship and training programs. We invest more than $275 million of private money each year to ensure our members are the best trained and most highly skilled workers in the industry. Simply put, these programs produce the most highly skilled workforce in the world at no cost to the American taxpayer while also providing a fair wage, quality healthcare, and retirement. We can all be proud of the continued success of our training programs, resulting in generations of the safest workplaces and highest standards in the industry. This speaks not only to our high standards, but also to the dedication of the men and women of our union.

The National Apprenticeship Act of 2021 will continue to protect our high standards and ensure the safety of apprentices across industries. In addition, it provides apprentices with a debt-free ladder of opportunity to not only build the skills needed for a job--but for a career. The entire United Association is incredibly proud of our Registered Apprenticeship program and we look forward to seeing H.R. 447, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021, signed into law.

Thank you for all you have done to protect the livelihoods of the men and women in the construction industry. Our training and apprenticeship programs are second to none, and this bill will ensure the success and longevity of the Registered Apprenticeship system. I urge swift consideration and passage of this bill and look forward to working together to strengthen protections for our members and the entire labor community. Respectfully yours, Mark McManus, General President.

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