Rep. Stevens Votes to Create Nearly One Million New Apprenticeship Opportunities

WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11) voted in support of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021 of which she is a co-sponsor. The bill passed with bipartisan support. The bill aims to create nearly 1 million new apprenticeship opportunities by investing in the expansion of Registered Apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeships.

“As a workforce development professional, I know that apprenticeship programs can change lives by opening up new opportunities and giving more people access to a good-paying job,” said Congresswoman Stevens. “The National Apprenticeship Act makes significant investments in our nation’s workforce by creating nearly one million new apprenticeship opportunities over five years. As we live through the deepest economic decline in decades, this legislation would kickstart our economic recovery by expanding programs that are proven to get people back to work. Now more than ever, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage, we need to create career opportunities for hardworking Americans and pathways to good-paying, family-wage jobs.” 

The Registered Apprenticeship (RAs) system is America’s most successful federally authorized workforce development program. According to the Department of Labor, 94 percent of people who complete RAs are employed upon completion, earning an average starting wage of above $70,000 annually. Yet, according to the most recent data, only 0.3 percent of the overall workforce in America have completed an apprenticeship.

Included in the final bill were two provisions by Congresswoman Stevens, the bipartisan Promoting Apprenticeships through Regional Training Networks for Employers Required Skills (PARTNERS) Act and an amendment to promote innovation in the apprenticeship system.

The PARTNERS Act will help small and medium sized businesses establish Registered Apprenticeships and work-based learning programs. Registered Apprenticeships and work-based learning programs provide individuals with paid, on-the-job training and classroom instruction. These investments are essential as our nation recovers from the economic consequences from the COVID-19 pandemic, and hundreds of thousands of workers have been displaced or dislocated. Unfortunately, small and medium sized businesses often lack the infrastructure and resources to establish apprenticeships or work-based learning programs on their own. Industry partnerships can help by bringing together employers, education organizations, training, labor, and community-based organizations to develop work-based learning programs.

Congresswoman Stevens’ amendment will authorize $2 million to initiate demonstration projects in non-traditional apprenticeship industries or occupations such as advanced manufacturing or information technology. This will spur innovative new models within the apprenticeship system.