02.05.21

Chairman Scott Praises Passage of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021

WASHINGTON  Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the House passed the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021, which invests $3.5 billion in our apprenticeship system, ensures consistency and quality across apprenticeships, and expands opportunities for diverse workers in emerging sectors.

“Registered Apprenticeships are this nation’s most successful federally funded workforce development initiative.  Each year, hundreds of thousands of Americans count on Registered Apprenticeships to access paid, on-the-job learning opportunities and career pathways.  Investing in Registered Apprenticeships not only benefits workers; it also strengthens our economy and helps employers build pipelines of talented and dedicated workers.  Yet, Congress has not reauthorized the National Apprenticeship Act since it was first passed in 1937.

“This is now more dire since we the COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant and lasting hardship for our nation’s workers.  Millions of people are still without work, and at least 7 million of the jobs lost during the COVID-19 pandemic may never come back. We must use every tool we have to help workers find jobs and prepare them for high-quality employment opportunities, particularly while our country faces a historic economic downturn.  By passing the bipartisan National Apprenticeship Act of 2021, we will help accelerate our economic recovery and create an additional 1 million apprenticeship opportunities so that workers across the country, and across industries, can benefit from Registered Apprenticeship opportunities for years to come.” 

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