During National Apprenticeship Week, a nationwide effort led by the U.S. Department of Labor to highlight apprenticeship as an “earn‑while‑you‑learn” workforce strategy, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R‑LA), joined by Republican colleagues, introduced on April 27, 2026, two bills aimed at strengthening and modernizing the federal Registered Apprenticeship system. The timing underscores growing bipartisan interest in apprenticeships and highlights how registered apprenticeship programs are expanding across industries, including healthcare. The proposals align with the administration’s priority of making apprenticeships a central pillar of the country’s workforce development strategy.

One of the Cassidy bills would establish a new advisory committee within the Department of Labor to review and improve how registered apprenticeship data are collected and used. The committee would develop recommendations to improve data quality, better integrate apprenticeship data with other federal workforce and education systems, and reduce administrative burdens for apprenticeship sponsors. The bill also emphasizes stronger tracking of apprentice outcomes, including completion rates and earnings, and expanded worker access to their own training and employment records.

The second bill would create clearer timelines and expectations for registering new apprenticeship programs. Under the proposal, states or the Department of Labor would be required to identify clerical issues within 30 days of a program submission and make a final approval or denial decision within 90 days. The bill also includes new transparency requirements, directing states to publicly post apprenticeship standards and related requirements, and authorizes additional formula funding to help states meet these timelines, with accountability measures if deadlines are missed.

For LeadingAge members facing persistent workforce shortages — particularly in direct care roles — streamlined federal processes and expanded state capacity could make apprenticeships a more accessible and practical option during National Apprenticeship Week and beyond.