The House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), along with a group of bipartisan Members  (18 House Democrats and 15 House Republicans) have introduced the National Apprenticeship Act of 2023 (H.R. 2851). The bill would reauthorize the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Registered Apprenticeship (RA) program and create nearly one million new opportunities by investing more than $3.8 billion, over five years. These resources would help scale up apprenticeship opportunities and expand apprenticeships into new and in-demand industry sectors and occupations.

Section 201, of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2023 authorizes the DOL award for the grants to eligible entities and encourages employer participation in “high-need social service-related industries, sectors or occupations, such as direct care workers and early childhood educators.” The grant application requirements also state potential program participants should support recruitment, retention and competition, for nontraditional populations and individuals who have barriers to employment.

You can access the bill language here, and a fact sheet on the bill here.