Sponsors (14)
The bill provides targeted federal grants, safety-aligned training standards, and data to expand equitable pre-apprenticeship-to-apprenticeship pathways, but meaningful expansion depends on state matching, adds administrative burdens, and is limited by modest federal funding and eligibility constraints.
Students and low-income participants face lower out-of-pocket costs because grant funds may cover tuition, fees, textbooks, equipment, and curriculum development for pre-apprenticeship instruction.
Completers of supported pre-apprenticeships gain clearer, faster pathways into qualified apprenticeships (when space/qualifications permit), improving access to skilled careers for young adults and jobseekers.
The Act provides predictable implementation funding ($15 million per year, FY2026–FY2031), which enables program setup, federal staffing, and initial operations needed to launch the initiative.
State governments and local taxpayers may need to provide substantial matching funds because the Federal share is capped (20%–50%), shifting costs to state budgets and potentially limiting participation.
Federal taxpayers fund $90 million total over six years (FY2026–FY2031), a nontrivial outlay that could affect other budget priorities or add to deficits.
States face increased administrative burden from detailed application, reporting, performance measures, and coordination requirements (including alignment with Perkins and WIOA), which can strain limited state workforce staff.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Creates competitive state grants for pre-apprenticeship and related instruction, requires Labor Dept. analysis of underused apprenticeship occupations, and authorizes $15M/year for 2026–2031.
Official title: To assist States in, and pay for the Federal share of the cost of, defraying the cost of pre-apprenticeships or related instruction associated with qualified apprenticeship programs, and for other purposes.
Introduced March 3, 2025 by Rosa L. Delauro · Last progress March 3, 2025
Creates a federal grant program to help states support pre-apprenticeship and qualified apprenticeship programs, requires the Labor Department to identify occupations where apprenticeship is underused and report findings to states and Congress, and authorizes $15 million per year for fiscal years 2026–2031 to carry out the law. The bill defines key terms (qualified apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, related instruction, sponsor, postsecondary educational institution) and sets competitive grant application requirements for states.