Sponsors (10)
The bill modestly expands and funds targeted pre-apprenticeship supports and data-driven planning to improve equity and job pathways, but it relies on state matching, imposes administrative requirements, limits eligible sectors, and leaves implementation and funding details vague — concentrating benefits for participants while shifting costs and burdens to States and taxpayers.
Students, low-income individuals, and postsecondary trainees gain reduced out-of-pocket costs because States may cover tuition, fees, textbooks, equipment, and curriculum costs for related pre-apprenticeship instruction.
Completers of pre-apprenticeships and other trainees get stronger, industry-aligned pathways into qualified apprenticeships and hands-on, safety-supervised training that can improve job readiness and workplace safety.
Underrepresented groups — including racial/ethnic minorities, youth, people with disabilities, and veterans — are prioritized by grant requirements, increasing targeted opportunities and equity in apprenticeship access.
State governments and taxpayers face additional costs because the Federal share is capped (20–50%), requiring State or private matching funds that may limit participation or strain State budgets.
State administrative burden increases — detailed application, reporting, performance measures, and coordination requirements combined with a 10% cap on administrative funds may strain State implementation capacity.
Apprenticeship programs and students may be excluded because the bill limits support to 'qualified apprenticeships' concentrated in sectors under 10%, potentially leaving larger apprenticeship sectors and trainees without access to these resources.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes competitive state grants for tuition assistance for pre-apprenticeship and qualified apprenticeship programs and requires Labor to analyze apprenticeship gaps; funds $15M/year for FY2026–2031.
Introduced March 3, 2025 by Rosa L. Delauro · Last progress March 3, 2025
Creates a federal program to expand pre-apprenticeship and specialized "qualified apprenticeship" programs by defining terms, authorizing competitive state grants for tuition assistance, and directing the Labor Department to analyze gaps in apprenticeship use for in-demand occupations. It also authorizes $15 million per year for fiscal years 2026–2031 to carry out the law. Establishes definitions for pre-apprenticeship and qualified apprenticeship, sets minimum elements for pre-apprenticeship programs (industry-aligned curriculum, supervised hands-on and classroom training, and formal agreements with apprenticeship sponsors), requires the Secretary of Labor to identify occupations with low apprenticeship usage and report findings, and creates a grant application process for states to receive tuition-assistance funding for these programs.