American Apprenticeship Act

This proposal, called the American Apprenticeship Act, would help states cover part of the cost for pre-apprenticeships and the classroom or online instruction that goes with apprenticeship programs. It would create competitive grants that states can use to pay tuition, fees, books, equipment, curriculum, and other needed materials. The federal share would be 20% to 50% of these costs, and states could cover the rest with cash or in‑kind support, including donations. These funds are meant to add to, not replace, other workforce dollars.

To get a grant, a state must submit a plan that coordinates with workforce and education programs, works with industry and colleges, and expands access in fields like IT, health care, advanced manufacturing, and transportation. The plan must show targeted outreach to groups such as youth, veterans, people with disabilities, people with barriers to work, and minority communities. Applications are reviewed by teams from the Labor and Education Departments. States can use up to 10% of the grant for administration, and the program will track results and report to Congress by September 30, 2030.

The Labor Department would also identify in‑demand jobs that don’t widely use apprenticeships and report its findings to states. The bill authorizes $15 million per year from fiscal years 2026 through 2031.

• Who is affected: States, apprentices and trainees, employers in high‑demand industries, colleges, and workforce partners.
• What changes: Competitive grants to lower training costs; outreach to underrepresented groups; limits on admin costs; performance tracking and a federal report.
• When: Funding authorized for 2026–2031; federal evaluation report due by September 30, 2030.