Sponsors (5)
The bill rapidly expands paid apprenticeships and employer‑driven work-based learning with targeted supports and dedicated funding, improving job pathways for many Americans, but does so by redirecting existing fee receipts and adding new administrative and allocation tradeoffs that could limit funds reaching some states, strain capacity of smaller providers, and concentrate benefits unevenly.
Low-income individuals, unemployed workers, young adults, and students gain substantially expanded access to paid apprenticeships and work-based learning with employer-provided training and ongoing post-placement supports, increasing chances of stable, higher-paying employment.
Small and medium-sized businesses receive assistance to create and register apprenticeships, develop curriculum, and train mentors, lowering barriers to hiring and making it easier for employers to recruit and retain skilled workers.
State and local workforce agencies and industry partnerships gain dedicated grants and multi-year funding flexibility to plan and sustain regional training projects and employer-driven partnerships.
States, local agencies, grant recipients, and small employers face significant new administrative, application, and reporting burdens (including collecting disaggregated data and meeting detailed application/performance requirements), which could divert resources from service delivery and deter participation.
Using existing DHS receipts and redirecting H‑1B fee receipts funds workforce programs but reduces funds available for prior DHS or other programs and limits congressional appropriators' oversight, creating tradeoffs and potential legal or political disputes over fee use.
A portion of funds is reserved for federal/state administration, evaluation, and outlying areas and complex modified allotment formulas/temporary exceptions could reduce or unpredictably delay amounts reaching states and local programs, shrinking program reach in early years.
Based on analysis of 9 sections of legislative text.
Redirects half of specified H‑1B fee receipts to fund State-allotted grants to industry/sector partnerships to expand registered apprenticeships and paid work-based learning.
Official title: To promote registered apprenticeships and other work-based learning programs for small and medium-sized businesses within in-demand industry sectors, through the establishment and support of industry or sector partnerships.
Introduced September 11, 2025 by Suzanne Bonamici · Last progress September 11, 2025
Creates a grant program to help industry/sector partnerships expand registered apprenticeships and other paid work-based learning for small and medium-sized employers in in-demand sectors, and funds the program by redirecting half of certain H‑1B fee receipts to the Department of Labor. States receive formula allotments, award grants (up to $500,000 for up to three years) to eligible local/regional partnerships, and must collect and report performance data on WIOA indicators. The law sets permissible uses (business engagement, training, supportive services) and requires at least 12 months of post-placement supports for participants.