Sponsors
The bill expands access to pre-apprenticeships and credentialing by funding targeted stipends and improving program accountability, but it increases federal spending, limits the types of support participants can use, and may impose administrative burdens that affect smaller providers and allocation equity.
Low-income individuals, unemployed workers, and people with disabilities gain direct financial support (stipends for transportation, lost wages, and certification costs) while enrolled in pre-apprenticeship programs, making participation feasible.
Students and unemployed workers who complete pre-apprenticeships are more likely to enroll in registered apprenticeships or obtain industry employment within 12 months, improving job prospects and potential earnings.
State governments and community organizations administering grants must track outcomes and report annually, increasing accountability and producing data to evaluate and improve workforce investments.
Taxpayers face increased federal spending because the program authorizes open-ended funds (‘such sums as may be necessary’) to fund grants.
Participants with other needs (childcare, housing, supplies) may remain unsupported because stipends are limited to transportation, lost wages, and certification costs, reducing program effectiveness for some low-income enrollees.
Smaller providers and local partners may face burdens from required data collection, performance metrics, and reporting, which could discourage their participation or raise administrative costs.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a federal grant program to provide stipends for pre-apprenticeship participants, prioritizing those with employment barriers and requiring performance reporting.
Introduced October 21, 2025 by Adam Smith · Last progress October 21, 2025
Creates a federal grant program that pays stipends to people enrolled in pre-apprenticeship programs to help cover transportation, lost wages from reduced work hours, and costs for industry certifications. Grants go to eligible organizations that apply to the Department of Labor and must collect and report performance data on enrollment, employment, earnings, and credential attainment. Grantees must prioritize stipends for people with barriers to employment, set specific performance indicators, submit annual reports to the Secretary, and the Secretary must report to relevant congressional committees each year. Funding is authorized as “such sums as may be necessary.”