Sponsors (33)
The bill directs modest, predictable federal funding and targeted outreach to expand construction and manufacturing apprenticeships and supports for underserved students—improving access, retention, and credentialing—but constrains scale and scope with industry limits, grant caps, accreditation ties, and administrative requirements that may disadvantage small or nontraditional providers.
Rural and underrepresented students gain increased outreach and access to construction and manufacturing apprenticeships through targeted grants and clarified definitions, improving recruitment from non-English speakers and underserved communities.
Students, employers, and local workforce boards receive predictable federal funding ($5M/year FY2026–FY2030; $25M total) to expand apprenticeship pipelines in construction and manufacturing, supporting employer hiring and local skilled-worker supply.
Apprentices receive expanded academic and career advising plus wraparound supports (mental health, childcare, ESL), reducing nonacademic barriers and increasing retention and completion rates.
Small, rural, and nonprofit apprenticeship providers may be disadvantaged by application complexity and ongoing reporting requirements, limiting their ability to apply for and administer grants.
The program is limited to construction and manufacturing apprenticeships, excluding apprentices in other industries from these supports and narrowing benefits for workers in other sectors.
Tying eligibility to HEA Title IV Part H–recognized accreditation and to credit-bearing credentials risks excluding smaller or nontraditional providers and apprentices who complete certificate-only programs from program benefits.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes two competitive grant programs to expand outreach and student supports for construction‑ and manufacturing‑oriented registered apprenticeship colleges, $5M/year each for FY2026–2030.
Introduced July 22, 2025 by Angela Craig · Last progress July 22, 2025
Creates two federal competitive grant programs to help colleges that run construction- and manufacturing‑focused registered apprenticeship programs expand outreach and provide student support. One grant program funds outreach to high schools, local employers, workforce boards, and nontraditional students (with priority for rural, first‑generation, minority, and other underrepresented students); the other funds expanded academic advising and student support services for apprenticeship enrollees. Each grant program is administered by the Secretary of Education (in consultation with the Secretary of Labor), limits awards to $500,000 per recipient, and is authorized at $5 million per year for FY2026–FY2030. Eligible recipients are institutions of higher education that sponsor construction- and manufacturing‑oriented registered apprenticeship programs; grantees must apply, report on participation and performance, and target outreach to underrepresented groups and regions.