Apprenticeship Opportunity Act

Bill Number

H.R. 1859

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Social Welfare

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-03-05: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Last Updated

2026-04-28T08:06:12Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Apprenticeship Opportunity Act (H.R. 1859) aims to encourage low-income individuals to participate in registered apprenticeships by ensuring that income earned during the first year of such programs does not affect their eligibility for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), a federal-state welfare program that provides cash assistance to needy families with children.

Key Provisions

• Income Disregard Requirement: States receiving TANF block grants must ignore all income from the first year of a registered apprenticeship (under the National Apprenticeship Act) when determining a person's eligibility for TANF benefits.
• Penalty for Non-Compliance: If a state fails to follow this rule in a given fiscal year, the federal government will reduce the state's TANF grant by 1% in the following fiscal year.
• Effective Date: The changes take effect on the first day of the first federal fiscal year after the bill is enacted into law.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill amends Section 408(a) of the Social Security Act to add a new requirement for states to disregard first-year apprenticeship income in TANF eligibility calculations. It also amends Section 409(a) to introduce a specific penalty for violations. Previously, TANF rules allowed states flexibility in how they treat earned income, but this creates a mandatory federal standard for apprenticeship income, promoting consistency across states.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Low-income TANF recipients, particularly those entering apprenticeships, can earn money in their first year without risking loss of benefits, potentially increasing access to skilled training and long-term employment opportunities.
• On Government Agencies: State TANF programs must update eligibility processes to comply, which may require administrative changes. The federal Department of Health and Human Services (which oversees TANF) gains enforcement authority through grant reductions, ensuring nationwide adherence.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic welfare and workforce policy.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• TANF Recipients: Primarily low-income families and individuals seeking apprenticeships, who benefit from preserved eligibility.
• States and Local Welfare Agencies: Responsible for implementing the income disregard and facing potential funding penalties for non-compliance.
• Apprenticeship Programs: Registered programs under the National Apprenticeship Act may see increased participation from welfare recipients.
• Federal Government: The Department of Health and Human Services enforces the policy and manages grant adjustments.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens federal oversight of state TANF administration by mandating a specific income treatment, aligning with the program's goals of promoting work and self-sufficiency (TANF, enacted in 1996, emphasizes employment). No challenges to state sovereignty are evident, as states already receive block grants with conditions.
• Constitutional: Appears consistent with Congress's spending power under Article I, Section 8, as it attaches conditions to federal funds without compelling states to participate.
• Political: Supports bipartisan workforce development initiatives by bridging welfare and job training, potentially reducing long-term reliance on public assistance while addressing skills gaps in the economy. It may face debate over federal mandates on state programs but promotes equity in opportunity.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]

Cosponsors (7)

Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2], Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]

Recent Actions

• 2025-03-05: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
• 2025-03-05: Introduced in House
• 2025-03-05: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Apprenticeship Opportunity Act — issued 2025-03-05 — PDF (3 pages)