Pre-Apprenticeship Wrap-around Support Services Fund Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5806
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Labor and Employment
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-10-21: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-08T16:32:36Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Pre-Apprenticeship Wrap-around Support Services Fund Act of 2025 aims to support individuals entering skilled trades by funding stipends through grants. These stipends help cover costs that might otherwise prevent participation in pre-apprenticeship programs, which prepare people for registered apprenticeship programs (formal, government-recognized training combining work and classroom instruction leading to skilled jobs).
Key Provisions
- Grant Program: The Secretary of Labor can award grants to eligible applicants to provide stipends to enrollees in pre-apprenticeship programs. These programs must prepare participants for registered apprenticeships, include a formal agreement with apprenticeship sponsors, and offer education and hands-on training aligned with industry standards without replacing existing workers.
- Eligibility and Application: Eligible applicants include joint labor-management groups, industry partnerships, schools, career education centers, state or local workforce boards, or community organizations that run pre-apprenticeship programs. They must submit applications as required by the Secretary.
- Performance and Data Requirements: Grantees must set performance goals, such as the percentage of participants entering apprenticeships or jobs within 12 months, their earnings, and credential attainment (e.g., a certificate or high school diploma equivalent). They must collect and report annual data on these metrics, stipend numbers, and amounts.
- Prioritization and Stipend Use: Stipends prioritize individuals facing employment barriers (e.g., those with disabilities, low income, or criminal records, as defined in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act). Funds can only reimburse specific costs: transportation (like gas or bus fares), lost wages from reduced work hours due to program participation, or fees for industry certifications.
- Reporting Obligations: Grantees report data to the Secretary annually starting one year after receiving funds. The Secretary reports progress to House and Senate education/labor committees annually, beginning one year after enactment.
- Funding: Authorizes whatever funds Congress appropriates as needed to implement the program.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new federal grant program specifically for stipend support in pre-apprenticeship programs, building on but not amending existing laws like the National Apprenticeship Act (which governs registered apprenticeships) or the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (which defines terms like employment barriers and credentials). It expands access to preparatory training without altering core apprenticeship registration rules.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Labor gains responsibility for administering grants, reviewing applications, and compiling reports, potentially increasing administrative workload but supporting broader workforce goals.
- Citizens: Individuals, especially those with employment barriers, may gain easier access to training, reducing financial hurdles and improving pathways to stable jobs and higher earnings in skilled trades. This could boost overall workforce participation and reduce unemployment in targeted groups.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic workforce development.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Individuals in Pre-Apprenticeship Programs: Primary beneficiaries, particularly those with barriers to employment, who receive stipends to offset costs.
- Eligible Applicants/Grantees: Organizations like labor unions, schools, community groups, and workforce boards that operate programs and must meet reporting and performance standards to access funds.
- Department of Labor: Oversees the program, including grant awards and congressional reporting.
- Apprenticeship Sponsors and Employers: Indirectly benefit from better-prepared entrants into registered programs, potentially improving talent pipelines.
- Congressional Committees: Receive ongoing reports to monitor effectiveness.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Aligns with federal workforce laws by incorporating definitions from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, ensuring consistency. The formal agreements between pre-apprenticeship providers and sponsors create enforceable pathways to apprenticeships, including credit for prior training, which could reduce disputes over qualifications.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges; it involves standard congressional spending power for education and labor programs without infringing on states' rights, though states may participate via local boards.
- Political: Promotes equity in workforce access by prioritizing disadvantaged groups, potentially appealing to bipartisan interests in job training and economic mobility. Success depends on appropriations, which could spark debates on funding priorities amid budget constraints.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-10-21: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-10-21: Introduced in House
- 2025-10-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Pre-Apprenticeship Wrap-around Support Services Fund Act of 2025 — issued 2025-10-21 — PDF (8 pages)