Apprenticeship Pathways Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 235
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Labor and Employment
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-23: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2025-04-21T12:24:17Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Apprenticeship Pathways Act of 2025 (S. 235) aims to expand access to registered apprenticeships and preparatory programs (pre-apprenticeships) for secondary school students. It directs the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, to contract with industry intermediaries—organizations that connect employers, workers, and government agencies—to develop and promote these opportunities, focusing on high-demand job fields.
Key Provisions
- Definitions: The bill defines key terms, including:
- Apprenticeship: A structured training program registered under the National Apprenticeship Act (a federal law from 1937 that sets standards for paid on-the-job training combined with classroom instruction).
- Industry intermediary: Entities like businesses, nonprofits, or consortia that bridge employers with partners (e.g., the Department of Labor or state workforce agencies) to build apprenticeship programs.
- Disconnected youth: Individuals aged 16–24 who are not in school or regularly employed for at least six months.
- Pre-apprenticeship program: Short-term training that prepares people for apprenticeships and meets federal standards.
- Other terms cover secondary schools, high-need occupations (e.g., building trades, healthcare), and underserved groups (e.g., students with disabilities or from low-income areas).
- Contract Program:
- The Secretary of Labor must award contracts to eligible industry intermediaries based on competitive applications outlining activities to promote apprenticeships for secondary students.
- Priority goes to proposals targeting underserved groups, such as:
- Students in schools where 40% qualify for free or reduced-price lunches (indicating low-income areas).
- Rural or high-poverty areas.
- Disconnected youth, Native American students (referred to as "Indian children" under federal law), women in male-dominated fields like construction, and individuals with disabilities.
- Use of Funds:
- Funds support activities like creating apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships in high-need occupations (e.g., carpentry, nursing, computer science, manufacturing).
- Specific uses include:
- Collaborating with schools and employers for training (on-the-job, technical, or academic).
- Recruiting and assessing secondary students, early college high school participants (dual-enrollment programs), or adults aged 18+.
- Providing support like coaching for life skills (e.g., employability, social-emotional development), wraparound services (e.g., tutoring, transportation aid, childcare payments), and tracking progress.
- Covering 50% of apprentice wages during training.
- Purchasing goods like tools, safety gear, books, tuition assistance, or internet access.
- Contracts are funded from appropriations authorized as "such sums as may be necessary" (no specific dollar amount set).
- High-Need Occupations: Focus areas include building trades (e.g., plumbing, welding), engineering design, healthcare (e.g., emergency medical technicians, nurses), teaching (e.g., early childhood educators), technology (e.g., data science), and manufacturing.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill builds on the National Apprenticeship Act by creating a new federal grant-like program specifically for secondary school students, which is not explicitly targeted in current law. It introduces contracts with industry intermediaries to accelerate program development and prioritizes equity for underserved populations, expanding beyond traditional adult-focused apprenticeships. It also integrates elements from laws like the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (for regional workforce planning) and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (for school definitions), but adds novel funding for wage subsidies and support services tailored to youth.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Labor (DOL) and Department of Education (DOE) will need to administer contracts, evaluate applications, and monitor programs, potentially increasing administrative workload and requiring new appropriations. State workforce agencies may see more partnerships.
- Citizens: Secondary students, especially from low-income, rural, or marginalized groups, could gain earlier entry to skilled jobs, reducing dropout rates and improving long-term earnings. Disconnected youth and women in non-traditional fields may benefit from targeted access, fostering workforce diversity and reducing unemployment.
- International Relations: No direct impacts; the bill focuses on domestic workforce development.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Secondary School Students and Youth: Primary beneficiaries, including those in high-poverty or rural schools, disconnected youth, students with disabilities, Native American students, and women entering fields like construction or technology.
- Industry Intermediaries: Businesses, nonprofits, industry associations, and consortia that apply for and manage contracts to build programs.
- Employers and Educational Institutions: Companies in high-need sectors gain talent pipelines; local school districts, early college high schools, and career-technical education providers partner for training.
- Government Entities: DOL and DOE lead implementation; state agencies and educational service agencies (regional support for schools) support outreach.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Ensures apprenticeships comply with existing federal standards (e.g., National Apprenticeship Act), promoting fair labor practices like paid training. It mandates equity priorities, aligning with anti-discrimination laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act, but requires DOL to define competitive criteria, which could lead to regulatory guidance.
- Constitutional: Supports equal protection under the 14th Amendment by targeting underserved groups, enhancing educational and economic opportunities without infringing on states' rights (as it funds voluntary partnerships).
- Political: Introduced bipartisanship (by Senators Heinrich (D) and Moran (R)), emphasizing workforce readiness amid skills gaps. It could influence debates on education funding and youth employment, potentially setting a model for future expansions in career-technical education.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-23: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-01-23: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Apprenticeship Pathways Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-23 — PDF (12 pages)