Fitzpatrick Leads Bipartisan Bill to Expand Apprenticeships

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), along with Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) and a bipartisan group of members, introduced the National Apprenticeship Act of 2023. The bill would create nearly one million new Registered Apprenticeship, youth apprenticeship, and pre-apprenticeship opportunities over the next five years by investing more than $3.8 billion over five years. These resources will help scale up apprenticeship opportunities, streamline access to apprenticeships for both workers and employers, and expand apprenticeships into new and in-demand industry sectors and occupations. Previously, the House passed the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021 with bipartisan support.

“Apprenticeship programs create the opportunity to grow our economy, prepare workers for in-demand careers, and address the trained workforce shortage,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “I am proud to lead a bipartisan coalition introducing the National Apprenticeship Act, which will provide much needed reinforcement and reauthorization of our registered apprenticeship programs and will aim to create one million new apprentice positions in the next five years.”

“The Registered Apprenticeship system is one of the best tools we have to connect workers with in-demand skills with good-paying jobs, as well as provide employers with a pipeline of talented workers,” said Congressman Scott. “Democrats and Republicans came together in the last two Congresses to pass this bill, which would create nearly one million new apprenticeships, expand access to these opportunities for a more diverse group of workers and industries, and strengthen apprenticeship programs for the next generation of workers.  The National Apprenticeship Act of 2023 is a clear win-win for workers and employers, and it will help grow the economy.  I look forward to working with Congressman Fitzpatrick to finally deliver this long overdue investment for workers, for businesses, and for our economy.”

“We are pleased with today’s bipartisan introduction of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2023. Registered Apprenticeship is the gold standard of all workforce development models. Our unions are living proof of its success as we have trained and graduated millions of men and women from these programs and into middle class careers in construction,” said Sean McGarvey, President of North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU). “Now is the time to strengthen and expand Registered Apprenticeship into other industries, for both blue and white collar jobs, who need to recruit and retain a well trained workforce. We look forward to working with Republicans and Democrats to move and pass this timely legislation.”

Read the text of the bill HERE.