Terri Sewell backs revival of bill creating apprenticeship jobs

On Friday, Nov. 20, Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) voted in favor of reviving a bill that would create an estimated 1 million apprenticeship jobs over a period of five years, according to an announcement on her website. 

“As a long-time supporter of expanding registered apprenticeships, I am thrilled to support today’s legislation to provide 1 million new apprenticeship opportunities over five years,” Sewell in the announcement. 

The bill is called the National Apprenticeship Act and was first passed in 1937. On Friday's legislative session, the bill was reauthorized.  

“Our Nation is facing the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression and estimates show that more than 7 million of the pandemic’s job losses will be permanent," Sewell further stated.

"We need bold investments like those in the National Apprenticeship Act to accelerate the economy and help get the American people back to work in stable, good-paying jobs of the future.”

Specifically the bill will do the following: 

• Invests more than $3.5 billion to create nearly 1 million new apprenticeship opportunities over the next five years. 
• Establishes a $400 million grant program to support the expansion of apprenticeship opportunities, including pre-apprenticeships and youth apprenticeships, which will increase $100 million annually to reach $800 million by 2025. 
• Codifies and streamlines standards for Registered Apprenticeship, youth apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs to make it easier for both apprentices and employers to participate in high-quality apprenticeships.
• Codifies the Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship and directs the office to convene industry leaders, labor organizations, educators, and others to expand apprenticeships into new occupations and sectors.
• Yields 10.6 billion in net benefits to U.S. taxpayers in the form of increased tax revenue and decreased spending on public-assistance programs and unemployment insurance.