2021: Schweikert Voted For An Amendment That Would Require Apprenticeship Program Applicants To Be A Part Of An Industry Partnership Or Partner With A Labor Or Joint Labor Management Group, Instead Of Having To Do Both. In February 2021, Schweikert voted for an amendment to the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021 which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "modify an eligibility requirement for Labor Department apprenticeship program grants to require applicants, to the extent practical, to be part of an industry or sector partnership or to partner with a labor or joint labor management organization, as opposed to both." The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 186-236. [House Vote 29, 2/5/21; Congressional Quarterly, 2/5/21; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 8; Congressional Actions, H.R. 447]
2020: Schweikert Voted Against An Amendment To The National Apprenticeship Act Of 2020 That Would Require Eligible Entities To Form Partnerships With Labor Or Joint-Labor Organizations. In November 2020, Schweikert voted against an amendment to the National Apprenticeship Act that would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "require eligible entities for the Labor Department apprenticeship grant program to partner with a labor or joint labor-management organization, to the extent practicable." The vote was on adoption. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 236-152. [House Vote 225, 11/20/20; Congressional Quarterly, 11/20/20; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 901; Congressional Actions, H.R. 8294]
2021: Schweikert Voted Against Reauthorizing And Expanding Programs Under The National Apprenticeship System With $3.9 Billion For Grants And Program Administration. In February 2021, Schweikert voted against the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021 which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "reauthorize and expand programs and activities under the Labor Department national apprenticeship system, authorizing a total of $3.9 billion for program administration and grants to apprenticeship programs." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 247-173. The Senate did not take substantive action on the bill. [House Vote 31, 2/5/21; Congressional Quarterly, 2/5/21; Congressional Actions, H.R. 447]
Republicans Claimed The National Apprenticeship Act Of 2021 "Was Not Innovative Enough" And Called For The Expansion Of The Traditional System. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Republicans said the bill was not innovative enough, urging expansion of the national apprenticeship program beyond the traditional registered apprenticeship system, while Democrats suggested the traditional program's success precluded a need for sweeping changes, particularly during an economic crisis." [Congressional Quarterly, 2/2/21]
The Bill Would Codify Apprenticeship Program Guidelines And Include Pre-Apprenticeship And Youth Apprenticeship Programs. According to Congressional Quarterly, "largely codify apprenticeship program standards and expand the system to include pre-apprenticeship and youth apprenticeship programs." [Congressional Quarterly, 2/5/21]
The Bill Would Provide $350 Million Through FY 2026 To Establish An Office Of The National Apprenticeship Program, Program Research And Evaluation And An Apprenticeship Advisory Committee. According to Congressional Quarterly, "authorize a total of $350 million through fiscal 2026 for the formal establishment of a Labor Department office of apprenticeship to oversee the national apprenticeship system, as well as for program research and evaluation and the establishment of an apprenticeship advisory committee." [Congressional Quarterly, 2/5/21]
The Bill Would Provide $70 Million Through FY 2026 To The Labor Department To Work With The Education Department To Integrate The System With Educational Institutions, $475 Million Through FY 2026 For State Apprenticeship Agencies, And $3 Billion Through FY 2026 For Grants And Program Expansion. According to Congressional Quarterly, "authorize a total of $70 million for the Labor Department to carry out an agreement with the Education Department to support integration and alignment of the national apprenticeship system with the education system; $475 million for state apprenticeship agencies; and $3 billion for grants and agreements to support apprenticeship programs, including to expand programs in nontraditional apprenticeship industries and high-need social service industries and programs targeting individuals with barriers to employment." [Congressional Quarterly, 2/5/21]
The Bill Would Require A 25% Match Of Federal Funds By State Apprenticeship Agencies And Grant Recipients. According to Congressional Quarterly, "require state apprenticeship agencies and grant recipients to match 25% of federal funds received." [Congressional Quarterly, 2/5/21]
The Bill Would Establish Quality Standards, Registration Requirements, Planning And Implementation Requirements For States, And Eligible Occupations. According to Congressional Quarterly, "establish a number of apprenticeship program quality standards; requirements for registration, planning and implementation of programs by states; and requirements for occupations to be approved as 'apprenticeable occupations' within the national apprenticeship system." [Congressional Quarterly, 2/5/21]
The Bill Would Require The National Office Of Apprenticeship To Supervise The Program's Standards, Provide Tech Assistance, And Promote Diversity In The Program. According to Congressional Quarterly, "require the national office of apprenticeship to oversee such standards; establish and provide technical assistance to state offices of apprenticeship; and promote diversity within the system through recruitment, employment and retention of nontraditional apprenticeship participants, industries and occupations." [Congressional Quarterly, 2/5/21]
2020: Schweikert Voted Against The Reauthorization And Expansion Of The National Apprenticeship System, Approving $3.9 Billion For Administration And Grants. In November 2020, Schweikert voted against National Apprenticeship Act that would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "reauthorize and expand programs and activities under the Labor Department national apprenticeship system, authorizing a total of $3.9 billion for program administration and grants to apprenticeship programs. It would largely codify apprenticeship program standards and expand the system to include pre-apprenticeship and youth apprenticeship programs. It would authorize a total of $350 million through fiscal 2025 for the formal establishment of a Labor Department office of apprenticeship to oversee the national apprenticeship system, as well as for program research and evaluation and the establishment of an apprenticeship advisory committee. Through fiscal 2025, it would authorize a total of $70 million for the Labor Department to carry out an agreement with the Education Department to support integration and alignment of the national apprenticeship system with the education system; $475 million for state apprenticeship agencies; and $3 billion for grants and agreements to support apprenticeship programs, including to expand programs in nontraditional apprenticeship industries and high-need social service industries and programs targeting individuals with barriers to employment. It would require state apprenticeship agencies and grant recipients to match 25% of federal funds received. It would establish a number of apprenticeship program quality standards; requirements for registration, planning and implementation of programs by states; and requirements for occupations to be approved as 'apprenticeable occupations' within the national apprenticeship system. It would require the national office of apprenticeship to oversee such standards; establish and provide technical assistance to state offices of apprenticeship; and promote diversity within the system through recruitment, employment and retention of nontraditional apprenticeship participants, industries and occupations." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 246-140. The Senate did not take substantive action on the bill. [House Vote 227, 11/20/20; Congressional Quarterly, 11/20/20; Congressional Actions, H.R. 8294]
The National Apprenticeship Act Of 2020 Was Projected To Create Approximately A Million New Apprenticeship Opportunities. According to SHRM, "This legislation is projected to create nearly one million new apprenticeship opportunities over the next five years in addition to the normal, expected growth of the programs." [SHRM, 11/30/20]
Many Republicans Opposed The National Apprenticeship Act Of 2020 Due To President Trump's Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs Being Left Out Of The Legislation. According to SHRM, "While expanding apprenticeships has bipartisan support, the main sticking point for Republicans opposing the legislation is the rejection of funding for President Donald Trump's Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs). The IRAP system was established this year to exist alongside the DOL-regulated system. The model is meant to encourage industries to participate in work-based learning programs by turning over recognition and oversight of the programs to third parties, such as businesses, trade groups, nonprofits and unions." [SHRM, 11/30/20]
Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs Were Not Included In Legislation Due To Lack Of Government Oversight May Lead To Fewer Worker Protections And Would Reduce Funding For Registered Programs. According to SHRM, "critics of the IRAPs contend that replacing government oversight with industry-run accreditation will lead to fewer worker protections [...] The bill does not mention the IRAP model, and House Democrats say they have no intention of funding the new system because doing so would take money away from registered programs." [SHRM, 11/30/20]
2020: Schweikert Voted For An Amendment To The National Apprenticeship Act Of 2020 That Would Remove Certain Federal Oversight Requirements And Certain Funding Requirements, And Would Eliminate The Establishment Requirement Of A Labor Department Advisory Committee On Apprenticeships And An Interagency Agreement. In November 2020, Schweikert voted for an amendment to the National Apprenticeship Act that would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "replace the text of the bill to make a number of changes. Among other provisions, it would authorize all programs at lower amounts; modify requirements related to state planning of apprenticeship programs, including to eliminate certain requirements for federal oversight and requirements that funding be used for alignment with state workforce and education activities; and strike requirements for establishment of a Labor Department advisory committee on apprenticeships and an interagency agreement with the Education Department to support the integration of apprenticeship and educational programs." The vote was on adoption. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 142-243. [House Vote 226, 11/20/20; Congressional Quarterly, 11/20/20; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt.902; Congressional Actions, H.R. 8294]
2021: Schweikert Voted For An Amendment That Would Authorize Extra Work-Based Learning Programs, Remove A Labor Department Advisory Committee On Apprenticeships, Remove An Interagency Collaboration To Integrate The Apprenticeship Program With Educational Institutions, And Increase State Plan Process Flexibility. In February 2021, Schweikert voted for a substitute amendment to the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021 which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "replace the text of the bill to add or modify a number of provisions. Among other provisions, it would authorize additional work-based learning programs, strike the establishment of a Labor Department advisory committee on apprenticeships, and strike an interagency agreement with the Education Department to 'promote and support' the integration and alignment of national apprenticeship system programs with educational institutions. It would also increase 'flexibility' for the state plan process related to how the national apprenticeship system aligns with state workforce and education activities." The vote was on the adoption of a substitute amendment. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 175-245. [House Vote 30, 2/5/21; Congressional Quarterly, 2/5/21; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 9; Congressional Actions, H.R. 447]