Cárdenas Applauds House Passage of National Apprenticeship Act of 2020
The bill included a Cárdenas amendment
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the United States House of Representatives passed National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 (H.R.8294), which expands registered apprenticeships and invests in America’s workforce. The bill includes the Expanding Opportunity through Pre-Apprenticeships Act, which was introduced as an amendment by Representative Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) in September.
The Cárdenas amendment changes “an apprentice” to “a program participant” for a potential member of the national advisory committee on apprenticeships, which would make the committee inclusive of pre-apprentices and youth apprentices.
“Our economic strength depends upon our commitment to developing a competitive 21st-century workforce,” said Congressman Cárdenas. “I applaud the House for passing this bill, and I am proud that my amendment was included which will expand pre-apprenticeship opportunities and to encourage the next generation of workers to seek career opportunities in all industries and in every sector.”
The National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 would:
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Invest more than $3.5 billion to create nearly one million new apprenticeship opportunities over the next five years.
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Update the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 for the first time since its enactment in 1937, making historic investments in workforce training to confront the sharp rise in unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
How does this affect California's 29th Congressional District? The bill would:
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Strengthen opportunities and funding for apprenticeship programs offered through the Los Angeles County Office of Education.
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Focus on expanding the number of apprentice occupations available and ensuring apprenticeships are responsive to the labor market.
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Incentivize apprenticeship opportunities for individuals currently or recently incarcerated and individuals with other barriers to employment.
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