National Apprenticeship Act of 2021
Floor Speech
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Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 447.
Coming from the construction industry, I know firsthand that apprenticeships help Americans gain valuable skills that lead to good- paying jobs and long-lasting careers.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we had the greatest economy in the world. Unfortunately, we have seen the negative impact this virus has had on employment opportunities, and Congress should be working in a bipartisan manner to get this economy back on track.
There is no doubt that skilled trades will play a crucial part in economic recovery in the coming months. By encouraging more apprenticeship programs, we can help American workers get back on their feet while, simultaneously, helping employers meet their workforce needs.
But the last thing American workers and businesses need is additional bureaucratic red tape like those included in H.R. 447.
My Democratic colleagues are pushing forward an approach that doubles down on burdensome mandates and will prevent more workers from accessing apprenticeship opportunities by imposing a one-size-fits-all Federal registered apprenticeship system, while doing nothing to support other models.
I offered an amendment to today's bill that would uphold the Trump administration's rule regarding the Department of Labor's Industry- Recognized Apprenticeship Programs, which provides companies an alternative avenue to train skilled workers for their specific industry needs, while allowing Americans to earn while they learn.
We should empower employers to innovate and develop their own apprenticeship programs, not constrain them. Yet, per usual, my Democratic colleagues blocked my amendment from consideration.
If you truly want unity and working across the aisle, then I urge my colleagues to work with the Republicans on the House Education and Labor Committee on a bipartisan bill that would encourage innovation and flexibility into the apprenticeship model so that more Americans can get back to work.
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