Support for Veterans in Effective Apprenticeships Act of 2019
Floor Speech
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Mrs. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 760) to enable registered apprenticeship programs to better serve veterans, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: S. 760
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Support for Veterans in Effective Apprenticeships Act of 2019''. SEC. 2. IMPROVED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM COORDINATION BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Registered apprenticeship program.--The term ``registered apprenticeship program'' means an apprenticeship program registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (50 Stat. 664; commonly referred to as the ``National Apprenticeship Act'').
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Labor.
(b) Additional Registered Apprenticeship Program Requirements.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for any program applying to become a registered apprenticeship program on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
(1) acquire from the program sponsor a written assurance that the sponsor--
(A) is aware of the availability of educational assistance for a veteran or other individual eligible under chapters 30 through 36 of title 38, United States Code, for use in connection with a registered apprenticeship program;
(B) will make a good faith effort to obtain approval for educational assistance described in subparagraph (A) for, at a minimum, each program location that employs or recruits a veteran or other individual eligible for educational assistance under chapters 30 through 36 of title 38, United States Code; and
(C) will not deny the application of a qualified candidate who is a veteran or other individual eligible for educational assistance described in subparagraph (A) for the purpose of avoiding making a good faith effort to obtain approval as described in subparagraph (B);
(2) in accordance with paragraphs (5) and (12) of section 29.5(b) of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act), require the program sponsor, to the extent practicable, to provide standards that contain provisions to grant advanced standing or credit, and provide increased wages commensurate to such standing or credit, for any veteran or other individual eligible for educational assistance under chapters 30 through 36 of title 38, United States Code, who--
(A) is enrolled in the registered apprenticeship program; and
(B)(i) has a demonstrated competence applicable to the apprenticeship occupation; or
(ii) has acquired experience, training, or skills through military service that is applicable to the apprenticeship occupation; and
(3) when the Secretary approves the registered apprenticeship program, provide a copy of the program's certificate of registration to the State approving agency designated under chapter 36 of title 38, United States Code, in the State where the program is located.
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Mrs. LEE of Nevada. 760, the Support for Veterans in Effective Apprenticeships Act of 2019.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 760, Support for Veterans in Effective Apprenticeships Act. This legislation is a commonsense approach to helping men and women who have laid their life on the line for our freedom.
So many of our veterans transition to civilian life and need to develop a skill to get good-paying jobs. Yet, many are not suited for traditional education pathways. This is where registered apprenticeship programs are so important, and this legislation takes important steps to increasing veterans' access to complete financial assistance they can use to connect to a registered apprenticeship program.
Registered apprenticeships are our Nation's most successful federally funded workforce development with a 94 percent placement rate for workers who complete a registered apprenticeship, and an average starting salary of $70,000 a year. The bill would ensure more veterans access to these high-quality programs by:
One, requiring the Department of Labor, DOL, to ensure employers are working with their State veterans affairs agencies to obtain education benefits available for veterans;
Two, improving the coordination between the DOL and the VA, requiring the DOL to provide information to the VA on newly registered apprenticeship programs to enable the VA to be more proactive in outreach to registered apprenticeship programs not yet approved for GI bill benefits; and
Three, ensuring that employers grant advanced standing or credit, and provide increased wages commensurate to such standing or credit to veterans or other eligible individuals who can demonstrate competencies or experience, training or skills through their military service.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this important legislation, which will take real steps to improve veterans and their families access to high-quality registered apprenticeship programs.
The Support for Veterans in Effective Apprenticeships Act, S. 760, will assist our veterans and their families in accessing the high- quality pathways that registered apprenticeships provide.
As I said before, we owe it to our brave veterans to set them up for a life of self-sufficiency and dignity. This legislation does not create another bureaucratic layer that veterans must navigate, instead, it requires coordination. Coordination between the DOL and the VA that will reduce barriers for employers and veterans and accessing financial assistance they can use in connection with the registered apprenticeship program.
We have all heard stories of veterans having to navigate complex requirements to access benefits that, quite honestly, they have earned and deserve. This legislation proves that this Congress has heard our veterans, and we are taking concrete steps to reduce barriers by cutting red tape.
Mr. Speaker, I don't know why anyone would be opposed to that, which is why I urge my colleagues to support the legislation.
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Mrs. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
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