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National Apprenticeship Act of 2021

Floor Speech

Date: Feb. 5, 2021
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Employment and Affirmative Action

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Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the National Apprenticeship Act.

Like so many issues we debate here, we have a common desire to help the American people, but we disagree about how to go about doing it.

In today's case, it is apprenticeships. We agree apprenticeships are incredible pathways to success. An amazing 94 percent of apprentices are employed after completing registered apprenticeships with good- paying salaries.

I know in my situation, when I owned my own business, apprenticeships were a great way for people to become employed in our business. However, only a small fraction of the workforce participates in the registered programs. This is because the Department of Labor's apprenticeship program is too burdensome and prescriptive for the actual needs of American businesses.

The diversity and variety of American businesses is a highlight of our economy and essential to our constant innovation. If a business has created an apprenticeship model that meets their needs, that should be celebrated and not forced into the Department of Labor's model.

Rather than update the outdated program that was created in 1937 to fit the needs of our modern economy, this bill would double down on this one-size-fits-all Federal registered apprenticeship system.

The previous administration recognized the need for flexible apprenticeships by creating an Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program. This would have allowed for third-party certifiers to approve apprenticeships that are responsive to employer and workforce needs. Instead, this legislation fails to anticipate the future of apprenticeship programs in a 21st century economy.

What is worse is it picks winners and losers by favoring apprenticeship grants for those who partner with labor organizations rather than awarding them based on merit. This would severely limit and stifle our ability to meet the needs for our future.

I urge my colleagues to oppose this resolution so we don't leave behind future apprenticeship opportunities.

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