IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 703 

Supporting the designation of the week beginning November 11, 2019, as 

‘‘National Apprenticeship Week’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 14, 2019 

Miss RICE of New York (for herself, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Mrs. DAVIS of 

California, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. MOULTON, Mr. POCAN, Mr. KHANNA, 

Mr. BROWN of Maryland, Mr. NORCROSS, Ms. LEE of California, Ms. 

BONAMICI, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Mr. LANGEVIN, 

Mrs. LAWRENCE, Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio, Mr. BERA, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Mr. KILMER, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mr. DAVID SCOTT of 

Georgia, Ms. NORTON, Mrs. AXNE, Mr. TAKANO, Ms. CRAIG, and Mr. 

COURTNEY) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Education and Labor 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the designation of the week beginning November 

11, 2019, as ‘‘National Apprenticeship Week’’. 

Whereas a highly skilled workforce is necessary to facilitate 

upward mobility, increase standards of living, create 

high-wage jobs, compete in the global economy, and support economic growth; 

Whereas the national registered apprenticeship system established by the National Apprenticeship Act of 1937 (29 

U.S.C. 50 et seq.) (commonly known as the ‘‘Fitzgerald 

Act’’), which has existed for over 80 years— 


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•HRES 703 IH 

(1) creates career pathways to high-quality careers 

for working people in the United States; 

(2) offers a combination of academic and technical 

instruction and paid on-the-job experience; 

(3) provides working people with portable, nationally 

recognized, industry credentials that lead to higher earning careers; and 

(4) develops a highly skilled workforce; 

Whereas registered apprenticeships— 

(1) are increasingly innovative and diverse in their 

design, their collaboration with local community partnerships, and their use of emerging educational and training 

concepts including competency-based learning; 

(2) will continue to evolve to meet the emerging demands of a 21st century workforce; 

(3) are critical elements of an effective workforce development system and help individuals attain a recognized postsecondary credential, contributing to their personal economic sustainability; and 

(4) maintain high-quality standards for apprentices; 

Whereas the national registered apprenticeship system can 

provide education and training for apprentices in— 

(1) high-growth sectors, including information technology, financial services, advanced manufacturing, and 

health care; and 

(2) traditional industries including the building 

trades; 

Whereas, according to the Department of Labor, the national 

registered apprenticeship system leverages approximately 

$1,000,000,000 in private investment, largely in the construction industry, which reflects the strong commitment 


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•HRES 703 IH 

of the sponsors of the national registered apprenticeship 

system; 

Whereas the national registered apprenticeship system provides employers— 

(1) skilled workers trained to industry and employer 

specifications to produce quality results; 

(2) reduced turnover; 

(3) a pipeline for new skilled workers and future 

managers; 

(4) reduced worker compensation costs due to an 

emphasis on safety training; 

(5) key soft skills such as improved employee engagement, greater problem-solving ability, flexibility to 

perform a variety of tasks, and a reduced need for supervision; and 

(6) valuable contribution to output by apprentices; 

Whereas an evaluation of registered apprenticeship programs 

in 10 States conducted by Mathematica Policy Research 

in 2012 found that— 

(1) individuals who completed registered apprenticeship programs earned over $240,000 more over their careers than individuals who did not participate in registered apprenticeship programs; 

(2) over the career of an apprentice, the estimated 

social benefits of registered apprenticeship programs exceed the social costs by more than $49,000; and 

(3) the tax return on every dollar the Federal Government invested in registered apprenticeship programs 

was $27; 

Whereas according to the Department of Labor— 

(1) nearly 600,000 new registered apprenticeships 

have been created since January 1, 2017; 


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•HRES 703 IH 

(2) registered apprenticeships have a 94-percent 

placement rate at program completion; and 

(3) after apprenticeship completion, participants 

have an average salary of $70,000; and 

Whereas the celebration of National Apprenticeship Week— 

(1) honors industries that have mastered the registered apprenticeship model; 

(2) encourages expansion of the registered apprenticeship model into new industries; 

(3) recognizes the role the national registered apprenticeship system has played in preparing workers for 

the jobs of today and tomorrow; and 

(4) promotes conversation about ways the national 

registered apprenticeship system can continue to respond 

to workforce challenges in the 21st century: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘National Ap3 prenticeship Week’’; 

4 (2) supports the expansion of apprenticeships in 

5 in-demand industry sectors and occupations; 

6 (3) increases awareness about the value of the 

7 registered apprenticeship program model as an effec8 tive earn-and-learn model for students, workers, and 

9 employers; 

10 (4) supports the development and expansion of 

11 effective pre-apprenticeship programs that lead to 

12 success in a registered apprenticeship program; 


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1 (5) supports a closer alignment between reg2 istered apprenticeship programs, the workforce de3 velopment system, career and technical education, 

4 and postsecondary education, including institutions 

5 of higher education; 

6 (6) recognizes the importance of apprentice7 ships in developing a well-trained, highly skilled, and 

8 more diverse workforce; and 

9 (7) commends organizations and employers that 

10 actively support apprenticeship programs. 

Æ 


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