I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 578 
To promote registered apprenticeships, including registered apprenticeships 
within in-demand industry sectors, through the support of workforce 
intermediaries, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 28, 2021 
Mr. NORCROSS (for himself, Mr. BACON, Mr. FITZPATRICK, and Mr. MCKIN-
LEY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Education and Labor 
A BILL 
To promote registered apprenticeships, including registered 
apprenticeships 
within 
in-demand 
industry 
sectors, 
through the support of workforce intermediaries, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Apprenticeship Hubs 
Across America Act of 2021’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:25 Feb 20, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H578.IH
H578
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(1) Registered apprenticeship programs provide 
apprentices employment with structured on-the-job 
training, little to no student loan debt, competitive 
wages, industry-recognized credentials, direct access 
to jobs and careers, and in some cases, the potential 
to earn college credit toward an associate’s or bach-
elor’s degree. 
(2) According to the Department of Labor Ap-
prenticeship Toolkit, the average wage for a fully- 
proficient worker who completes an apprenticeship is 
$50,000 annually. Apprentices who complete their 
program earn approximately $300,000 more during 
their career than non-apprenticeship workers. 
(3) There are still very few apprenticeship posi-
tions in sectors with high job growth. According to 
data from the Department of Labor, health care— 
the industry with the greatest job growth—had only 
1,852 apprentices in 2016. Information technology, 
another sector with rapidly expanding job opportuni-
ties in the United States, had fewer than 1,000 ap-
prentices in 2016. 
(4) A major barrier to expanding registered ap-
prenticeships in high-growth job sectors is employ-
ers’ lack of familiarity with the process to establish, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:25 Feb 20, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H578.IH
H578
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
and the requirements of, registered apprenticeship 
programs. 
(5) Workforce intermediaries, which are organi-
zations at the national, regional, State, or local level 
that help ease the process for employers in devel-
oping and delivering new registered apprenticeship 
programs, can serve as a catalyzing force for cre-
ating and expanding registered apprenticeships in 
high-growth job sectors through technical assistance 
and capacity building for employers, labor organiza-
tions, educational institutions, and government enti-
ties. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPRENTICESHIP.—The term ‘‘apprentice-
ship’’ means an opportunity in a registered appren-
ticeship program. 
(2) IN-DEMAND INDUSTRY SECTOR.—The term 
‘‘in-demand industry sector’’ means a sector de-
scribed in subparagraphs (A)(i) and (B) of section 
3(23) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
Act (29 U.S.C. 3102(23)). 
(3) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:25 Feb 20, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H578.IH
H578
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
(4) LOCAL
BOARD.—The term ‘‘local board’’ 
has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the 
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3102). 
(5) NONTRADITIONAL APPRENTICESHIP OCCU-
PATION.—The term ‘‘nontraditional apprenticeship 
occupation’’ means an occupation that has not tradi-
tionally engaged in carrying out registered appren-
ticeship programs, but which the Secretary deter-
mines would benefit from having such a program 
(such as an occupation in a financial services, ad-
vanced 
manufacturing, 
information 
technology, 
health care, or hospitality industry sector). 
(6) REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.— 
The term ‘‘registered apprenticeship program’’ 
means a program registered under the Act of Au-
gust 16, 1937 (commonly known as the ‘‘National 
Apprenticeship Act’’; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 
U.S.C. 50 et seq.). 
(7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Labor. 
(8) STATE BOARD.—The term ‘‘State board’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:25 Feb 20, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H578.IH
H578
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3102). 
(9) WORKFORCE
INTERMEDIARY.—The term 
‘‘workforce intermediary’’ means an entity that, at 
the national, regional, State, or local level— 
(A)(i) facilitates the establishment of reg-
istered apprenticeship programs; or 
(ii) if awarded a grant under this Act, has 
the capacity, and will work, to facilitate the es-
tablishment of registered apprenticeship pro-
grams; and 
(B) may be a partnership that includes one 
or more of the following as partners: 
(i) A business or industry organiza-
tion. 
(ii) A community-based organization. 
(iii) A joint labor-management part-
nership. 
(iv) An institution of higher edu-
cation. 
(v) A State board or local board. 
(vi) A nonprofit organization. 
(vii) An industry or sector partnership 
as defined in section 3 of the Workforce 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:25 Feb 20, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H578.IH
H578
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
Innovation 
and 
Opportunity 
Act 
(29 
U.S.C. 3102). 
(viii) An industry association. 
(ix) A joint labor-management organi-
zation. 
(x) A consortium of organizations that 
provide technical assistance to support and 
to increase the development of registered 
apprenticeship programs. 
(xi) Any other entity that the Sec-
retary considers to be appropriate. 
SEC. 4. WORKFORCE INTERMEDIARIES GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—From amounts made avail-
able to carry out this Act, the Secretary shall establish 
and carry out a workforce intermediaries grant program 
by awarding grants, on a competitive basis, to workforce 
intermediaries, to enable the workforce intermediaries to 
engage a variety of stakeholders, such as local boards, sec-
ondary schools, institutions of higher education, and em-
ployers, to support, develop, and implement registered ap-
prenticeship programs in accordance with section 6. 
(b) DURATION.—A grant awarded under this Act 
shall be for a period of not more than 4 years. 
(c) AMOUNT.—A grant awarded under this Act shall 
be in an amount of not more than $6,000,000, and such 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:25 Feb 20, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H578.IH
H578
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
amount shall be determined based on the relative number 
of apprentices a workforce intermediary plans to facilitate. 
(d) GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY.—In awarding grants 
under this Act, the Secretary shall ensure that there is 
geographic diversity in the areas in which activities will 
be carried out under the grants. 
(e) MATCHING FUNDS.—A workforce intermediary 
receiving a grant under this Act shall provide matching 
funds, from non-Federal sources, for the activities sup-
ported under the grant. The matching funds shall be in 
an amount that is not less than 20 percent of the amount 
of grant funds provided under the grant. 
SEC. 5. APPLICATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—A workforce intermediary desiring 
a grant under this Act shall submit an application to the 
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing 
such information as the Secretary may require. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The application described in sub-
section (a) shall include— 
(1) information regarding— 
(A) in the case of a workforce intermediary 
described in section 3(9)(A)(i), the extent to 
which the workforce intermediary is working, as 
of the date of the application, with stakeholders 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:25 Feb 20, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H578.IH
H578
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
to provide activities such as the activities de-
scribed in section 6; or 
(B) in the case of a workforce intermediary 
described in section 3(9)(A)(ii), the capacity of 
the workforce intermediary to begin providing 
activities described in section 6 upon receipt of 
the grant, including information demonstrating 
that the workforce intermediary would be suc-
cessful in carrying out such activities; 
(2) information regarding the extent to which 
the grant will help the workforce intermediary— 
(A) expand apprenticeships for in-demand 
industry sectors that lack apprenticeships at the 
time of the application; or 
(B) target populations that are underrep-
resented— 
(i) in apprenticeships generally; or 
(ii) in the fields in which the appren-
tices will be trained; 
(3) assurances that— 
(A) the workforce intermediary will cooper-
ate in the evaluation of the project conducted 
under section 7; and 
(B) the workforce intermediary will meet 
the matching requirement under section 4(e); 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:25 Feb 20, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H578.IH
H578
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(4) 
information 
about 
the 
workforce 
intermediary’s— 
(A) experience in providing activities de-
scribed in section 6 and capacity, or ability to 
develop or expand capacity, to provide such ac-
tivities; 
(B) experience working in a collaborative 
environment with government and nongovern-
mental entities; 
(C) ability to raise or provide funding to 
cover operating costs for the long-term sustain-
ability of the activities supported under the 
grant; and 
(D) capacity and infrastructure to track 
outcomes and measure results, including capac-
ity to track and analyze program performance 
and assess program impact; and 
(5) information describing how the workforce 
intermediary will promote the diversity described in 
section 6(b)(1)(F). 
SEC. 6. USE OF FUNDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—A workforce intermediary that re-
ceives a grant under this Act shall use the grant funds 
to carry out activities, which may include activities de-
scribed in subsection (b) or other strategies as may be nec-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:25 Feb 20, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H578.IH
H578
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
essary, that support the development and successful imple-
mentation of registered apprenticeship programs. 
(b) SUGGESTED USES.—A workforce intermediary 
may carry out subsection (a) through one or more of the 
following activities, as determined appropriate by the Sec-
retary: 
(1) OUTREACH AND MARKETING.—A workforce 
intermediary may provide services to engage employ-
ers in registered apprenticeship programs, which 
may include— 
(A) marketing apprenticeships regionally, 
to employers and to potential apprentices; 
(B) marketing apprenticeships to sec-
ondary school students, counselors, school ad-
ministrators, or parents; 
(C) recruiting and evaluating candidates 
for apprenticeships; 
(D) conducting outreach to employers to 
persuade the employers to adopt the apprentice-
ship model; 
(E) matching employers with apprentices; 
and 
(F) promoting diversity among apprentices 
by promoting outreach to underrepresented 
populations (such as women and minorities), 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:25 Feb 20, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H578.IH
H578
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
youth, individuals with disabilities (as defined 
in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities 
Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102)), and veterans. 
(2) EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT.—The workforce 
intermediary may provide services to engage employ-
ers in, and develop curricula for, registered appren-
ticeship programs, which may include assisting a 
small or medium-sized employer with— 
(A) designing a curriculum for a registered 
apprenticeship program that blends occupation- 
specific skills and general industry skills; 
(B) designing a comprehensive training 
plan for apprentices; 
(C) navigating the registration process for 
the registered apprenticeship program; 
(D) identifying skills, both technical and 
behavioral, needed to perform the occupation in 
question; 
(E) providing training to managers and 
front-line employees to serve as trainers or 
mentors to apprentices in the registered appren-
ticeship program; 
(F) paying for the cost of off-site training 
provided to apprentices; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:25 Feb 20, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H578.IH
H578
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(G) coordinating activities between training 
instructors and worksite supervisors of appren-
tices; 
(H) conducting or arranging for off-the-job 
training related to the apprenticeship; 
(I) convening employers to define skills for 
the registered apprenticeship program; and 
(J) developing occupational standards that 
are nationally recognized and portable to help 
guide employers and sponsors in establishing 
new registered apprenticeship programs. 
(3) SUPPORT SERVICES FOR APPRENTICES.— 
The workforce intermediary may provide support 
services for apprentices to assure their success in, 
and after, registered apprenticeship programs, which 
may include— 
(A) providing guidance to, mentorship to, 
and oversight of apprentices during the pro-
gram, to ensure retention and completion; 
(B) providing services to address chal-
lenges that surface for apprentices during the 
apprenticeship; 
(C) providing professional development 
training needed for apprentices to succeed in a 
full-time job after the apprenticeship; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:25 Feb 20, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H578.IH
H578
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(D) 
providing 
post-apprenticeship 
job 
counseling and job placement services; 
(E) coordinating pre-apprenticeship train-
ing or off-the-job training related to the occupa-
tion involved in the apprenticeship; and 
(F) arranging for an institution of higher 
education to provide training courses. 
(4) LOCAL AND NATIONAL SUPPORT FOR REG-
ISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS.—The workforce inter-
mediary may support registered apprenticeship pro-
grams locally and nationally, which may include— 
(A) developing national guidelines and 
standards for registered apprenticeships in non-
traditional apprenticeship occupations; 
(B) connecting multi-region efforts for reg-
istered apprenticeship programs; 
(C) documenting best practices in oper-
ating a workforce intermediary; and 
(D) providing the ongoing infrastructure to 
support apprenticeships in an industry. 
(c) EMPHASIS ON IN-DEMAND REGISTERED APPREN-
TICESHIP PROGRAMS.—In carrying out activities under a 
grant under this Act, the workforce intermediary receiving 
the grant shall place an emphasis on supporting registered 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:25 Feb 20, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H578.IH
H578
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
apprenticeship programs that lead to skilled jobs and 
wages in in-demand industry sectors. 
SEC. 7. PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION. 
(a) PERFORMANCE PROGRESS REPORTS
TO
THE 
SECRETARY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall require 
each workforce intermediary receiving a grant under 
this Act to submit performance progress reports at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such in-
formation as the Secretary may require. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—Each report described in 
paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum— 
(A) the goals, plans, and accomplishments 
of the workforce intermediary; 
(B) how grant funds have been used; and 
(C) how the workforce intermediary has 
furthered the purposes described in section 
4(a). 
(b) EVALUATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct 
an evaluation of each workforce intermediary that 
receives a grant under this Act 6 years after the 
date on which funds for the grant are first dis-
bursed. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:25 Feb 20, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H578.IH
H578
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(2) CONTENTS OF EVALUATION.—The evalua-
tion described in paragraph (1) shall include a crit-
ical analysis of the workforce intermediary— 
(A) by addressing topics such as— 
(i) the goals of the workforce inter-
mediary; 
(ii) the core competency training of-
fered by the workforce intermediary, with-
out regard as to whether such training was 
supported by grant funds; 
(iii) the structure of the wage progres-
sion or career ladder for each registered 
apprenticeship program established or sup-
ported by the workforce intermediary; 
(iv) the major recruitment sources of 
apprentices for the workforce intermediary; 
(v) information on how apprentices 
are selected by the workforce intermediary; 
(vi) the recruitment challenges that 
the workforce intermediary faces; 
(vii) the demographic and educational 
characteristics of apprentices supported by 
the workforce intermediary; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:25 Feb 20, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H578.IH
H578
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(viii) the structure of the workforce 
intermediary, including the number of staff 
employed by the workforce intermediary; 
(ix) the factors that contribute to a 
workforce intermediary’s sustainability and 
replicability; and 
(x) the number of apprenticeships fa-
cilitated by the workforce intermediary and 
the occupations involved in the apprentice-
ships; and 
(B) that evaluates the workforce inter-
mediary using information on— 
(i) the levels of performance achieved 
by the workforce intermediary with respect 
to the performance indicators under sec-
tion 116(b)(2)(A) of the Workforce Inno-
vation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
3141(b)(2)(A)), for all apprentices who 
complete a registered apprenticeship pro-
gram supported by the workforce inter-
mediary; 
(ii) the completion rates for appren-
tices in each registered apprenticeship pro-
gram supported by the workforce inter-
mediary; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:25 Feb 20, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H578.IH
H578
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(iii) job retention of apprentices, 
based on 1 year after completing the reg-
istered apprenticeship program supported 
by the workforce intermediary; 
(iv) the income level of jobs obtained 
by apprentices after completing the ap-
prenticeship program; and 
(v) the occupations in in-demand in-
dustry sectors, and nontraditional appren-
ticeship occupations, that the workforce 
intermediary 
has 
successfully 
served 
through the grant by creating registered 
apprenticeship programs in those occupa-
tions. 
(3) SCOPE OF EVALUATION.—In conducting the 
evaluation under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, 
to the fullest extent practicable, limit the evaluation 
to the efforts of the workforce intermediary sup-
ported under this Act, but shall also consider all of 
the efforts of the workforce intermediary to support 
registered apprenticeship programs. 
(4) REPORT.—By not later than 90 days after 
the evaluation is completed, the Secretary shall pre-
pare and submit to the workforce intermediary, and 
make publicly available, a report that will contain— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:25 Feb 20, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H578.IH
H578
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(A) the results of the evaluation, including 
the topics and information described in para-
graph (2); and 
(B) recommendations on how to further 
improve the outcomes of the workforce inter-
mediary. 
(c) RENEWAL.—The Secretary shall use the perform-
ance progress reports and the results of an evaluation 
under this section for a project to determine whether to 
renew a grant for the workforce intermediary for that 
project. 
SEC. 8. WORKSHOPS; BEST PRACTICES. 
The Secretary shall use not more than 5 percent of 
the funds made available under this Act to— 
(1) plan and conduct workshops throughout the 
United States to instruct interested organizations on 
how to create workforce intermediaries on a na-
tional, State, or local level, and navigate the grant 
process described in this Act; and 
(2) disseminate best practices on effective devel-
opment and implementation of registered apprentice-
ship programs through workforce intermediaries. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:25 Feb 20, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H578.IH
H578
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this Act $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 
2026. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:25 Feb 20, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H578.IH
H578
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS