I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 548 
To direct the Secretary of Labor to make a determination on whether to 
approve an occupation as an apprenticeable occupation in a timely man-
ner, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 28, 2021 
Mr. KIM of New Jersey (for himself and Mr. NORCROSS) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Labor to make a determination 
on 
whether 
to 
approve 
an 
occupation 
as 
an 
apprenticeable occupation in a timely manner, 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 ‘‘Fast Track Advanced 
Apprenticeships Now Act’’. 
SEC. 2. NEW APPRENTICEABLE OCCUPATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Labor shall re-
view and make a determination on whether to approve an 
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occupation as an apprenticeable occupation not later than 
45 days after receiving an application from a person seek-
ing such approval from the Secretary. 
(b) ESTIMATED TIMELINE.—If such determination is 
not made within 45 days, the Secretary shall provide the 
applicant with a written explanation for the delay and 
offer an estimated timeline for a determination that does 
not exceed 90 days after the date of such written expla-
nation. 
SEC. 3. INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED OCCUPATIONAL STAND-
ARDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall convene, on 
an ongoing basis and taking into consideration rec-
ommendations of the National Advisory Committee on Ap-
prenticeships, as authorized under the Act of August 16, 
1937 (commonly referred to as the National Apprentice-
ship Act), the industry sector leaders and experts de-
scribed in subsection (b) for the purposes of establishing 
or updating specific frameworks of industry-recognized oc-
cupational standards for apprenticeable occupations (in-
cluding potential apprenticeable occupations) that— 
(1) meet the requirements of subpart A of part 
29, and part 30 of title 29, Code of Federal Regula-
tions (as in effect on September 18, 2020); and 
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(2) describe program scope and length, related 
instruction, on-the-job training, recognized postsec-
ondary credentials, and competencies, and relevant 
timelines for review of such frameworks. 
(b) INDUSTRY SECTOR LEADERS AND EXPERTS.— 
The industry sector leaders and experts are employers, in-
dustry associations, joint labor-management organiza-
tions, labor organizations, education and training pro-
viders, credential providers, program participants, and 
other stakeholders relevant to the sector or occupation for 
which the frameworks are being established or updated, 
as determined by the Secretary. 
(c) 
PRIORITY
INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED 
APPRENTICEABLE OCCUPATIONS.—In establishing frame-
works under subsection (a) for the first time after the date 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prioritize the 
establishment of such standards in high-skill, high-wage, 
or in-demand industry sectors and occupations. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPRENTICESHIP.—The term ‘‘apprentice-
ship’’ or ‘‘apprenticeship program’’ means an ap-
prenticeship— 
(A) registered with the Department of 
Labor under the Act of August 16, 1937 (com-
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monly known as the ‘‘National Apprenticeship 
Act’’; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 
et seq.), or a State Apprenticeship Agency rec-
ognized by the Department of Labor; and 
(B) that complies with the requirements of 
subpart A of part 29, and part 30 of title 29, 
Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on 
September 18, 2020). 
(2) NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM.—The 
term ‘‘national apprenticeship system’’ means the 
apprenticeship programs, youth apprenticeship pro-
grams, and pre-apprenticeship programs registered 
under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly re-
ferred to as the National Apprenticeship Act). 
(3) RECOGNIZED
POSTSECONDARY
CREDEN-
TIAL.—The term ‘‘recognized postsecondary creden-
tial’’ has the meaning given the term in section 3 of 
the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3102), except that such term does not in-
clude a certificate of completion of an apprentice-
ship. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Labor. 
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SEC. 5. FUNDING. 
Any funds appropriated under this Act shall only be 
used for, or provided to, programs under the national ap-
prenticeship system, including any funds awarded for the 
purposes of grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements, 
or the development, implementation, or administration, of 
programs under the national apprenticeship system. 
Æ 
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