I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4083 
To establish and strengthen projects that defray the cost of related instruction 
associated with pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 19, 2017 
Ms. DELAURO (for herself, Mr. FITZPATRICK, and Mr. KILMER) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and 
the Workforce 
A BILL 
To establish and strengthen projects that defray the cost 
of related instruction associated with pre-apprenticeship 
and apprenticeship programs, 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 ‘‘American Apprentice-
ship Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PRE-APPRENTICESHIP AND APPRENTICESHIP PRO-
GRAMS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:15 Oct 20, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4083.IH
H4083
dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
(1) APPRENTICESHIP.—The term ‘‘apprentice-
ship’’ means an apprenticeship registered under the 
Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the 
‘‘National Apprenticeship Act’’; 50 Stat. 664, chap-
ter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.). 
(2) POSTSECONDARY
EDUCATIONAL
INSTITU-
TION.—The term ‘‘postsecondary educational institu-
tion’’ means an institution of higher education, as 
defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002). 
(3) PRE-APPRENTICESHIP.—The term ‘‘pre-ap-
prenticeship’’, used with respect to a program, 
means an initiative or set of strategies that— 
(A) is designed to prepare individuals to 
enter and succeed in an apprenticeship pro-
gram; 
(B) is carried out by a sponsor described 
in paragraph (6)(B) that has a documented 
partnership with one or more sponsors of ap-
prenticeship programs; and 
(C) includes each of the following: 
(i) Training (including a curriculum 
for the training), aligned with industry 
standards related to apprenticeships, and 
reviewed and approved annually by spon-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:15 Oct 20, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4083.IH
H4083
dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
sors of the apprenticeships within the doc-
umented partnership, that will prepare in-
dividuals by teaching the skills and com-
petencies needed to enter one or more ap-
prenticeship programs. 
(ii) Provision of hands-on training and 
theoretical education to individuals that— 
(I) is carried out in a manner 
that includes proper observation of su-
pervision and safety protocols; and 
(II) is carried out in a manner 
that does not displace a paid em-
ployee. 
(iii) A formal agreement with a spon-
sor of an apprenticeship program that 
would enable participants who successfully 
complete the pre-apprenticeship program 
to enter directly into the apprenticeship 
program (if a place in the program is 
available and if the participant meets the 
qualifications of the apprenticeship pro-
gram), and includes agreements concerning 
earning credit recognized by a postsec-
ondary educational institution for skills 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:15 Oct 20, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4083.IH
H4083
dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
and competencies acquired during the pre- 
apprenticeship program. 
(4) RELATED
INSTRUCTION.—The term ‘‘re-
lated instruction’’ means an organized and system-
atic form of instruction designed to provide an ap-
prentice with the knowledge of the theoretical and 
technical subjects related to the occupation of the 
apprentice or the instruction needed to prepare an 
individual to enter and succeed in an apprenticeship 
program. 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Labor. 
(6) SPONSOR.—The term ‘‘sponsor’’ means— 
(A) with respect to an apprenticeship pro-
gram, an employer, joint labor-management 
partnership, trade association, professional as-
sociation, labor organization, or other entity, 
that administers the apprenticeship program; 
and 
(B) with respect to a pre-apprenticeship 
program, a local educational agency, a sec-
ondary school, an area career and technical 
education school, a State board, a local board, 
or a community-based organization, with re-
sponsibility for the pre-apprenticeship program. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:15 Oct 20, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4083.IH
H4083
dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
(7) WORKFORCE
INNOVATION
AND
OPPOR-
TUNITY ACT DEFINITIONS.—The terms ‘‘area career 
and technical education school’’, ‘‘community-based 
organization’’, ‘‘individual with a barrier to employ-
ment’’, ‘‘local board’’, ‘‘local educational agency’’, 
‘‘secondary school’’, and ‘‘State board’’ have the 
meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Work-
force Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
3102). 
(b) GRANTS FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may make 
grants to States on a competitive basis to assist the 
States in, and pay for the Federal share of the cost 
of, carrying out projects that defray the cost of re-
lated instruction associated with pre-apprenticeship 
and apprenticeship programs. 
(2) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a 
grant under this subsection, a State shall submit an 
application to the Secretary for such a project at 
such time, in such manner, and containing a stra-
tegic plan that contains such information as the Sec-
retary may require, including— 
(A) information identifying the State agen-
cy that will administer the grant as determined 
by the Governor of the State; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:15 Oct 20, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4083.IH
H4083
dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
(B) a description of strategies that the 
State entity will use to collaborate with key in-
dustry representatives, State agencies, postsec-
ondary educational institutions, labor-manage-
ment entities, and other relevant partners to 
launch or expand pre-apprenticeships and ap-
prenticeships; 
(C) a description of how the State entity 
will— 
(i) coordinate activities carried out 
under this subsection with activities car-
ried out under the Carl D. Perkins Career 
and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 
U.S.C. 2301 et seq.) and the Workforce 
Innovation 
and 
Opportunity 
Act 
(29 
U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) to support pre-ap-
prenticeships and apprenticeships; 
(ii) leverage funds provided under the 
Acts specified in clause (i) to support pre- 
apprenticeships and apprenticeships; and 
(iii) utilize, and encourage individual 
participants in programs supported under 
this subsection to utilize, available Federal 
and State financial assistance, including 
assistance available under the Workforce 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:15 Oct 20, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4083.IH
H4083
dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
Innovation 
and 
Opportunity 
Act 
(29 
U.S.C. 3101 et seq.), education assistance 
benefits available to veterans, and Federal 
Pell Grants available under section 401 of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1070a), prior to using assistance 
made available under this Act; 
(D) a description of strategies to elevate 
apprenticeships as a workforce solution in both 
traditional and nontraditional industries, such 
as information technology, health care, ad-
vanced manufacturing, construction trades, 
transportation, and other industries determined 
to be high-demand by the State board for the 
State; 
(E) a description of activities that the 
State entity will carry out to build awareness 
about the economic potential of apprenticeships; 
(F) a description that outlines how the 
State entity will increase opportunities for pre- 
apprenticeships and apprenticeships among 
members of minority groups, youth, individuals 
with disabilities, veterans, and individuals with 
barriers to employment; 
(G) information describing— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:15 Oct 20, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4083.IH
H4083
dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
(i) how the State entity will meet per-
formance measures, and comply with an 
evaluation system and reporting require-
ments, established by the Secretary under 
paragraph (6); and 
(ii) at the election of the State, any 
State performance measures and goals that 
the State will use to measure the effective-
ness of the project; and 
(H) in the case of a State that has already 
received a grant under this subsection for a 
project, information indicating that the State 
met the performance measures with respect to 
the project. 
(3) APPLICATION
REVIEW
PROCESS.—A joint 
team of employees from the Department of Labor 
and the Department of Education shall— 
(A) review such an application; and 
(B) make recommendations to the Sec-
retary regarding approval of the application. 
(4) USE OF FUNDS.—A State that receives a 
grant under this subsection shall use the funds made 
available through the grant to defray any of the fol-
lowing costs of related instruction: 
(A) Tuition and fees. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:15 Oct 20, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4083.IH
H4083
dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
(B) Cost of textbooks, equipment, cur-
riculum development, and other required edu-
cational materials. 
(C) Costs of any other item or service de-
termined by the State to be necessary. 
(5) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—The State may 
use not more than 10 percent of the grant funds for 
administrative costs relating to carrying out the 
project described in paragraph (1). 
(6) PERFORMANCE
AND
EVALUATION.—The 
Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of 
Education, shall— 
(A) establish performance measures based 
on indicators set by the Administrator of the 
Office of Apprenticeship of the Department of 
Labor; and 
(B) establish an evaluation system aligned 
with the performance measures, and reporting 
requirements for the program carried out under 
this subsection. 
(c) FEDERAL SHARE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Federal share of the 
cost described in subsection (b)(1) shall be not less 
than 20 percent and not more than 50 percent. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:15 Oct 20, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4083.IH
H4083
dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
(2) NON-FEDERAL
SHARE.—The State may 
make the non-Federal share available— 
(A) in cash or in-kind, fairly evaluated, in-
cluding plant, equipment, or services; and 
(B) directly or through donations from 
public or private entities. 
(d) REPORT.—The Secretary shall prepare and sub-
mit to Congress, not later than September 30, 2022, a 
report— 
(1) detailing the results of the evaluation de-
scribed in subsection (b)(6)(B); and 
(2) analyzing the extent to which States have 
used grant funds effectively under this section. 
(e) POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES.—It is the pol-
icy of the United States that funds made available under 
this section should be used to supplement and not sup-
plant other funds available under the Workforce Innova-
tion and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) and 
other Federal and State funds available to the State to 
support workforce development programs. 
SEC. 3. IDENTIFYING IN-DEMAND OCCUPATIONS. 
The Secretary shall— 
(1) identify in-demand occupations nationally 
and regionally that lack the use of apprenticeships; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:15 Oct 20, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4083.IH
H4083
dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS