I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6439 
To direct the Secretary of Labor to make grants to eligible applicants to 
provide stipends to individuals enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship program, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 15, 2023 
Mr. SMITH of Washington introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Labor to make grants to eligible 
applicants to provide stipends to individuals enrolled in 
a pre-apprenticeship program, 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 ‘‘Pre-Apprenticeship 
Wrap-around Support Services Fund Act of 2023’’. 
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SEC. 2. GRANTS TO PROVIDE STIPENDS TO INDIVIDUALS 
ENROLLED IN A PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Labor may 
make grants to eligible applicants to provide stipends to 
individuals enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship program in ac-
cordance with the requirements under this Act. 
(b) PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM DEFINED.— 
For purposes of this Act, the term ‘‘pre-apprenticeship 
program’’ means a program, initiative, or set of strategies 
that— 
(1) is designed to prepare individuals to enroll 
in a registered apprenticeship program, including 
preparing individuals with the skills and com-
petencies necessary to succeed in such program; 
(2) is carried out by an eligible applicant that 
has entered into a formal agreement with one or 
more sponsors of a registered apprenticeship pro-
gram; and 
(3) includes— 
(A) theoretical education (including the use 
of curricula); and 
(B) training (including hands-on train-
ing)— 
(i) aligned with industry standards of 
a registered apprenticeship program; and 
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(ii) that does not displace an employee 
where such training takes place. 
(c) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this Act, an eligible applicant shall submit an appli-
cation to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Secretary may require. 
(d) GRANT REQUIREMENT.—Each grantee shall— 
(1) establish primary indicators of performance 
with respect to individuals enrolled in a pre-appren-
ticeship program, which shall include— 
(A) the percentage of such individuals who 
are enrolled in a registered apprenticeship pro-
gram within 12 months after completing a pre- 
apprenticeship program; 
(B) the percentage of such individuals who 
are employed in the industry of the pre-appren-
ticeship program in which such individual was 
enrolled within 12 months after completing the 
pre-apprenticeship program; 
(C) the median earnings of such individ-
uals who are enrolled in a registered apprentice-
ship program within 12 months after com-
pleting a pre-apprenticeship program; and 
(D) the percentage of such individuals who 
obtain a recognized postsecondary credential or 
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a secondary school diploma (or the recognized 
equivalent of such diploma) while enrolled in a 
pre-apprenticeship or within one year after 
completing a pre-apprenticeship program; and 
(2) on an annual basis, collect data with respect 
to— 
(A) the primary indicators of performance 
under paragraph (1); 
(B) the number of stipends provided 
through grants funds under this Act; and 
(C) the amount of each such stipend. 
(e) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT.—Each grantee shall 
prioritize the provision of stipends to individuals enrolled 
in a pre-apprenticeship program who are also individuals 
with a barrier to employment. 
(f) USE OF STIPEND.—Each grantee shall ensure 
that a stipend awarded pursuant to this section is used 
only to reimburse for— 
(1) necessary transportation costs with respect 
to a pre-apprenticeship program, including vehicle 
mileage and public transportation costs; 
(2) lost hourly wages of an individual enrolled 
in a pre-apprenticeship program, in the case that 
participation in such program causes a reduction of 
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hours at the place of employment of such individual; 
and 
(3) financial costs of an individual enrolled in 
a pre-apprenticeship program with respect to obtain-
ing industry-based certifications during the period of 
enrollment in such program. 
(g) REPORT.— 
(1) REPORT TO SECRETARY.—Not later than 1 
year after receiving a grant under this Act, and an-
nually thereafter, each grantee shall submit to the 
Secretary a report that includes the data collected 
pursuant to subsection (d)(2). 
(2) REPORT
TO
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Edu-
cation and Labor of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions of the Senate a report on the progress 
and outcomes with respect to each grant awarded 
under this Act. 
(h) ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 
(1) ELIGIBLE APPLICANT.—The term ‘‘eligible 
applicant’’ means an entity that currently operates 
or sponsors a pre-apprenticeship program, including 
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a joint labor-management partnership, an industry 
partnership, a local educational agency, a secondary 
school, an area career and technical education 
school, a State board, a local board, or a commu-
nity-based organization. 
(2) GRANTEE.—The term ‘‘grantee’’ means an 
eligible applicant that receives a grant under this 
Act. 
(3) INDIVIDUAL WITH A BARRIER TO EMPLOY-
MENT.—The term ‘‘individual with a barrier to em-
ployment’’ has the meaning given the term under 
section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Oppor-
tunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102). 
(4) FORMAL AGREEMENT.—The term ‘‘formal 
agreement’’ means an agreement between an eligible 
applicant and one or more sponsors of a registered 
apprenticeship program that includes the following: 
(A) Enables individuals who successfully 
complete a pre-apprenticeship program— 
(i) to enter into a registered appren-
ticeship program (dependent on availability 
and whether such individual meets the 
qualifications of such program); and 
(ii) to earn credit toward a registered 
apprenticeship program. 
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(B) Provides for a sponsor to review and 
approve the training referred to in subsection 
(b)(3), on an annual basis. 
(5) RECOGNIZED
POSTSECONDARY
CREDEN-
TIAL.—The term ‘‘recognized postsecondary creden-
tial’’ has the meaning given the term under section 
3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
(29 U.S.C. 3102). 
(6) REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.— 
The term ‘‘registered apprenticeship program’’ 
means an apprenticeship program that— 
(A) is registered with the Department of 
Labor pursuant to the Act of August 16, 1937 
(commonly known as the ‘‘National Apprentice-
ship Act’’; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.), or is recog-
nized by the Department of Labor as a State 
apprenticeship agency; and 
(B) complies with the requirements of sub-
part A of part 29 and subpart A of part 30 of 
title 29, Code of Federal Regulations (or suc-
cessor regulations). 
(7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Labor. 
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(i) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this Act. 
Æ 
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