ASSET Act
Bill: H.R.7145 | Sponsor: Rep. Trahan, Lori (D-MA)
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
Apprenticeship Support for Small Employers and Teams Act or the ASSET Act
This bill directs the Office of Apprenticeship of the Department of Labor to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to certain eligible entities to encourage employer participation in apprenticeship programs. Entities that receive funding under this bill must use the funds to encourage participation of small- and medium-sized businesses in apprenticeship programs.

To encourage employer participation in apprenticeship programs.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Apprenticeship Support for Small 
Employers and Teams Act'' or the ``ASSET Act''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF GRANTS, CONTRACTS, AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.

    The Administrator of the Office of Apprenticeship of the Department 
of Labor shall award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to 
eligible entities on a competitive basis for the following purposes:
            (1) Encouraging employer participation.--To encourage 
        employer participation in apprenticeship programs--
                    (A) that target individuals with barriers to 
                employment in youth apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, 
                or apprenticeship programs, prioritizing nontraditional 
                apprenticeship populations such as women, minorities, 
                long-term unemployed, individuals with a disability, 
                individuals with substance abuse issues, veterans, 
                military spouses, individuals experiencing 
                homelessness, individuals impacted by the criminal or 
                juvenile justice system, and foster and former foster 
                youth;
                    (B) that are in high-need social service-related 
                industries, sectors, or occupations, such as direct 
                care workers and early childhood educators;
                    (C) that target individuals currently or recently 
                incarcerated; or
                    (D) among small- and medium-sized employers.
            (2) In-demand industry sector or occupation grants for 
        small- and medium-sized businesses.--An eligible entity that 
        receives funds under this section shall use such funds to 
        encourage participation of small- and medium-sized businesses 
        in apprenticeship programs, which may include--
                    (A) providing financial assistance to employers to 
                support costs related to the programs, such as training 
                incumbent workers as mentors or employees supervising 
                the on-the-job learning;
                    (B) supporting the cost of related instruction or 
                wages for program participants during related 
                instruction;
                    (C) providing technical assistance to small- and 
                medium-sized businesses on the program registration 
                process and leveraging other available funds to support 
                carrying out such programs; or
                    (D) establishing or expanding partnerships to 
                support program development or expansion, including 
                establishing or expanding industry or sector 
                partnerships to ensure inclusion of small- and medium-
                sized businesses.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Apprenticeship program.--The term ``apprenticeship 
        program'' means an apprenticeship registered under the Act of 
        August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the ``National 
        Apprenticeship Act''; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 
        et seq.).
            (2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
                    (A) a program sponsor;
                    (B) a State workforce development board or State 
                workforce agency, or a local workforce development 
                board or local workforce development agency;
                    (C) an education and training provider, or a 
                consortium thereof;
                    (D) a State apprenticeship agency;
                    (E) an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization;
                    (F) an industry or sector partnership, a group of 
                employers, a trade association, or a professional 
                association that sponsors an apprenticeship program;
                    (G) a Governor;
                    (H) a labor organization or joint labor management 
                organization; or
                    (I) a qualified intermediary.
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