Federal legislation would benefit pre-apprenticeship programs

U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Bipartisan Building Trades Caucus co-chairmen, recently introduced the bipartisan Pre-Apprenticeships To Hardhats (PATH) Act that would create, fund, and sustain pre-apprenticeship programs for the building and construction trades.

Under the act, the U.S. Secretary of Labor would be directed to support the development of pre-apprenticeship programs in the building and construction trades that serve underrepresented populations. This includes people from low income and rural census tracts.

Pre-apprenticeship programs would be tailored to the needs of students and labor markets and would instruct participants on basic literacy, math and other work-readiness skills.

The act would providing grants to community-based organizations, employers, high schools, postsecondary educational institutions, state education agencies, small businesses, school districts, state and local work force development boards, unions, and veterans’ service organizations.

“A highly-trained, skilled trade workforce is essential to job creation and economic growth,” Fitzpatrick said. “As co-chair of the Congressional Building Trades Caucus, I am proud to join this bipartisan effort to further invest in apprenticeship programs, particularly in underserved communities nationwide.”

“This bill will help build a workforce ready to meet industry demands, expand pathways to the middle class, and support infrastructure investments that strengthen our communities,” Norcross said.

North America’s Building Trades Unions endorsed the bill.