American Apprenticeship Act

# American Apprenticeship Act Summary **What the Bill Does** The American Apprenticeship Act would authorize the Department of Labor to provide federal grants to states to help pay for pre-apprenticeship training and instruction programs. The bill aims to expand apprenticeships—structured job training programs that combine classroom learning with paid on-the-job work—in fields where they're currently underutilized. **Who It Affects and Key Provisions** This bill would primarily affect states, educational institutions, employers, and workers seeking job training in skilled trades. The Labor Department would be required to establish performance measures to evaluate how well the grant program works, identify occupations that could benefit from apprenticeships but currently lack them, and report findings back to Congress and state governments.

This research would help guide where apprenticeship programs are expanded. **Current Status** The bill (S. 531) was introduced in the 119th Congress by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full Senate.