The Signatory Wall and Ceiling Contractors Alliance (SWACCA) joined its allies in the Construction Employers of America (CEA) in sending a letter of support for the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021 (H.R. 447) to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). As you will recall, SWACCA sent a letter of support to the House Education and Labor Committee on January 29 ahead of the Committee’s mark-up of H.R. 447.
SWACCA has been advocating passage of this important legislation since last Congress. It passed the House on February 5, 2021 by a bipartisan vote of 247-173, and we are now pushing the Senate to pass it. The bill would: (1) provide $3.5 billion over 5 years for grant programs to create or support registered apprenticeship programs; (2) codify and streamline standards for registered youth apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship programs; (3) codify the existence of the Office of Apprenticeship at DOL; and (4) ensure the continuation of DOL’s National Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships.
You can read the full letter here.