Reps. Cleaver, David Scott Reintroduce Legislation to Expand Access to Apprenticeships for Young African Americans

"The Biden-Harris Administration has made it a priority to bring good-paying jobs back to communities across the heartland by investing in critical infrastructure, manufacturing, and clean energy-but we must also ensure the pipeline of workers ready to help fill those jobs reflects the diversity of the nation at large," said Congressman Cleaver. "Registered apprenticeship programs provide young Americans with the opportunity to gain valuable skills in high-earning industries while earning a paycheck, and our legislation seeks to expand those opportunities to communities that have historically been left out, which will ensure greater prosperity for all."

Offering hands-on training opportunities, virtually zero student debt and the potential to advance in high-quality jobs, RA programs provide participants with the economic mobility needed to build wealth and a pathway toward high earning careers across a number of in-demand industries. However, according to data from the Department of Labor, African Americans have one of the lowest rates of participation in apprenticeship programs.

The Jobs, On-the-Job 'Earn While You Learn' Training and Apprenticeships for Young African Americans Act would:

• Create a Diversity and Inclusion Administrator position within the Employment and Training Administration at DOL responsible for promoting and assisting greater African American participation in RAs.
• Support the Recruitment, Employment, and Retentionof African American and other nontraditional Black populations in programs under the national apprenticeship system in high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand industry sectors and occupations.
• Target High-Earnings Occupationsin construction, welding, electrical engineering, plumbing, information technology, energy, green jobs, advanced manufacturing, health care, and cybersecurity.
• Update the RA Applicationprocess requiring new sponsors to include a plan to boost African American participation in their apprenticeship programs.
• Establish a Competitive Grant Programfor eligible RAs to create, increase, or expand African American participation in traditional and non-traditional apprenticeship industries.

The Jobs, On-the-Job 'Earn While You Learn' Training and Apprenticeships Act is endorsed by International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART), International Brotherhood of Electrical Engineers (IBEW), Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council, Institute for Policy Studies' Black Worker Initiative (IPS-BWI), and 100 Black Men of Atlanta.

The Jobs, On-the-Job 'Earn While You Learn' Training and Apprenticeships Act is cosponsored by Reps. Juan Vargas (D-CA), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Alma Adams (D-NC), André Carson (D-IN), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Dwight Evans (D-GA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Nikema Williams (D-GA), and Marilyn Strickland (D-WA).

Official text of the Jobs, On-the-Job 'Earn While You Learn' Training and Apprenticeships Act is available here.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.