WATCH: Levin Bill to Strengthen On-The-Job Training Passes House Education & Labor Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C – Congressman Andy Levin (MI-09), Vice Chair of the House Education & Labor Committee, joined a majority on the committee to reauthorize the National Apprenticeship Act (NAA). The NAA contains Rep. Levin’s Strengthening Training and Accessibility for New and Diverse Apprenticeships through Relevant and Dependable Standards (STANDARDS) Act, which outlines and streamlines standards for apprenticeships, one of the United States’ longest and most successful workforce development programs.

Watch Rep. Levin’s remarks here or read excerpts below:

“Each year apprenticeships give hundreds of thousands of Americans the opportunity to actually get paid while they pursue their education and gain on-the-job experience,” said Rep. Levin. “When apprentices complete their programs they leave with high-quality, portable, nationally-recognized credentials. In fact, 94 percent of apprentices find employment after finishing their programs. And employers benefit, too. Every dollar spent on an apprentice yields $1.47 for a firm. When we pass this bill we’ll make sure apprenticeships continue to produce success for businesses and reliable opportunities for Americans.”

“Let me talk about the piece of this legislation I was proud to craft, and that’s the STANDARDS Act, my bill to codify quality assurance standards and protections for apprentices,” continued Rep. Levin. “I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for including it. We have to make sure Americans entering apprenticeships know that their rights will be protected. We must also make sure that Americans are given equal opportunities to take part in apprenticeships. That’s why this bill requires targeted outreach to women and people of color ensuring they’re not excluded from these rewarding career opportunities.”

Later, Rep. Levin shared his personal experience with an apprenticeship program. Rep. Levin spent his freshman year in college working a non-union construction job and the summer after working a union job as a carpenter’s apprentice. Rep. Levin expressed that while he had learned from and enjoyed both experiences, the union work as a carpenter’s apprentice had shown him the importance of apprenticeship programs for young workers.

“I’ve never forgotten those lessons about the power of a union and the genius of the apprenticeship model integrating as it does education, safety, and legitimate middle-class compensation,” said Rep. Levin. “What could be more American than that?”

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