American Petroleum Institute, NABTU urge Congress to pass Apprenticeship Act

The American Petroleum Institute (API) and North America’s Building Trades Unions are urging the U.S. Senate to pass the National Apprenticeship Act.

The bill provides statutory authority for the Office of Apprenticeship (OA) within the Department of Labor. The OA’s responsibilities include supporting the development of apprenticeship models, recognizing qualified state apprenticeship agencies, providing technical assistance to state agencies, updating requirements for each occupation in the apprenticeship program, and determining whether to approve new occupations for the program; and awarding grants. It also establishes in statute the responsibilities of state apprenticeship agencies and offices.

“This legislation is important to ensure the continued vitality of our national apprenticeship system, which provides a ladder of opportunity for those seeking workforce training, including the many union workers employed by the oil and natural gas industry,” API President and CEO Mike Sommers said. “High standard apprenticeship training is essential, and we encourage the Senate to pass this bill to strengthen economic opportunities in communities across the country.”

The bill — H.R. 8294 — recently passed in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“North America’s Building Trades Unions applauds the passage of the National Apprenticeship Act to reauthorize the foundational law on which our apprenticeship programs are built. This bill maintains the integrity of the Registered Apprenticeship system and ensures the safety, well-being, and economic trajectory of the apprentice are protected,” NABTU President Sean McGarvey said. “Investing almost $1.7 billion per year, funding a network of over 1,600 U.S. teaching centers and producing the safest, most highly-skilled and productive construction craft workers through the Registered Apprenticeship system – we know the Registered model works. With this new bill, Registered Apprenticeship will not only remain the gold standard in U.S. construction workforce training but will also open pathways for more industries to build productive and highly-skilled workforces.”