Congressman Delgado Statement Delgado Votes to Pass Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Access to Apprenticeship Programs

U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado (NY-19) joined colleagues in voting to advance the bipartisan National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, which expands training opportunities for skilled jobs. Specifically, this legislation authorizes a grant program to grow Registered Apprenticeships, encourages employer participation and recruitment of individuals with barriers to employment, and expands educational alignment with national apprenticeship programs. The National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 would provide for nearly 1 million new apprenticeship opportunities on top of the current expected growth of the apprenticeship system.

“Workforce development and apprenticeship programs are essential to our local economy and help ensure that folks have the skills needed to find good-paying jobs here in upstate. I am proud to join colleagues on both sides of the aisle in voting to pass the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020,which would expand the number of Registered Apprenticeships to help both employers and those seeking employment,” said Rep. Delgado. “Throughout my first term, I’ve visited workforce development and BOCES programs all across the district, and introduced legislation to create training opportunities and jobs in high-demand industry sectors. I urge the Senate to take up this legislation as soon as possible to help more Americans get back to work and support job growth throughout our region.”

Earlier this year, Rep. Delgado introduced the Gateway to Careers Act to create a career pathway grant program that would fund partnerships between community or technical colleges and workforce development partners such as state workforce development boards, industry associations, and community-based organizations. 

Rep. Delgado also introduced the Green Jobs and Opportunity Act, which would make a significant investment—$260 million per year for fiscal years 2020 through 2022—for workforce development for displaced workers. This funding would be distributed as grants to educational institutions and labor organizations, among other entities, to establish flexible training programs to reduce any shortages and skill gaps identified in reports created by the Departments of Labor and Energy. The bill the House passed today helps to achieve Delgado’s goals of developing the workforce to prepare for the jobs necessary to create a sustainable and green economy.

The National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 is endorsed by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Jobs for the Future (JFF), Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA), National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), National Skills Coalition (NSC), National Taskforce on Tradeswomen’s Issues (TWTF), North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), and Third Way.