Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) voted in support of the National Apprenticeship Act Reauthorization of 2020, a bill investing more than $3.5 billion to create 1 million new Registered Apprenticeship, youth apprenticeship, and pre-apprenticeship positions over the next five years. Congresswoman Hayes is an original cosponsor of the bill and worked closely with fellow members of the House Committee on Education and Labor to develop it.
“As Connecticut workers and businesses continue to suffer from the economic effects of COVID-19, Congress has taken this step to expand employment opportunities with jobs that will provide CT workers with living wages and long-term prospects through the National Apprenticeship Act. ” said Congresswoman Hayes. “
“Registered Apprenticeships have a proven track record of preparing workers for high-wage, high skill employment while simultaneously meeting the expanding needs of small businesses. Bolstering access to Registered Apprenticeships, particularly for COVID-19 impacted workers and traditionally underrepresented communities, will ensure there are qualified applicants for the job openings of tomorrow without assuming the debt associated with a four-year degree.
“By streamlining quality standards, strengthening coordination between employers and education institutions, and aligning employee skills with employers needs, this reauthorization of the National Apprenticeship Act will open the door to one million opportunities for Americans to gain in-demand skills and obtain well-paying jobs.”
The bill governs the Registered Apprenticeships (RAs) system in the United States, the most successful federally authorized workforce development program. According to the Department of Labor, 94 percent of people who complete RAs are employed upon completion, earning an average starting wage of above $70,000 annually.
The reauthorization would save American taxpayers an estimated $10.6 billion in the form of increased tax revenues from higher worker pay and productivity and decreased spending on public-assistance programs and unemployment insurance.
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Rep. Jahana Hayes has been a public school teacher in Connecticut for more than 15 years and was recognized in 2016 as the National Teacher of the Year.
Currently serving her first term in the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Hayes sits on the Committees on Education & Labor and Agriculture and proudly represents Connecticut’s 5th District.