Virginia Foxx: “I have good news and bad news to share as we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week. Let's get the bad news out of the…”

“I have good news and bad news to share as we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week. Let's get the bad news out of the way first. The Biden-Harris administration has taken steps that would destroy the apprenticeship model. Just look at the Department of Labor's nearly 800-page proposed apprenticeship rule. This is irresponsible and reckless because we know apprenticeships are a proven strategy in closing the Nation's skills gap. With 8 million open jobs in the U.S., expanding apprenticeships will be critical to keep the American economy growing. Not only does the Department of Labor's proposed apprenticeship rule blatantly circumvent Congress, but more to the point, it sets up a regulatory gauntlet that will limit employer and sponsor participation in apprenticeships. This will effectively close a route into the workforce for Americans seeking an alternative to a baccalaureate degree. Currently, registered apprenticeship programs in the United States constitute only 0.3 percent of the labor force, a significantly lower share than many other developed countries. Further, these apprenticeships have yet to gain a foothold in growing industries like healthcare and information technology. One reason for this is that employers are discouraged from participating, and the NPRM only provides them with more reasons to stay away.…”