Representatives Angie Craig, Pete Stauber Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Apprenticeship Colleges
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN) and Pete Stauber (R-MN) introduced the bipartisan Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges Act of 2021 to provide grants to eligible apprenticeship colleges throughout the country to expand and support enrollment. The apprenticeship programs that would be eligible for grants in this bill are federally accredited institutions that are often left out of traditional higher education grant programs despite the important work they do to prepare students for high-demand jobs.
Specifically, the Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges Act of 2021 would provide community grants for apprenticeship colleges to expand and support outreach to potential students and employers. This legislation would also provide grants for academic advising and student support programs in apprenticeship colleges, prioritizing those that address common barriers to completion for low-income students such as childcare, support for first-generation students and other programs.
"As Minnesotans continue to face the economic challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, we must get folks back to work – especially in jobs that build critical American infrastructure," said Representative Craig. "I am proud to partner with my colleague, Representative Pete Stauber, to promote careers in the trades by supporting the Apprenticeship Colleges that lead to good-paying careers with endless opportunities to advance. I'll keep fighting for an economy that works for Minnesota's working and middle-class families."
"Our rural economy in northern Minnesota is dependent on skilled trade workers. That's why I'm pleased to reintroduce the Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges Act. Institutions like the Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest provide crucial workforce pipelines and they stand to benefit from the competitive grant programs in the bill, while putting them on equal footing with other postsecondary education options. I'm happy to work on this bill in a bipartisan fashion that will enhance our economy and help our middle class thrive," said Representative Stauber.
"Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest (FTI-UM) is proud to be an Accredited Apprenticeship College and endorses the Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges Act of 2021. Accredited Apprenticeship Colleges have a history of strong career technical education programming that meets the registered apprenticeship requirements set forth by the US Department of Labor and the US Department of Education accrediting agencies' accreditation standards. Accredited Apprenticeship Colleges provide an attractive career pathway for both high school students and high school graduates to consider. These successful finishing trades industry careers create opportunities to gain occupations at "livable wages and benefits" that support the students and families and contribute to the communities they work and live in," said Terry Nelson, FTI-UM Co-Chair, Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer, IUPAT, District Council 82
"Registered apprenticeship programs are the backbone of the middle class. We are proud to endorse the 2021 Supporting Accredited Apprenticeship Colleges Act because we believe that as many people as possible should have access to apprenticeship colleges. These programs allow you to "earn while you learn" and come out with both a skilled trade and an Associate's Degree. There is no community in the US that wouldn't benefit from expanded access to apprenticeship colleges and we hope this bill advances through Congress with bipartisan support," said Ken Rigmaiden, President of the IUPAT.