AJR211

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman WILLIAM F. MOEN, JR.

District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)

Assemblyman ANTHONY S. VERRELLI

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

Assemblyman ERIC HOUGHTALING

District 11 (Monmouth)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle

SYNOPSIS

Urges Congress to pass “National Apprenticeship Act of 2021.”

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As introduced.

A Joint Resolution urging Congress to pass the “National Apprenticeship Act of 2021.”

Whereas, Apprenticeships helped build the economy of the United States and continue to assist in American economic development; and

Whereas, It is estimated that 94 percent of individuals who complete an apprenticeship retain employment at an average salary of $70,000 per year; and

Whereas, A Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP), first started in Wisconsin in 1911, is an option available to individuals seeking an apprenticeship; and

Whereas, RAPs are structured programs sponsored by an employer or a group of employers to apply industry standards to the training and education of the registered apprentices; and

Whereas, Federal funds are available to employers who sponsor RAPs to help reduce costs associated with instructional needs, on-the-job training, and recruitment; and

Whereas, Upon completion of a RAP, an apprentice receives a certification that is recognized nationwide and allows the apprentice to be considered a journeyman in the profession for which that individual received certification; and

Whereas, RAPs gained federal recognition in 1937 under the National Apprenticeship Act, which authorized the United States Department of Labor to formulate and promote the furtherance of labor standards required to protect the welfare of apprentices, and originally focused on manufacturing, construction and utilities industries before expanding to other professionals such as police, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians; and

Whereas, The New Jersey Apprenticeship Program was established to create and expand on existing pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs that are registered with the United States Department of Labor; and

Whereas, Federal legislation, H.R. 447, the “National Apprenticeship Act of 2021,” was introduced in the 117th Congress to reauthorize the National Apprenticeship Act; and

Whereas, The federal bill invests more than $3.5 billion over a period of five years to expand opportunities and access to RAPs; and

Whereas, There is bipartisan support for the bill in the current Congress; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. The State of New Jersey urges the 117th Congress to pass the “National Apprenticeship Act of 2021,” and for the bill to be signed into law by the President.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the General Assembly to each member of Congress elected from this State, to the Secretary of the United States Department of Labor, to the Secretary of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and the leadership of the Office of Apprenticeship in the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This joint resolution urges the 117th Congress to pass, and for the President to sign, the “National Apprenticeship Act of 2021.”

Apprenticeships helped build the U.S. economy and continue to provide assistance in American economic development. An option available for individuals seeking apprenticeships is a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP). First started in Wisconsin in 1911, RAPs are structured programs sponsored by an employer or a group of employers to apply industry standards to the training and education of the registered apprentices. Upon completion of a RAP, an apprentice receives a certification that is recognized nationwide and allows the apprentice to be considered a journeyman in the profession for which that individual received certification. RAPs are recognized federally by the U.S. Department of Labor, which is authorized under federal law to promote the furtherance of labor standards required to protect the welfare of apprentices.

The State established the New Jersey Apprenticeship Program to create and expand on existing pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs that are registered with the U.S. Department of Labor. Current federal legislation, H.R. 447, the “National Apprenticeship Act of 2021,” invests more than $3.5 billion over a period of five years to expand opportunities and access to RAPs and enjoys bipartisan support.