From Senate Floor, Senator Collins Urges Colleagues to Support Bipartisan Bill She Introduced to Kickstart American Apprenticeships

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Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins spoke from the Senate floor to urge her colleagues to support bipartisan legislation she introduced with U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) to promote apprenticeships. The Apprenticeship and Jobs Training Act of 2017 would enhance America’s ability to train and educate its workers through registered apprenticeships and increase the competitiveness of our workers and businesses in the global marketplace. Apprenticeship programs are a tried and true model of workforce development, allowing workers to earn while they learn and companies to increase the skills of their workforce.

“It is crucial that we continue to improve job training initiatives to help people find jobs in fields with open positions. Many business owners in Maine have told me that they do in fact have jobs available, but that they cannot find the qualified workers to fill these highly skilled vacant positions,” said Senator Collins from the Senate floor. “This bill would help to better align the needs of our nation's employers with potential employees. It would promote hiring and the creation of new jobs. It would enhance the skills that the people of our country need to obtain good-paying, secure employment.”

“This is something that should unite us all—Democrats, Republicans, and Independents,” Senator Collins continued. “It’s not a partisan issue; it is looking at ways that we can help more Americans secure good-paying jobs that will last them for a lifetime.”

The Apprenticeship and Jobs Training Act would:

• Create a $5,000 tax credit for up to three years for companies that hire and pay employees enrolled in a federal- or state-registered apprentice program. Additionally, employers participating in a multi-employer apprenticeship program, the credit rate would be $3 per hour each individual works.

• Allow senior employees near retirement to draw from pensions early if they’re involved in mentoring or training new employees. Workers must be at least 55, and have reduced work hours to spend at least 20 percent of their time training or educating employees or students.

• Help veterans get into skilled jobs that match their military experience sooner by allowing credit in apprenticeship requirements for previous military training.

Apprenticeship programs benefit both the company and employee. According to a survey by the National Association of Manufacturers, 67 percent of manufacturers reported a shortage of available, qualified workers. U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) data shows that over 90 percent of apprentices find employment after completing their program, and their average starting wage is $60,000 annually. DOL also reports that workers who finish apprenticeships earn an average of $240,000 more in wages over a lifetime than job seekers with similar work experience.

The full text of the bill can be found HERE.
A summary of the bill can be found HERE.
A section-by-section of the bill can be found HERE.