Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges Act of 2025

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4588 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4588

 To authorize funding to expand and support enrollment at institutions
    of higher education that sponsor construction and manufacturing-
  oriented registered apprenticeship programs, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 22, 2025

  Ms. Craig (for herself and Mr. Bresnahan) introduced the following
  bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 To authorize funding to expand and support enrollment at institutions
    of higher education that sponsor construction and manufacturing-
  oriented registered apprenticeship programs, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges
Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. COMMUNITY OUTREACH GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--From the amounts appropriated under subsection
(f), the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall
provide grants to eligible entities for the purposes of expanding or
supporting potential student and employer outreach carried out by such
entities with respect to the construction and manufacturing-oriented
registered apprenticeship programs offered by such entities.
    (b) Amounts.--The total grant amount made to an eligible entity
under this section may not exceed $500,000.
    (c) Use of Grants.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under
this section shall use such grant for the outreach described in
subsection (a), which shall include the following:
            (1) Outreach to high schools, for the purpose of educating
        students, parents, guardians, and faculty on the benefits of
        enrolling students in the construction and manufacturing-
        oriented registered apprenticeship program offered by the
        eligible entity.
            (2) Outreach to local businesses and other potential
        employers for the purpose of educating such employers on the
        benefits of supporting and hiring graduates of such program,
        which shall--
                    (A) primarily target relationship building with
                potential employers in rural, exurban, and suburban
                areas; and
                    (B) seek to maximize the number of students who
                work in such areas after completing such program.
            (3) Outreach to local workforce development boards and
        apprenticeship intermediaries for the purpose of reaching
        nontraditional student populations and prioritizing local
        needs.
    (d) Application Requirements.--An eligible entity seeking a grant
under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary
may require.
    (e) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary
shall give priority to eligible entities that demonstrate outreach
efforts targeted at increasing program enrollment for rural students,
first generation college students, minority students, and
nontraditional students, or other students from underrepresented
population.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated $5,000,000 to carry out this section for each of the
fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

SEC. 3. STUDENT SUPPORT GRANT PROGRAM FOR EXPANDED ACADEMIC ADVISING.

    (a) In General.--From the amounts appropriated under subsection
(g), the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall
provide grants to eligible entities for the activities described in
subsection (d).
    (b) Amounts.--The total grant amount made to an eligible entity
under this section may not exceed $500,000.
    (c) Multiple Grants Permitted.--An eligible entity may receive a
grant under sections 2 and 3.
    (d) Use of Grants.--
            (1) In general.--An eligible entity that receives a grant
        under this section shall use such grant for advising and
        support services to enrollees of construction and
        manufacturing-oriented registered apprenticeship programs
        offered by such entity to increase retention, persistence, and
        completion for students.
            (2) Requirements.--Such advising and support services shall
        include the following:
                    (A) Expanding academic advising programs that
                provide services to students, including--
                            (i) career advising and professional
                        development;
                            (ii) support for English as a second
                        language students;
                            (iii) information and resource systems;
                            (iv) mentoring systems; or
                            (v) other similar advising activities that
                        support enrollment, retention, persistence, and
                        completion.
                    (B) Expanding student support programs that provide
                services to students, including--
                            (i) health and family-related services,
                        including substance abuse disorder and mental
                        health counseling;
                            (ii) support for first generation college
                        students;
                            (iii) childcare support; or
                            (iv) other similar support activities.
    (e) Application Requirements.--An eligible entity seeking a grant
under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary
may require.
    (f) Report.--
            (1) In general.--An eligible entity that receives a grant
        under this section shall submit to the Secretary a report on--
                    (A) the activities supported by the grant;
                    (B) the number of students participating in the
                activities supported by the grant;
                    (C) the percentage of students participating in the
                activities supported by the grant who are high school
                students;
                    (D) the progress made in achieving the goals of the
                program supported by the grant, in general, and
                measuring in particular--
                            (i) the effectiveness of the grant in
                        expanding overall enrollment and program and
                        apprenticeship completion rates and
                        certification;
                            (ii) the effectiveness of the grant in
                        expanding enrollment and program completion
                        rates for underrepresented populations; and
                            (iii) any progress made towards the type of
                        indicators of performance as described in
                        section 116(b)(2)(A) of the Workforce
                        Innovation and Opportunity (29 U.S.C.
                        3141(b)(2)(A)); and
                    (E) such other information as the Secretary
                determines to be appropriate.
            (2) Timeline for submission of report.--The report under
        paragraph (1) shall be submitted to the Secretary not later
        than 180 days after the date on which the eligible entity
        concludes the activities supported by the grant under this
        section.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of the
fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Construction and manufacturing-oriented apprenticeship
        college.--The term ``construction and manufacturing-oriented
        apprenticeship college'' means an institution of higher
        education that is a sponsor of a construction and
        manufacturing-oriented registered apprenticeship program.
            (2) Construction and manufacturing-oriented registered
        apprenticeship program.--The term ``construction and
        manufacturing-oriented registered apprenticeship program''
        means a registered apprenticeship program that--
                    (A) provides coursework and training in preparation
                for employment in the construction or manufactory
                industry (such as employment as a painter, drywall
                finisher, glazier, or glassworker);
                    (B)(i) leads to a recognized postsecondary
                credential other than a certificate of completion of an
                apprenticeship; or
                    (ii) awards credits that can be applied toward a
                recognized postsecondary credential at least at the
                institution that sponsors the program; and
                    (C) is accredited by a nationally recognized
                accrediting agency or association recognized by the
                Secretary pursuant to part H of title IV of the Higher
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1099a et seq.).
            (3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a
        construction and manufacturing-oriented apprenticeship college.
            (4) First generation college student.--The term ``first
        generation college student'' has the meaning given the term in
        section 402A(h) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
        1070a-11(h)).
            (5) High school.--The term ``high school'' has the meaning
        given the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (6) Institution of higher education.--The term
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
        term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
        U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            (7) Outreach.--The term ``outreach'' means communications
        and relationship-building opportunities undertaken by an
        eligible entity.
            (8) Recognized postsecondary credential.--The term
        ``recognized postsecondary credential'' has the meaning given
        the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
            (9) Registered apprenticeship program.--The term
        ``registered apprenticeship program'' means an apprenticeship
        program registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly
        known as the ``National Apprenticeship Act''; 50 Stat. 664,
        chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.).
            (10) Second language.--The term ``second language'' means
        any language other than English, including Braille and American
        Sign Language.
            (11) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
        of Education.
            (12) Underrepresented population.--The term
        ``underrepresented population'' means an individual who is from
        a group whose gender, ethnic background, or national origin is
        not traditionally represented in registered apprenticeship
        programs.
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