Senators Murray, Johnson, Harkin, Kohl, Blumenthal, Pryor, and Cantwell Introduce Resolution Designating National Registered Apprenticeship Month

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA),  Ron Johnson (R-WI), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Herb Kohl (D-WI), Mark Pryor (D-AR), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced a resolution in the U.S. Senate designating the month of August as National Registered Apprenticeship Month.  The resolution emphasizes the importance and benefit of providing workers with the opportunity for paid, on-the-job training and academic instruction in traditional and high-growth industries, leading to recognized, valuable, and portable credentials.  Recognizing August 2012 as National Registered Apprenticeship Month highlights the benefits of registered apprenticeships, encourages industries that utilize the Registered Apprenticeship model to train U.S. workers, and celebrates the role of registered apprenticeships in preparing America’s workers for 21^st Century jobs with family-sustaining wages. August 2012 also marks the 75^th anniversary of the passage of the National Apprenticeship Act, which established the National Registered Apprenticeship system.  

“The national registered apprenticeship system is an important post-secondary pathway for United States workers, offering a combination of academic and technical instruction with paid, on-the-job training, resulting in a nationally and industry-recognized occupational credential that ensures higher earnings for apprentices and a highly skilled workforce for United States businesses,” the Senators say in the resolution.

The full text of the resolution follows:

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

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Mrs. MURRAY (for herself, Mr. HARKIN, and Mr. JOHNSON of Wisconsin) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on

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RESOLUTION

Designating the month of August 2012 as ‘‘National Registered Apprenticeship Month’’.

 Whereas 2012 marks the 75th anniversary of the enactment of the Act of August 16, 1937 (29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.) (commonly known as the ‘‘National Apprenticeship Act’’), which established the national registered apprenticeship system;

Whereas the State of Wisconsin created the first State registered apprenticeship system in 1911;

Whereas the Act of August 16, 1937 (29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.) (commonly known as the ‘‘National Apprenticeship Act’’) established a comprehensive system of partnerships among employers, labor organizations, educational institutions, and Federal and State governments, which has shaped skill training for succeeding generations of United States workers;

Whereas for 75 years, the national registered apprenticeship system has provided state of the art training using an model known as ‘‘earn while you learn’’ that offers a pathway to the middle class and a sustainable career for millions of workers in the United States;

Whereas the national registered apprenticeship system has grown to include approximately 24,000 programs across the United States, providing education and training for apprentices in emerging and high-growth sectors, such as information technology and health care, as well as in traditional industries;

Whereas the national registered apprenticeship system leverages approximately $1,000,000,000 in private investment, reflecting the strong commitment of the sponsors of the system, which include industry associations, individual employers, and labor-management partnerships;

Whereas the national registered apprenticeship system is an important post-secondary pathway for United States workers, offering a combination of academic and technical

instruction with paid, on-the-job training, resulting in a nationally and industry-recognized occupational credential that ensures higher earnings for apprentices and a highly skilled workforce for United States businesses;

Whereas the national registered apprenticeship system has continually modernized and developed innovative training approaches to meet the workforce needs of industry and address the evolving challenges of staying competitive in the global economy;

Whereas the national registered apprenticeship system of the 21st century, as envisioned by the Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship of the Secretary of Labor and administered

as a partnership between the Federal Government and State apprenticeship programs, is positioned to produce the highly skilled workers the United States economy needs now and in the future; and

Whereas the celebration of National Registered Apprenticeship Month—

(1) honors the industries that use the registered apprenticeship model;

(2) encourages other industries that could benefit from the registered apprenticeship model to train United States workers using the model; and

(3) recognizes the role the national registered apprenticeship system has played in preparing United States workers for jobs with family-sustaining wages:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate—

(1) designates August 2012, as ‘‘National Registered Apprenticeship Month’’;

(2) celebrates the 101st anniversary of the enactment of the first State registered apprenticeship law; and

(3) celebrates the 75th anniversary of the enactment of the Act of August 16, 1937 (29 U.S.C.50 et seq.) (commonly known as the ‘‘National Apprenticeship Act’’).