U.S. Senate committee unveils bills to expand apprenticeships and accelerate approvals

by anthony_capkun_2 | 1 May 2026 1:17 pm

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U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), chair of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP[2]) Committee, introduced legislation aimed at expanding apprenticeship opportunities by making it easier to see what is already working, and establishing consistent guidelines for federal and state governments when registering prospective apprenticeship programs.

“Apprenticeships empower Americans to achieve the American Dream and strengthen the economy,” said Cassidy. “Let’s make apprenticeships more enticing to employers, helping to build a workforce for the future.”

Cassidy and U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) introduced the Apprenticeship Data Value Improvements to Create Employment (ADVICE) Act, which aims to make it easier for states and apprenticeship program sponsors to measure success in apprenticeship models by allowing them to create critical pay, retention, and program completion data.

The ADVICE Act should help states and apprenticeship program sponsors replicate proven models so that more workers will have opportunities to participate.

“Four-year degrees aren’t for everyone, and the skills needed for some industries are better learned in the field than in the classroom,” said Senator Tuberville.

“Apprenticeships are a great way to provide students with on-the-job training while filling critical workforce demands. I’m proud to support this legislation, and will continue to champion creating accessible pathways for students to find good-paying jobs,” Tuberville added.

Cassidy is also co-leading legislation with U.S. Senator Jim Banks (R-IN), the Streamlining Timely Apprenticeship Registration and Transparency (START) Act, which guarantees prospective programs will receive faster responses as they seek registration, enabling industries that are unfamiliar with apprenticeships to participate more easily.

“This is about getting more Americans into the good-paying jobs our country actually needs,” said Banks. “If you’re ready to learn a trade and get to work, we should be helping you do that, not slowing you down.”

Both bills are supported by Apprenticeships for America[3], Associated Builders and Contractors[4] (ABC), The Manufacturing Institute[5], the Society for Human Resource Management[6] (SHRM), and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce[7].

“These apprenticeship reform bills strengthen the United States’ ability to scale the registered apprenticeship system,” said ABC vice president of government affairs Kristen Swearingen.

According to ABC, the construction industry needs to attract an estimated 349,000 net new workers in 2026 to meet demand. In 2027, the industry will need to bring in 456,000 new workers, as construction spending growth is expected to resume.

Source URL: https://www.metalconstructionnews.com/news/u-s-senate-committee-unveils-bills-to-expand-apprenticeships-and-accelerate-approvals/

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