H.R. 447 · 117th Congress

National Apprenticeship Act of 2021

Introduced on Jan 25, 2021 by Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA-3). 91 cosponsors, 10 of them from another party. Latest action (Feb 25, 2021): Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Stage
Passed one chamber
Introduced
Jan 25, 2021
Cosponsors
91
10 from the other party
Policy area
Labor and Employment
Open in the Congress explorerCongress.govAlert me

Progress

The furthest stage the measure reached. Simple and concurrent resolutions do not go to the President.

  1. Introduced
  2. Reported by committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. 4Passed both chambers
  5. 5Sent to the President
  6. 6Became law

Official title

To amend the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly referred to as the National Apprenticeship Act) and expand the national apprenticeship system to include apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeship registered under such Act, to promote the furtherance of labor standards necessary to safeguard the welfare of apprentices, and for other purposes.

Subjects

  • Adult education and literacy
  • Cardiovascular and respiratory health
  • Department of Labor
  • Education programs funding
  • Elementary and secondary education
  • Emergency medical services and trauma care
  • Employment and training programs
  • Executive agency funding and structure
  • Higher education
  • Infectious and parasitic diseases
  • Performance measurement
  • State and local government operations

Summary

By the Congressional Research Service (Passed House, Feb 5, 2021). Public domain.

National Apprenticeship Act of 2021

This bill provides statutory authority for the registered apprenticeship program within the Department of Labor and for related grant programs.

The bill provides statutory authority for the Office of Apprenticeship (OA) within Labor. The OA's responsibilities include (1) supporting the development of apprenticeship models; (2) recognizing qualified state apprenticeship agencies, and operating apprenticeship offices in states without a recognized agency; (3) providing technical assistance to state agencies; (4) periodically updating requirements for each occupation in the apprenticeship program and determining whether to approve new occupations for the program; (5) promoting greater diversity in the national apprenticeship system; and (6) awarding grants provided by this bill.

The bill also establishes in statute the responsibilities of state apprenticeship agencies and offices, including (1) providing technical assistance to stakeholders, (2) resolving complaints, (3) establishing state performance goals, and (4) including in its written plan a description of how its apprenticeship programs align with the skills needs of the state's employers.

The OA shall enter into an agreement with the Department of Education to promote the integration and alignment of apprenticeship programs with secondary, postsecondary, and adult education.

The OA shall award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible entities to (1) expand national apprenticeship system programs, including by expanding pre-apprenticeship and youth apprenticeship programs; (2) encourage employer participation; and (3) strengthen alignment between the apprenticeship system and education providers.

The bill provides statutory authority for criteria for various programs, including (1) quality standards for apprenticeships, (2) requirements for apprenticeship agreements between a program sponsor and an apprentice, and (3) acceptable uses for grant funds awarded by this bill.

The bill also provides statutory authority for the National Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships. The committee's duties shall include advising the OA on matters relating to this bill and providing recommendations on topics such as increasing the participation of populations not traditionally involved in the national apprenticeship system.

Labor shall engage an independent entity to conduct research on ways to improve the management and effectiveness of national apprenticeship system programs.

Sponsor and cosponsors

Cosponsors by party as of the day they signed on. Original cosponsors signed on the day of introduction.

Robert C. "Bobby" ScottD-VA-3Sponsor

Democrats · 81

Republicans · 10

Roll calls

Recorded votes on the measure. Most measures move by voice vote or unanimous consent, which record no individual positions.

  1. On Agreeing to the Amendment
    Feb 5, 2021· House· Amendments· Agreed to 243–178
  2. On Agreeing to the Amendment
    Feb 5, 2021· House· Amendments· Failed 186–236
  3. On Agreeing to the Amendment
    Feb 5, 2021· House· Amendments· Failed 175–245
  4. On Passage
    Feb 5, 2021· House· Passage· Passed 247–173

History

Every action as published, oldest first. Roll calls link to how each member voted.

  1. Jan 25, 2021Introduced in House
  2. Jan 25, 2021Introduced in House
  3. Jan 25, 2021 · HouseReferred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  4. Jan 25, 2021 · HouseReferred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  5. Feb 2, 2021 · HouseRules Committee Resolution H. Res. 85 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 447 and H. Con. Res. 11 with 1 hour of debate on H.R. 447 and 3 hours of debate on H. Con. Res. 11. The previous question on both measures shall be considered as ordered. The rule also provides for a motion to recommit on H.R. 447.
  6. Feb 5, 2021 · HouseConsidered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 85. (consideration: CR H393-440)
  7. Feb 5, 2021 · HouseRule provides for consideration of H.R. 447 and H. Con. Res. 11 with 1 hour of debate on H.R. 447 and 3 hours of debate on H. Con. Res. 11. The previous question on both measures shall be considered as ordered. The rule also provides for a motion to recommit on H.R. 447.
  8. Feb 5, 2021 · HouseDEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 447.
  9. Feb 5, 2021 · HouseDEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 85, the House proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Levin amendment en bloc No. 1.
  10. Feb 5, 2021 · HousePOSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Levin (MI) amendment en bloc No.1, the Chair put the question on the adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Biggs demanded yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
  11. Feb 5, 2021 · HouseDEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 85, the House proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Levin (MI) amendment en bloc 2.
  12. Feb 5, 2021 · HouseMotion to reconsider liad on the table. Agreed to without objection.
  13. Feb 5, 2021 · HouseDEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 85, the House proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Levin amendment en bloc No. 3.
  14. Feb 5, 2021 · HouseMotion to reconsider liad on the table. Agreed to without objection.
  15. Feb 5, 2021 · HouseDEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 85, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hill amendment No. 10.
  16. Feb 5, 2021 · HousePOSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Hill amendment No. 10, the Chair put the question on the adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Hill demanded yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
  17. Feb 5, 2021 · HouseDEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 85, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Stefanik amendment No. 22.
  18. Feb 5, 2021 · HousePOSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Stefanik amendment No. 22, the Chair put the question on the adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the nays had prevailed. Mrs. Stefanik demanded yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
  19. Feb 5, 2021 · HousePOSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of Rules 19, the Chair postponed further consideration of H.R. 447.
  20. Feb 5, 2021 · HouseConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H455-458)
  21. Feb 5, 2021 · HouseMotion to reconsider laid on the table. Agreed to without objection.
  22. Feb 5, 2021 · HouseMotion to reconsider laid on the table. Agreed to without objection.
  23. Feb 5, 2021 · HouseMotion to reconsider laid on the table. Agreed to without objection.
  24. Feb 5, 2021 · HouseThe previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
  25. Feb 5, 2021Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 247 - 173 (Roll no. 31).House · Roll call 31
  26. Feb 5, 2021 · HouseOn passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 247 - 173 (Roll no. 31).House · Roll call 31
  27. Feb 5, 2021 · HouseMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  28. Feb 24, 2021 · HouseMr. Scott (VA) asked unanimous consent that the Clerk be directed to make a change in the engrossment of H.R. 447 to strike lines 1 through 6 on page 21 and insert revised language. Agreed to without objection.
  29. Feb 25, 2021 · SenateReceived in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Committees

Committees and subcommittees the measure was referred to.

Agencies in its committees' jurisdiction

Analisa's mapping of committee jurisdiction to federal agencies; the bill may touch others, or none of these.

Who lobbied on it

Organizations whose lobbying reports (LD-2) name this measure. Spending is what they reported for those quarters on all issues, not on this measure alone.

  1. UNITED ASSN OF JOURNEYMEN & APPRENTICES OF THE PLUMBING & PIPEFITTING INDUSTRY3 reports
    $660K reported (all issues)

Reports filed in 2023.

Sources and method

Every figure on this page traces to these records.

  • Bill status: bills and resolutions, sponsors, actions, subjects and CRS summaries (U.S. Government Publishing Office (GovInfo), from Congress.gov (Library of Congress))GovInfo Bill Status bulk data (Congress.gov; summaries by the Congressional Research Service) · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Members of Congress, their terms, committees and identifiers (The @unitedstates project (from the Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, the House and the Senate))unitedstates/congress-legislators: legislators, committees and current committee membership · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication)
  • House roll-call votes (Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, roll-call vote records · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Senate roll-call votes and DW-NOMINATE scores (Voteview (UCLA Department of Political Science))Lewis, Jeffrey B., Keith Poole, Howard Rosenthal, Adam Boche, Aaron Rudkin, and Luke Sonnet (2026). Voteview: Congressional Roll-Call Votes Database. https://voteview.com/ · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Free to use with the required citation
  • Lobbying disclosures (LD-1 registrations, LD-2 quarterly reports, LD-203 contribution reports) (Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives)Clerk of the House, Lobbying Disclosure Act filings (organizations only; lobbyists' names are not loaded) · data current to Oct 5, 2026 · loaded Oct 5, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Positions are shown only where a roll call recorded them; voice votes and unanimous consent record none.
  • Money and votes are shown side by side; neither explains the other.