Veterans' Entry to Apprenticeship Act
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide the same amount and type of educational assistance to pre-apprenticeship programs as apprenticeship programs in certain circumstances. A pre-apprenticeship program is designed to prepare individuals to enter an apprenticeship program via education and training.
In cases where a state does not require any program standards, a pre-apprenticeship program may be treated like an apprenticeship program for purposes of educational assistance if (1) the curriculum of the program is approved and certified by a sponsor, and (2) the program maintains conduct and attendance policies in accordance with a sponsor.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3816 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3816
To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that veterans may
attend pre-apprenticeship programs using certain educational assistance
provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 5, 2023
Mr. James (for himself and Mr. Ryan) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that veterans may
attend pre-apprenticeship programs using certain educational assistance
provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 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 ``Veterans' Entry to Apprenticeship
Act''.
SEC. 2. PROGRAMS OF PRE-APPRENTICESHIP.
(a) In General.--Chapter 36 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 3687 the following new section:
``Sec. 3687A. Programs of pre-apprenticeship
``(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), and except as
provided by subsection (c), the Secretary shall treat a pre-
apprenticeship program as a program of apprenticeship for purposes of
providing educational assistance.
``(b) Approval of Pre-Apprenticeship Program.--A pre-apprenticeship
program may be covered under subsection (a) in the case of a program
for which a State does not require any such standards, if--
``(1) the curriculum of the program is approved by a
sponsor and the sponsor certifies to the Secretary that the
program will prepare an individual with skills and competencies
needed to enroll in a registered apprenticeship program; and
``(2) the program maintains conduct and attendance policies
in accordance with a sponsor.
``(c) Benefits.--The educational assistance received by a covered
individual enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship program under subsection
(a) shall be equal to the amount and kind of such assistance received
by the individual if the individual were enrolled in a program of
apprenticeship, except that if the individual is not paid as part of
such program, each monthly allowance for housing payable to the
individual under chapter 33 of this title shall be an amount equal to
the monthly amount of the basic allowance for housing payable under
section 403 of title 37 for a member with dependents in pay grade E-5
residing in the military housing area that encompasses all or the
majority portion of the ZIP Code area in which is located the pre-
apprenticeship program.
``(d) Charge to Entitlement.--The entitlement of a covered
individual pursuing a pre-apprenticeship program under subsection (a)
shall be charged at a rate equal to the rate charged if the program
were a program of apprenticeship.
``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `covered individual' means an individual who
is--
``(A) entitled to educational assistance; and
``(B) seeking to use such assistance for a program
of apprenticeship.
``(2) The term `educational assistance' means educational
assistance provided under chapter 30, 32, 33, 34, or 35 of this
title or chapter 1606 of title 10.
``(3) The term `pre-apprenticeship program' means a program
or set of objectives--
``(A) designed to prepare individuals to enter and
succeed in a registered apprenticeship program; and
``(B) that has a documented partnership with at
least one sponsor.
``(4) The term `registered apprenticeship program' means an
apprenticeship program registered with the Office of
Apprenticeship of the Employment Training Administration of the
Department of Labor or a State apprenticeship agency recognized
by the Office of Apprenticeship pursuant to the Act of August
16, 1937 (popularly known as the `National Apprenticeship Act';
29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.).
``(5) The term `sponsor', with respect to a pre-
apprenticeship program, means an entity that formally supports
the pre-apprenticeship program, including--
``(A) a registered apprenticeship program;
``(B) a department or agency of a State or local
government;
``(C) an institution of higher learning; or
``(D) any other public, private, or nonprofit
entity that the Secretary determines to be a sponsor
for purposes of this section.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
3687 the following new item:
``3687A. Programs of pre-apprenticeship.''.
(c) Effective Date.--Section 3687A of title 38, United States Code,
as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to an individual
who enrolls in a program of pre-apprenticeship described in such
section beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
Subcommittee Hearings Held
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