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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10560 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10560
To amend the National Apprenticeship Act to require sponsors of
registered apprenticeship programs to employ a certain amount of
journeyworkers.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 24, 2026
Mr. James introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the National Apprenticeship Act to require sponsors of
registered apprenticeship programs to employ a certain amount of
journeyworkers.
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 ``Skilled Job Opportunity & Business
Success Act'' or the ``Skilled JOBS Act''.
SEC. 2. EMPLOYMENT RATIO.
(a) In General.--The Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the
``National Apprenticeship Act''; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 63; 29 U.S.C. 50
et seq.), is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 4 as section 7; and
(2) by inserting after section 3 the following:
``SEC. 4. RECOGNITION OF INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.
``(a) Recognition of Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of the Skilled JOBS Act, the Secretary, after
consultation with private sector industry associations,
institutions of higher education, State, local, and Tribal
governmental agencies, and other stakeholders the Secretary
determines appropriate, shall establish a process to recognize
entities as standards recognition entities for purposes of
recognizing industry-recognized apprenticeship programs under
this Act.
``(2) Limited discretion.--The Secretary shall not deny
recognition as a standards recognition entity to a private
sector or public sector entity that meets the requirements of
subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 6(4) and satisfactorily
completes the process established under paragraph (1).
``(3) Administrative flexibility.--The Secretary shall
ensure that the recognition process for standards recognition
entities established under paragraph (1) is a flexible process
with low administrative and reporting burdens for the standards
recognition entities and industry-recognized apprenticeship
programs.
``(b) Standards Required.--Each standards recognition entity shall
establish standards for the industry-recognized apprenticeship programs
recognized by the entity that, at a minimum, ensure that each industry-
recognized apprenticeship program--
``(1) includes--
``(A) paid work;
``(B) on-the-job learning;
``(C) a mentorship component;
``(D) education and classroom instruction;
``(E) a written development plan and apprenticeship
agreement; and
``(F) safety and supervision components;
``(2) provides, during participation in or upon completion
of the apprenticeship, an industry-recognized credential; and
``(3) is carried out by an entity that satisfies the
requirement under section 5(a)(1).
``SEC. 5. EMPLOYMENT RATIO OF JOURNEYWORKERS REQUIRED; STUDY.
``(a) Journeyworker Employment Ratio.--
``(1) In general.--An apprenticeship registered under this
Act and an industry-recognized apprenticeship program shall
employ at least 1 journeyworker for every 3 apprentices
participating in such apprenticeship or program.
``(2) Variation.--The Secretary, after carrying out the
study described in subsection (b), may vary the requirement
under paragraph (1) by requiring fewer journeyworkers to be
employed than is required under such paragraph.
``(b) Study.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall carry out a study evaluating--
``(1) how the requirement described in subsection (a)(1)
has affected the safety of apprentices participating in an
apprenticeship registered under this Act or industry-recognized
apprenticeship programs;
``(2) whether such requirement has had an effect on the
cost of carrying out such apprenticeships or programs; and
``(3) whether such requirement should be modified.
``SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.
``In this Act:
``(1) Industry-recognized apprenticeship program.--The term
`industry-recognized apprenticeship program'--
``(A) means a high-quality, competency based
apprenticeship program that is--
``(i) recognized by a standards recognition
entity; and
``(ii) developed or delivered by an entity,
such as a trade or industry group, corporation,
nonprofit organization, institution of higher
education, labor organization, or labor-
management organization, or any other entity
determined appropriate by the Secretary; and
``(B) may include a program that meets the
requirements of subparagraph (A) and trains apprentices
to perform construction activities.
``(2) Journeyworker.--The term `journeyworker' means a
worker who has attained a level of skill, abilities, and
competencies recognized within an industry as having mastered
the skills and competencies required for the occupation.
``(3) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary
of Labor.
``(4) Standards recognition entity.--The term `standards
recognition activity' means a private sector or public sector
entity that--
``(A) is recognized by the Secretary (acting
through the Administrator of the Office of
Apprenticeship of the Department of Labor) for purposes
of recognizing apprenticeship programs as industry-
recognized apprenticeship programs;
``(B) has a demonstrated ability to ensure an
industry-recognized apprenticeship program meets the
standards described in section 4(b); and
``(C) has the capacity to perform the oversight
necessary to ensure the ongoing compliance on an
industry-recognized apprenticeship program with such
standards.''.
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