H.R. 6725 — Jobs, On-the-Job Earn-While-You-Learn Training, and Apprenticeships for Young African-Americans Act

This section states congressional findings that African Americans have faced unemployment rates two to three times higher than Whites for decades—including during recessions in 1974-1975, 1981-1982, 1990-1991, and 2008—and experience slower recovery even in economic growth periods; that workforce diversity benefits businesses and apprenticeship programs; that building trades unions and partners have established over 150 apprenticeship readiness programs and invested over $100 million from 2009 to 2019 in outreach to underrepresented communities, with 70% of 4,800 completers since 2016 from communities of color and 22% women; and that high unemployment and low apprenticeship participation among young African Americans constitutes a national crisis.

This section establishes within the Office of Apprenticeship in the Department of Labor's Office of Employment and Training Administration the position of Diversity and Inclusion Administrator. The administrator shall (1) promote greater diversity, including increased participation of African American, Hispanic, Asian American or Pacific Islander, and Native American individuals in the national apprenticeship system; (2) engage with institutions of higher education and other education and training providers in secondary, postsecondary, and adult education systems, including those with degree and credential requirements; (3) engage with employers from nontraditional apprenticeship industries and occupations; and (4) assist state apprenticeship agencies and sponsors in complying with this Act.

This section requires entities seeking to register an apprenticeship program under the National Apprenticeship Act to submit, as part of the application, a plan to increase participation by African American individuals. The section applies the same requirement to registered programs seeking renewal of registration.

This section authorizes the Diversity and Inclusion Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Education as appropriate, to award competitive grants to eligible entities to create or expand diversity in registered apprenticeship programs under the national apprenticeship system (i.e., DOL-sponsored work-based learning programs combining on-the-job training and classroom instruction). Grants target programs in traditional and nontraditional industries or occupations (e.g., construction, welding, electrical engineering, plumbing, information technology, energy, green jobs, advanced manufacturing, health care, cybersecurity). Grantees may use funds to (1) establish or expand partnerships providing African-American participants and other nontraditional participants (i.e., populations determined by the Secretary) access to financial planning, mentoring, and supportive services; (2) conduct outreach, recruitment, and enrollment; (3) engage employers, industry associations, labor organizations, workforce agencies, community-based organizations, and others to build partnerships; (4) perform program evaluation and reporting; and (5) advance other grant purposes. Each grantee must submit a report to the registration agency and Administrator detailing use of funds to increase participation by African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans; active participants; unsubsidized employment outcomes; completions; average completion time and cost per participant; and percentage receiving support services. Eligible entities include program sponsors, State or local workforce boards or agencies, education providers, State apprenticeship agencies, Indian Tribes, industry partnerships, Governors, labor organizations, community organizations, and qualified intermediaries.

This section establishes definitions for terms used in the Act, including "(1) education and training provider," encompassing entities such as area career and technical education schools, early college high schools, local educational agencies, Tribally controlled colleges or universities, postsecondary educational institutions, minority-serving institutions, adult education providers, Job Corps centers, and consortia thereof; "(2) institution of higher education," as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001) (i.e., public or nonprofit institutions providing postsecondary education, including certain vocational schools); "(3) national apprenticeship system," referring to apprenticeship, youth apprenticeship, and preapprenticeship programs under the National Apprenticeship Act (29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.); "(4) nontraditional apprenticeship population," a group (e.g., by gender, race, or ethnicity) comprising fewer than 25% of participants in an apprenticeable occupation; "(5) nontraditional apprenticeship industry or occupation," an industry sector or occupation representing fewer than 10% of apprenticeable occupations or programs under the national apprenticeship system; "(6) registered apprenticeship program," an apprenticeship program registered under the National Apprenticeship Act; "(7) registration agency," a State Office of Apprenticeship or equivalent responsible for approving programs and providing support; and "(8) State," as defined in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102), including outlying areas.

This section authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Labor to carry out this Act of $2 million for FY2026, $3 million for FY2027, $4 million for FY2028, and $5 million for FY2029.