Chairman Cassidy, Colleagues Introduce Bills to Support Apprenticeships, Strengthen American Workforce

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, introduced legislation expanding apprenticeship opportunities by making it easier to see what is already working and establishing consistent guidelines for the federal and state governments to register prospective apprenticeship programs. Following President Trump's call to champion apprenticeships, Cassidy and U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) introduced the Apprenticeship Data Value Improvements to Create Employment (ADVICE) Act. He is also co-leading legislation with U.S. Senator Jim Banks (R-IN), the Streamlining Timely Apprenticeship Registration and Transparency (START) Act.

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

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

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

Cassidy and Tuberville's ADVICE Act makes 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. This will help states and apprenticeship program sponsors replicate proven models so more workers will have opportunities to participate.

Cassidy and Banks' START Act guarantees prospective programs will receive faster responses as they seek registration, so industries that are unfamiliar with apprenticeships will be able to participate with ease.

Both bills are supported by Apprenticeships for America, the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), The Manufacturing Institute, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The START Act is supported by The American Society for Nondestructive Testing.

"We applaud Senator Banks and Senator Cassidy for introducing legislation that makes critical updates to the Registered Apprenticeship system," said Carolyn Lee, President, Manufacturing Institute. "For Registered Apprenticeship to reach its full potential in manufacturing, it must deliver clear value to employers through sensible standards, a light regulatory burden and reasonable incentives. These bills move the system in the right direction by strengthening its viability for manufacturers and individuals preparing for high-quality careers in the sector. The Manufacturing Institute remains committed to expanding apprenticeship in manufacturing and working with Congress and the Department of Labor to make Registered Apprenticeship part of the solution."

"These apprenticeship reform bills strengthen the United States' ability to scale the registered apprenticeship system," said Kristen Swearingen, Vice President of Government Affairs, Associated Builders and Contractors. "By establishing application review timelines, clarifying state apprenticeship agency responsibilities, and creating an advisory committee to recommend improvements to apprenticeship data collection and analysis, this legislation gives current and prospective program sponsors clear insight into how to improve and expand programs while ensuring new sponsors have the direction and timely decisions they need to offer apprenticeship opportunities in their communities."

"Apprenticeships are essential to a skills-first workforce strategy and a stronger education-to-employment pipeline - the E² pipeline - giving employers a proven way to build and expand American talent, said Emily M. Dickens, Chief Administrative Officer, SHRM. "SHRM's 2026 Talent Trends report shows that while only 23% of organizations currently offer or partner with registered or customized apprenticeship programs, 84% of those that do report a positive impact on talent shortages. Reducing barriers to program registration and improving the quality and consistency of apprenticeship data will help more employers move quickly to adopt and scale these programs with confidence. As work continues to evolve with the rise of artificial intelligence and as more workers balance caregiving responsibilities, these improvements will support more responsive, flexible, and effective skills-based pathways that meet changing workforce needs."

Cassidy is also requesting the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on removing barriers to create new apprenticeship programs.

Read the ADVICE Act full bill text here.

Read the START Act full bill text here.

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