The “Bringing Registered Apprenticeships to Veterans Education” Act
(HR 147) Helps Veterans Transition into the Skilled Trades
The New Jersey State AFL-CIO applauds the efforts of Congressman Donald Norcross (D-1) for spearheading legislation aimed at promoting awareness and providing information for veterans to pursue an apprenticeship program in the building and construction trades.
“Here in New Jersey, the construction trade unions have done a tremendous job advocating for veterans through the Helmets to Hardhats program and the AFL-CIO and New Jersey State AFL-CIO have strong Veterans Committees doing outreach to veterans to raise awareness of these opportunities” said New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech. “This bill helps spread that advocacy nationwide” Wowkanech concluded.
This bill requires the Department of Labor, when implementing the Transition Assistance Program, to provide information concerning apprenticeship programs to outgoing members of the Armed Forces. The bill also expands an existing monthly housing stipend to be used for other purposes. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), in coordination with Labor, must establish a publicly accessible website that veterans may utilize to find information about apprenticeship programs that are covered by the VA education benefit provisions.
“We provide America’s service members with world-class training to fulfill their responsibilities to our nation, and it is only right that we provide them with world-class opportunities as they transition back into civilian society,” said Congressman Donald Norcross, the author of the bill. “The men and women of the U.S. Armed Services are highly skilled and uniquely qualified for Registered Apprenticeships, which allow apprentices to earn while they learn and build toward a fulfilling career in a skilled trade.”