119-s2028

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2028 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 2028

 To authorize funding to expand and support enrollment at institutions 
 of higher education that sponsor construction and manufacturing-
 oriented registered apprenticeship programs, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 June 11, 2025

 Ms. Smith (for herself, Mr. Daines, and Ms. Klobuchar) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To authorize funding to expand and support enrollment at institutions 
 of higher education that sponsor construction and manufacturing-
 oriented registered apprenticeship programs, 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 ``Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges 
Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. COMMUNITY OUTREACH GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--From the amounts appropriated under subsection

    (f) , the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall 
provide grants to eligible entities for the purposes of expanding or 
supporting potential student and employer outreach carried out by such 
entities with respect to the construction and manufacturing-oriented 
registered apprenticeship programs offered by such entities.

    (b) Amounts.--The total grant amount made to an eligible entity 
under this section may not exceed $500,000.
            (c) Use of Grants.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under 
this section shall use such grant for the outreach described in 
subsection

    (a) , which shall include the following:

    (1) Outreach to high schools, for the purpose of educating 
 students, parents, guardians, and faculty on the benefits of 
 enrolling students in the construction and manufacturing-
 oriented registered apprenticeship program offered by the 
 eligible entity.

    (2) Outreach to local businesses and other potential 
 employers for the purpose of educating such employers on the 
 benefits of supporting and hiring graduates of such program, 
 which shall--
        (A) primarily target relationship building with 
 potential employers in rural, exurban, and suburban 
 areas; and
        (B) seek to maximize the number of students who 
 work in such areas after completing such program.

    (3) Outreach to local workforce development boards and 
 apprenticeship intermediaries for the purpose of reaching 
 nontraditional student populations and prioritizing local 
 needs.
            (d) Application Requirements.--An eligible entity seeking a grant 
under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
may require.

    (e) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
shall give priority to eligible entities that demonstrate outreach 
efforts targeted at increasing program enrollment for rural students, 
first generation college students, minority students, and 
nontraditional students, or other students from underrepresented 
population.

    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $5,000,000 to carry out this section for each of the 
fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

SEC. 3. STUDENT SUPPORT GRANT PROGRAM FOR EXPANDED ACADEMIC ADVISING.

    (a) In General.--From the amounts appropriated under subsection

    (g) , the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall 
provide grants to eligible entities for the activities described in 
subsection
            (d) .

    (b) Amounts.--The total grant amount made to an eligible entity 
under this section may not exceed $500,000.
            (c) Multiple Grants Permitted.--An eligible entity may receive a 
grant under sections 2 and 3.
            (d) Use of Grants.--

    (1) In general.--An eligible entity that receives a grant 
 under this section shall use such grant for advising and 
 support services to enrollees of construction and 
 manufacturing-oriented registered apprenticeship programs 
 offered by such entity to increase retention, persistence, and 
 completion for students.

    (2) Requirements.--Such advising and support services shall 
 include the following:
        (A) Expanding academic advising programs that 
 provide services to students, including--
            (i) career advising and professional 
 development;
            (ii) support for English as a second 
 language students;
            (iii) information and resource systems;
            (iv) mentoring systems; or
            (v) other similar advising activities that 
 support enrollment, retention, persistence, and 
 completion.
        (B) Expanding student support programs that provide 
 services to students, including--
            (i) health and family-related services, 
 including substance abuse disorder and mental 
 health counseling;
            (ii) support for first generation college 
 students;
            (iii) childcare support; or
            (iv) other similar support activities.

    (e) Application Requirements.--An eligible entity seeking a grant 
under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
may require.

    (f) Report.--

    (1) In general.--An eligible entity that receives a grant 
 under this section shall submit to the Secretary a report on--
        (A) the activities supported by the grant;
        (B) the number of students participating in the 
 activities supported by the grant;
            (C) the percentage of students participating in the 
 activities supported by the grant who are high school 
 students;
            (D) the progress made in achieving the goals of the 
 program supported by the grant, in general, and 
 measuring in particular--
            (i) the effectiveness of the grant in 
 expanding overall enrollment and program and 
 registered apprenticeship program completion 
 rates and certification;
            (ii) the effectiveness of the grant in 
 expanding enrollment and program completion 
 rates for underrepresented populations; and
            (iii) any progress made towards the type of 
 indicators of performance as described in 
 

section 116

    (b)

    (2)
        (A) of the Workforce 
 Innovation and Opportunity (29 U.S.C. 
 3141

    (b)

    (2)
        (A) ); and
        (E) such other information as the Secretary 
 determines to be appropriate.

    (2) Timeline for submission of report.--The report under 
 paragraph

    (1) shall be submitted to the Secretary not later 
 than 180 days after the date on which the eligible entity 
 concludes the activities supported by the grant under this 
 section.

    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of the 
fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

 In this Act:

    (1) Construction and manufacturing-oriented apprenticeship 
 college.--The term ``construction and manufacturing-oriented 
 apprenticeship college'' means an institution of higher 
 education that is a sponsor of a construction and 
 manufacturing-oriented registered apprenticeship program.

    (2) Construction and manufacturing-oriented registered 
 apprenticeship program.--The term ``construction and 
 manufacturing-oriented registered apprenticeship program'' 
 means a registered apprenticeship program that--
        (A) provides coursework and training in preparation 
 for employment in the construction or manufactory 
 industry (such as employment as a painter, drywall 
 finisher, glazier, or glassworker);
        (B)
            (i) leads to a recognized postsecondary 
 credential other than a certificate of completion of an 
 apprenticeship; or
            (ii) awards credits that can be applied toward a 
 recognized postsecondary credential at least at the 
 institution that sponsors the program; and
            (C) is accredited by a nationally recognized 
 accrediting agency or association recognized by the 
 Secretary pursuant to part H of title IV of the Higher 
 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1099a et seq.).

    (3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a 
 construction and manufacturing-oriented apprenticeship college.

    (4) First generation college student.--The term ``first 
 generation college student'' has the meaning given the term in 
 

section 402A

    (h) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
 1070a-11

    (h) ).

    (5) High school.--The term ``high school'' has the meaning 
 given the term in 

section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

    (6) Institution of higher education.--The term 
 ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
 term in 

section 101

    (a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
 U.S.C. 1001

    (a) ).

    (7) Outreach.--The term ``outreach'' means communications 
 and relationship-building opportunities undertaken by an 
 eligible entity.

    (8) Recognized postsecondary credential.--The term 
 ``recognized postsecondary credential'' has the meaning given 
 the term in 

section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
 Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).

    (9) Registered apprenticeship program.--The term 
 ``registered apprenticeship program'' means an apprenticeship 
 program registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly 
 known as the ``National Apprenticeship Act''; 50 Stat. 664, 
 chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.).

    (10) Second language.--The term ``second language'' means 
 any language other than English, including Braille and American 
 Sign Language.

    (11) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
 of Education.

    (12) Underrepresented population.--The term 
 ``underrepresented population'' means an individual who is from 
 a group whose gender, ethnic background, or national origin is 
 not traditionally represented in registered apprenticeship 
 programs.
 <all>