Last week, the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment held a hearing to examine the “policies and priorities of the Labor Department’s apprenticeship programs.” This hearing stems from committee Democrats’ concerns over funding and oversight of the newly announced Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program (IRAP).
Committee Democrats’ concerns were two-folded. The first was the merits of using industry-recognized apprenticeships instead of the more traditional and proven registered apprenticeships. They argued that replacing government oversight with industry-run oversight authority would result in an untested program lacking the wage, safety, and civil rights protections that the registered apprenticeship system has maintained for more than 80 years.
Ranking Member Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), in his opening statement countered the Democratic concerns by stating that, “Registered apprenticeships are one tool we can use to strengthen the workforce, but it’s important to give recognition to increasingly innovative and growing employer-led apprenticeship programs.” He continued by arguing that employers know best what skills their workforce needs to excel and that Congress must do what they can to “cut the regulatory rep tape” that prevents them from participating.
The other issue extensively covered by Committee Democrats in the hearing was the Department of Labor’s (DOL) misuse of funds in excess of $1.1 million that were appropriated for registered apprenticeship programs, on outside contracts that financed IRAPs. The witness, John Pallasch, head of the DOL’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA), reassured members on the subcommittee that he became aware of the funding issue shortly after joining the department in July, and immediately directed the ETA to “take appropriate corrective action.”
About IRAP System
The IRAP system, a White House priority, was established to incentivize companies to play a larger role in training workers by giving them more say in what skills are needed in their respective industries. President Donald Trump outlined the initiative in an executive order, and the administration said it intends to release a final regulation in April 2020 to create the program. Click here to read ACTE’s coverage of the announcement from June.
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