Today, House Democrats passed H.R. 8294, legislation that doubles down on an 80-year-old system, closes pathways to apprenticeships, limits opportunities for jobseekers, and gives kickbacks to unions.
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Republican Leader of the Education and Labor Committee, said on the House floor prior to the vote:
"Workforce programs like apprenticeships will aid in closing the skills gap and put more Americans to work, but only if employees and job creators are given the flexibility to innovate and develop high-quality earn-and-learn programs without overreach from Washington.
"That is why Republicans want to expand employers’ opportunities to address the needs of their current and prospective workers through an all-of-the-above approach to apprenticeships, rather than closing potential pathways to work.
"Unfortunately, H.R. 8294 doubles down on a narrow and prescriptive approach and gives Washington bureaucrats – not job creators – more control. This flawed legislation will prevent more jobseekers from accessing apprenticeship opportunities.”
