Reps. David Scott and Emanuel Cleaver File Landmark Proposal to Expand African American Participation in Registered Apprenticeships

WASHINGTON D.C. - Today, Congressman David Scott (GA-13) and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (MO-5), re-introduced the Jobs, On-the-Job 'Earn-While-You-Learn' Training, and Apprenticeships for Young African Americans Act, legislation designed to grow and expand minority participation in America's Registered Apprenticeship (RA) system. RAs are among the most effective tools for upward mobility, offering hands-on job training, industry-recognized credentials, and virtually zero student debt. Expanding their reach can significantly contribute to the economic stability of young Americans entering the workforce.

"Right now, in communities across America, far too many young African Americans face steep barriers to entering the workforce-high unemployment rates, fewer paid training opportunities, and limited access to modern, in-demand skills," said Congressman David Scott. "In Georgia's thirteenth district, African Americans face an unemployment rate of almost 5%, a rate that is nearly double that of other workers. This gap isn't just a statistic; it represents lost wages, closed doors, and dreams deferred-locking out opportunities and creating barriers that keep too many young people of color out of high-paying, high-demand careers. Employers are desperate for skilled workers. Young people are eager to work. Our bill meets that challenge by connecting the two with urgency and purpose. Investing in Georgia's youth with real tools to strengthen our workforce and secure a brighter economic future is a national imperative."

"The Trump administration's reckless economic policies are killing good-paying jobs and driving up the unemployment rate across the country-and Black workers are bearing the brunt of the pain," said Congressman Cleaver. "This legislation will help bring relief by providing young African Americans nationwide with the opportunity to gain valuable skills in high-earning industries as they earn a paycheck, all while strengthening our pipeline of quality workers in critical industries. I'm proud to introduce the Jobs, On-the-Job 'Earn While You Learn' Training, and Apprenticeships for Young African Americans Act with Congressman Scott as we seek to ensure every worker has a pathway to opportunity and the tools to succeed."

Historically, African American workers have experienced disproportionately high unemployment rates and unequal access to stable, well-paying jobs. National data shows that Black unemployment remains two to three times higher than unemployment among white Americans, even during periods of economic growth. During economic downturns, African American households are more likely to face higher rates of foreclosure, food insecurity, and loss of wages-circumstances that often lead to a cycle of poverty for millions of Black families.

To curtail the barriers faced by young minority workers in employment and apprenticeships, our bill uses the existing RA system as a proven workforce development solution to lead young minority men and women into stable, long-term careers. Specifically, the Jobs, On-the-Job 'Earn While You Learn' Training, and Apprenticeships for Young African Americans Act of 2025:

• Establishes a Diversity and Inclusion Administrator within the Office of Apprenticeship at the DOL's Employment and Training Administration responsible for promoting and assisting greater minority participation in the national apprenticeship system.
• Supports the Recruitment, Employment, and Retention of youth and other non-traditional apprenticeship populations in programs under the national apprenticeship system in high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand industry sectors and occupations.
• Targets High-Earnings Occupations in construction, welding, electrical engineering, plumbing, information technology, energy, green jobs, advanced manufacturing, health care, and cybersecurity.
• Updates the Registered Apprenticeship Application requiring new sponsors to include a plan to boost minority participation in apprenticeships.
• Establishes a Competitive Grant Program for eligible RAs to create, increase, and expand African American and minority participation in traditional and non-traditional apprenticeship industries.

List of Endorsing Organizations: International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART), International Brotherhood of Electrical Engineers (IBEW), Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council, Institute for Policy Studies' Black Worker Initiative (IPS-BWI), and 100 Black Men of Atlanta

List of Original Cosponsors: David Scott (GA-13), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-5), Wesley Bell (MO-2), Joyce Beatty (OH-3), Sanford Bishop (GA-2), Andre Carson (IN-7), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Yvette Clarke (NY-9), Madeleine Dean (PA-4), Suzan DelBene (WA-1), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Dwight Evans (PA-3), Cleo Fields (LA-6), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Al Green (TX-9), Jahana Hayes (CT-5), Glenn Ivey (MD-4), Jonathan Jackson (IL-1), Hank Johnson (GA-4), Robin Kelly (IL-2), Tim Kennedy (NY-26), Gregory Meeks (NY-5), Kweisi Mfume (MD-7), Gwen Moore (WI-4), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Ilhan Omar (MN-5), Frank Pallone (NJ-6), Mark Pocan (WI-2), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-5), Jan Schakowsky (IL-9), Marylin Strickland (WA-10), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Bennie Thompson (MS-2), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Frederica Wilson (FL-24)

Full text of the bill can be accessed HERE.

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