WASHINGTON D.C. (WKZO AM/FM) — Legislation to help veterans gain better access to apprenticeship programs has been unanimously passed by the US Senate this week.
The bipartisan bill was introduced by Senators Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV) and Gary Peters (D-MI).
The Support for Veterans in Effective Apprenticeships Act is meant to increase veterans’ access to financial assistance they can use in connection with an apprenticeship program.
“Our nations’ returning heroes deserve every opportunity to pursue their professional dreams after their service,” Peters said.
The legislation makes the following provisions:
- New apprenticeship programs applying to register through the Department of Labor would need to provide a written assurance that they are aware of GI Bill assistance and committed to taking the steps to enable veteran apprentices to access these benefits.
- Apprenticeships would need to factor the skills, training, and experiences gained through military service into where the veteran is placed in the program, which could mean a more advanced placement with higher apprentice wages.
- The Department of Labor would need to notify the VA of newly registered apprenticeship programs. This would enable the VA to be more proactive in outreach to registered programs not yet approved for GI Bill benefits.
“By expanding qualified apprenticeships, this bill will make a real difference in the lives of our veterans,” Peters said.
According to Peters, at the time of this bill passage, only a few hundred of the 1,000 registered apprenticeships listed as active by the Department of Labor (DOL) have been approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
