Effective Apprenticeships Rebuild National Skills Act

(EARNS Act)
Sponsored by Senators Murray and Hatch
Original Co-sponsors: Senators Scott, Kaine, Collins and Franken

A highly skilled workforce is necessary to compete in the global economy, support economic growth, and
maintain the standard of living of the United States. US registered apprenticeships is an employer led training
model that prepares workers for the skill requirements of in-demand occupations while providing the workers
with recognized, national credentials, and wages while in training.
A 2012 evaluation of registered apprenticeship programs by Mathematica Policy Research found that
the tax return on every public dollar invested in registered apprenticeship programs was $27:1, and
individuals who completed registered apprenticeship programs earned over $240,000 more over their
careers than individuals not participating in such programs.
A 21st century workforce requires that registered apprenticeships are thriving in all economic sectors, including
service, information, trades, finance, manufacturing and healthcare.
The EARNS Act:
codifies the Office of Apprenticeship at the U.S. Department of Labor, allowing for Congressional
oversight and budgetary regular authority
supports and promotes the development of pre-apprenticeship programs by investing in training with a
required link to a registered apprenticeship placement;
promotes greater diversity in registered apprenticeship programs;
aligns registered apprenticeship programs with other federal education and training programs and with
state and local workforce development boards;
establishes a National Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships, sets its membership, and tasks the
Committee to make recommendations on streamlining the registration process and maintain standards;
requires an evaluation of the return on federal investment in improving skills and employability of
participants and alignment with employer workforce needs;
establishes a voluntary Registered Apprenticeship College Collaborative to create a mechanism for
conferring academic credit for employer led, on-the-job training and experiential learning and to expand
registered apprenticeships as a postsecondary education option;
expands the number employers offering registered apprenticeships by making available funds to defray
the upfront costs for companies that create their first apprenticeship program or add companies to existing
registered apprenticeships.
The EARNS Act will:
increase the number of highly skilled workers in in-demand industry sectors and occupations;
increase the attainment of recognized postsecondary credentials by participants;
increase awareness among students, parents, workers, and employers about the value of the registered
apprenticeship program model as an effective earn-and-learn model;
support the expansion of registered apprenticeship programs with employers, joint labor management
partnerships, and other program sponsors;
support the development and expansion of pre-apprenticeship programs that prepare workers for success
in an employer led registered apprenticeship program; and
support a closer alignment between registered apprenticeship programs, the workforce development
system, and postsecondary education.