July 14, 2026
Mr. Heinrich introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
To direct the Secretary of Labor to support the development of pre-apprenticeship programs in the building and construction trades that serve underrepresented populations, including individuals from low income and rural census tracts.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Pre-Apprenticeships To Hardhats Act
or the PATH Act
.
Sec. 2. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Area career and technical school
The term area career and technical school has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
(2) Federally recognized Indian Tribe
The term Federally recognized Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term Indian Tribe in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(3) High school
The term high school means a nonprofit institutional day or residential school in a State that—
(A)
provides secondary education, as determined under State law;
(B)
grants a diploma, as defined by the State; and
(C)
includes, at least, grade 12.
(4) In-demand industry sector or occupation
The term in-demand industry sector or occupation has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
(5) Local educational agency; state educational agency
The terms local educational agency and State educational agency have the meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(6) Local and state workforce development boards
The terms local workforce development board and State workforce development board have the meanings given the terms local board and State board, respectively, in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
(7) Postsecondary educational institution
The term postsecondary educational institution has the meaning given the term institution of higher education in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002).
(8) Pre-apprenticeship program
The term pre-apprenticeship program means a program or set of strategies that—
(A)
is designed to prepare individuals to enter and succeed in a registered apprenticeship program in the building or construction trades;
(B)
is carried out by an eligible entity described in section 3(c) that has a documented partnership with at least 1 sponsor of a registered apprenticeship program; and
(C)
includes training (including a curriculum for the training) that—
(i)
is aligned with industry standards;
(ii)
is reviewed and approved annually by sponsors of the registered apprenticeship programs within the documented partnership; and
(iii)
will prepare an individual for a registered apprenticeship program by teaching the skills and competencies needed to enter such a registered apprenticeship program.
(9) Registered apprenticeship program
The term registered apprenticeship program means a program registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the National Apprenticeship Act
; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.).
(10) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Labor.
(11) Sponsor
The term sponsor means an employer, joint labor-management partnership, trade association, professional association, labor organization, or other entity that administers a registered apprenticeship program.
(12) State
The term State has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
(13) Underrepresented population
The term underrepresented population means a group of individuals who—
(A)
are members of a racial minority, women, military veterans, members of a Federally recognized Indian Tribe, or long-term unemployed; or
(B)
come from a geographic area consisting of a single census tract or a group of census tracts, each of which meets the criteria for a low-income community, as defined in section 45D(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Sec. 3. Supporting the development of pre-apprenticeship programs
(a) In general
The Secretary shall make grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities described in subsection (c) that submit applications under subsection (e) to provide the Federal share described in subsection (g) of the cost of carrying out projects under subsection (f) that support the development of pre-apprenticeship programs in the building and construction trades.
(b) Period
The Secretary shall make initial grants under subsection (a) for periods of not more than 3 years, except that if an eligible entity demonstrates satisfactory performance under subsection (h) by the end of that third year, the Secretary may extend the grant period up to an additional 1 year for that entity.
(c) Eligible entity
To be eligible to receive a grant from the Secretary under subsection (a), an entity shall be a nonprofit partnership that—
(1)
includes the equal participation of industry, including public or private employers, and labor organizations, including joint labor or management training programs, and may include State and local workforce development boards, community-based organizations, educational institutions (such as postsecondary educational institutions, local educational agencies, State educational agencies, high schools, and area career and technical education schools), small businesses, cooperatives, State and local veterans agencies, and veterans service organizations; and
(2)
demonstrates—
(A)
experience in implementing and operating worker skills training and education programs;
(B)
the ability to identify and involve in training programs carried out under this grant, target populations of individuals who would benefit from training, and be actively involved in activities related to all building and construction trade crafts; and
(C)
the ability to help individuals achieve economic self-sufficiency.
(d) Priority
In awarding grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that leverage additional public and private resources to fund programs under this Act, including cash or in-kind matches from participating employers.
(e) Applications
To be eligible to receive a grant from the Secretary under subsection (a), an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including—
(1)
with respect to the proposed pre-apprenticeship program, a description of the training and curriculum described in section 2(8)(C) and how the proposed pre-apprenticeship program makes individuals who successfully complete the pre-apprenticeship program qualified to enter into an established registered apprenticeship program;
(2)
evidence that there are or will be sufficient openings available in such registered apprenticeship program to enable the sponsor of such registered apprenticeship program to place into a corresponding registered apprenticeship those individuals who successfully complete the pre-apprenticeship program;
(3)
information about the entity that demonstrates the existence of an active, advisory partnership between the partners described in subsection (c)(1) and the capacity of a training and education provider of the entity to provide the training and education services necessary for a pre-apprenticeship program; and
(4)
information about the proposed pre-apprenticeship program that demonstrates—
(A)
that the program is in an in-demand industry or occupation in the region in which the project is located;
(B)
the inclusion in the program of career exploration focused activities, such as career information activities, and résumé preparation;
(C)
if the entity carrying out the project includes a high school, that the model to be used for the program leads to a high school diploma for participants without such a diploma;
(D)
how the pre-apprenticeship program is aligned with and leverages resources of career and technical education programs, programs and services authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.), or activities of entities that provide supportive services for participants in pre-apprenticeship programs; and
(E)
that the project aligns with an established registered apprenticeship program, including that the model used for the program leads to the attainment of skills and competencies necessary for entrance into the registered apprenticeship program for participants.
(f) Use of funds
(1) In general
An eligible entity that receives a grant under subsection (a) shall use the grant funds to carry out a project that implements a pre-apprenticeship program, including the activities described in paragraphs (2) and (3).
(2) Required activities
The eligible entity shall use such grant funds—
(A)
to pay for the cost of training or education associated with a pre-apprenticeship program for individuals from an underrepresented population;
(B)
for curriculum development that aligns with the requirements of the appropriate registered apprenticeship programs and learning assessments;
(C)
to maintain a connection between the pre-apprenticeship program and registered apprenticeship program;
(D)
for assessments of potential participants for, and enrollment of the participants in, the pre-apprenticeship program; and
(E)
to conduct evaluations described in subsection (h)(2).
(3) Allowable activities
The eligible entity may use such grant funds for—
(A)
stipends for participants during work-based training in the program; and
(B)
coordination of activities under this subsection with activities carried out under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.) or the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.).
(g) Federal share
(1) In general
The Federal share of the cost described in subsection (a) shall be 75 percent of the total cost of the projects described in such subsection carried out by an eligible entity.
(2) Non-federal share
The eligible entity may contribute the non-Federal share of such cost in cash or in-kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, or services.
(h) Performance
(1) Measures
The Secretary shall identify a set of common measures that, at a minimum, include measures of entry into a registered apprenticeship program and that are aligned, as appropriate, with performance accountability measures described in section 116(c) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3141(c)) for the local workforce development area and with corresponding measures under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.).
(2) Evaluations
Each eligible entity that receives a grant to carry out a project under subsection (a) shall arrange for another qualified entity to conduct an evaluation, or shall participate in an evaluation sponsored by the Secretary, of the project using the identified common measures, and shall, to the extent practicable, cooperate with the evaluator in any evaluations of activities carried out under this paragraph.
(3) Extensions
The Secretary shall use the results of an evaluation for a project under paragraph (2) to determine whether to extend the grant period, or renew a grant, for the project under subsection (b).
(i) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 and each subsequent fiscal year.