Full Employment Caucus Co-Chairs Conyers, Wilson, and Kaptur Applaud DOL’s Proposed Rule to Diversify Apprenticeship Programs

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Representatives John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13), Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), and Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), co-chairs of the Congressional Full Employment Caucus, applaud the Department of Labor’s proposed rule to promote equal opportunity for Americans seeking positions in apprenticeship programs. The proposed rule comes in response to the Full Employment Caucus’s June 2014 letter (below) asking DOL’s Employment and Training Administration to update apprenticeship regulations.

Dean of he U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr. 

“Apprenticeships—sometimes called the ‘other four-year degree’—empower hardworking students to become successful employees.  When employers work with our education system to provide a smooth transition from the classroom to the shop floor, everybody wins.  But as we expand this new pathway of opportunity, we must ensure that women and minorities are able to fully enjoy the benefits.  I am pleased to see the Department of Labor has proposed this rule, and I will closely monitor it going forward,” said Congressman John Conyers, Jr.

“An apprenticeship is a pathway to better wages and secure employment for many Americans. As apprenticeship programs expand and are utilized in new industries, we must ensure they remain available to all Americans, including women and minorities,” said Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson. “I applaud DOL’s work to promote diversity in the proven apprenticeship model.”

“Apprenticeships and other forms of on-the-job training have consistently proven to be the most effective path to enter or re-enter the workforce,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. “Building these initiatives forward to create and grow opportunity is an effective way to expand our workforce. And we have the opportunity and responsibility to ensure that apprenticeships and workforce training work for all people, including for women and minority candidates. The Department of Labor is to be applauded for their work on this rule and in the broader effort to improve our best apprenticeship models.”

The proposed rule, the first proposed update since 1978, was announced during the Department of Labor’s first annual National Apprenticeship Week.

Full Employment Congressional Caucus Letter To POTUS Requesting Update To Minority Workforce Regulations

More information on the proposed rule can be found here.

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