[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5297 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5297
To promote registered apprenticeships and other work-based learning
programs for small and medium-sized businesses within in-demand
industry sectors, through the establishment and support of industry or
sector partnerships.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 11, 2025
Ms. Bonamici (for herself, Mr. Guthrie, Ms. Stevens, and Mr. Nunn of
Iowa) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee
on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To promote registered apprenticeships and other work-based learning
programs for small and medium-sized businesses within in-demand
industry sectors, through the establishment and support of industry or
sector partnerships.
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 ``Promoting Apprenticeships through
Regional Training Networks for Employers Required Skills Act of 2025''
or the ``PARTNERS Act''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to promote registered apprenticeships
and other work-based learning programs for small and medium-sized
businesses within in-demand industry sectors, through the establishment
and support of industry or sector partnerships.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Eligible partnership.--The term ``eligible
partnership'' means an industry or sector partnership as
defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102) that submits and obtains
approval of an application consistent with section 5(c).
(2) In-demand industry sector.--The term ``in-demand
industry sector'' means a sector described in subparagraphs
(A)(i) and (B) of section 3(23) of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102(23)).
(3) Local or regional.--The term ``local or regional'',
used with respect to an entity, means that the entity provides
services in, respectively, a local area or region.
(4) Registered apprenticeship.--The term ``registered
apprenticeship'' means an apprenticeship 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.).
(A) In general.--The term ``work-based learning
program'' means a program that provides workers with
paid work experience and corresponding classroom
instruction, delivered in an employment relationship
that both the business and worker intend to lead to
continuing employment after the program ends.
(B) Work experience.--In subparagraph (A), the term
``paid work experience'' includes training by an
employer that is provided to a paid employee while
engaged in productive work in a job that provides
knowledge or skills essential to the full and adequate
performance of the job.
(5) Workforce terms.--The terms ``Governor'', ``individual
with a barrier to employment'', ``industry or sector
partnership'', ``local area'', ``local board'', ``State
board'', ``outlying area'', ``recognized postsecondary
credential'', ``region'', ``State'', and ``supportive
services'', used with respect to activities supported under
this Act, have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Labor.
SEC. 4. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.
From funds paid into the general fund of the Treasury and available
under section 286(s)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1356(s)(2)), the Secretary shall carry out this Act.
SEC. 5. ALLOTMENTS TO STATES.
(a) Reservation.--Of the amounts available for this Act under
section 4, the Secretary may reserve--
(1) not more than 5 percent of those amounts for the costs
of technical assistance and Federal administration of this Act;
(2) not more than 2 percent of those amounts for the costs
of evaluations conducted under section 8(b); and
(3) not more than \1/4\ of 1 percent of such amounts to
provide assistance to the outlying areas.
(b) Allotments.--
(1) In general.--Of the amounts available for this Act
under section 4 that remain after the Secretary makes the
reservations under subsection (a), the Secretary shall, for the
purpose of supporting (which may include assistance in
establishing expanded) local or regional eligible partnerships
to support work-based learning programs under this Act, make
allotments to eligible States in accordance with clauses (ii)
through (v) of section 132(b)(1)(B) of the Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3172(b)(1)(B)), subject to
paragraph (2).
(2) Application.--For purposes of applying the clauses
described in paragraph (1), under paragraph (1), the
Secretary--
(A) shall not apply subclauses (I) and (III) of
clause (iv) with respect to the first fiscal year after
the date of enactment of this Act;
(B) shall apply clause (iv)(II) by substituting
``0.5 percent of the remaining amounts described in
paragraph (1)'' for the total described in that clause;
(C) shall not apply clause (iv)(IV);
(D) shall apply clause (v)(II) by substituting the
term ``allotment percentage'', used with respect to the
second full fiscal year after the date of enactment of
this Act, or a subsequent fiscal year, means a
percentage of the remaining amounts described in
paragraph (1) that is received through an allotment
made under this subsection for the fiscal year for the
two sentences in that clause; and
(E) shall apply clause (v)(III) by substituting ``a
work-based learning program carried out under this
Act'' for ``a program of workforce investment
activities carried out under this subtitle''.
(3) Use of unallotted funds.--If a State fails to meet the
requirements for an allotment under this subsection, the
Secretary may allot funds that are not allotted under
paragraphs (1) and (2) to eligible States under a formula based
on the formula specified in section 132(c) of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3173(c)).
(4) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``eligible
State'' means a State that meets the requirements of section
102 or 103 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
U.S.C. 3112, 3113) and subsection (c).
(c) State Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive an allotment
under subsection (b), a State, in consultation with State boards and
local boards, shall submit an application to the Secretary, at such
time, in such manner, and containing a description of the activities to
be carried out with the grant funds. At a minimum, the application
shall include information on--
(1) the local or regional industry or sector partnerships
that will be supported, including the lead partners for the
partnerships, and how the partnerships will work to engage
small and medium-sized businesses, as applicable, in the
activities of the partnerships;
(2) the in-demand industry sectors that will be served,
including how such industry sectors were identified, and how
the activities of the partnerships will align with State,
regional, and local plans as required under title I of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3111 et
seq.);
(3) the registered apprenticeship programs or other work-
based learning programs to be supported though the
partnerships;
(4) the populations that will receive services, including
individuals with barriers to employment and populations that
were historically underrepresented in the industry sectors to
be served through the partnerships;
(5) the services, including business engagement, classroom
instruction, and support services (including at least 6 months
of post-employment support services), that will be supported
through the grant funds;
(6) the recognized postsecondary credentials that workers
will obtain through participation in the program and the
quality of the program that leads to the credentials;
(7) levels of performance to be achieved on the performance
indicators described in section 8, to measure progress towards
expanding work-based learning programs;
(8) how local or regional partnerships will leverage
additional resources, including funding provided under title I
of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3111
et seq.) and non-Federal resources, to support the activities
carried out under this Act; and
(9) such other subjects as the Secretary may require.
(d) Review of Applications.--The Secretary shall review
applications submitted under subsection (c) in consultation with the
Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
SEC. 6. GRANTS TO PARTNERSHIPS.
(a) Grants.--
(1) In general.--The Governor of a State that receives an
allotment under section 5 shall use the funds made available
through the allotment and not reserved under subsection (d) to
award grants to eligible partnerships. The Governor shall award
the grants for the purpose of assisting (which may include
establishing or expanding) local or regional industry or sector
partnerships that are identified in the application submitted
under section 5(c), to carry out activities described in
section 7.
(2) Period and amount of grant.--A State may make a grant
under this section for a period of 3 years, and in an amount of
not more than $500,000.
(3) Availability of funds.--The Governor of a State that
receives an allotment under section 5 for a fiscal year may use
the funds made available through the allotment during that year
or the 2 subsequent fiscal years.
(b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
section, an industry or sector partnership described in subsection
(a)(1) shall--
(1) submit an application to the State at such time, in
such manner, and containing such information as the State may
require; and
(2) designate a partner in the industry or sector
partnership, to serve as the fiscal agent for purposes of the
grant.
(c) Awards of Grants.--
(1) Participation in multiple eligible partnerships.--
Subject to paragraph (2), a State may award grants under this
section in a way that results in an entity being represented in
more than one partnership that receives such a grant.
(2) Geographic diversity.--In making the grants, a State
shall ensure that there is geographic diversity in the areas in
which activities will be carried out under the grants.
(d) Administration.--The State may reserve not more than 5 percent
of the amount of an allotment under section 5 for the administration of
the grants awarded under this section.
SEC. 7. USE OF FUNDS.
(a) In General.--An eligible partnership that receives a grant
under section 6 shall use the grant funds to support a registered
apprenticeship or other work-based learning program. The eligible
partnership shall use the grant funds to support the activities
described in subsections (b) and (c) and such other strategies as may
be necessary to support the development and implementation of work-
based learning programs, and participant retention in and completion of
those programs. The partnership may use the grant funds to establish or
expand eligible partnerships.
(b) Business Engagement.--The eligible partnership shall use grant
funds to provide services to engage businesses in work-based learning
programs, which may include assisting a small or medium-sized business
with--
(1) the navigation of the registration process for a
sponsor of a registered apprenticeship program;
(2) the connection of the business with an education
provider to develop classroom instruction to complement on-the-
job learning;
(3) the development of a curriculum for a work-based
learning program;
(4) the employment of workers in a work-based learning
program for a transitional period before the business hires an
individual for continuing employment;
(5) the provision of training to managers and front-line
workers to serve as trainers or mentors to workers in the work-
based learning program;
(6) the provision of career awareness activities; and
(7) the recruitment of individuals to participate in a
work-based learning program from individuals receiving
additional workforce and human services, including--
(A) workers in programs under the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et
seq.);
(B) recipients of assistance through the
supplemental nutrition assistance program established
under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011
et seq.); and
(C) recipients of assistance through the program of
block grants to States for temporary assistance for
needy families established under part A of title IV of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).
(c) Support Services for Workers.--
(1) In general.--The eligible partnership shall use grant
funds to provide support services for workers to assure their
success in work-based learning programs, which may include--
(A) connection of individuals with adult basic
education during pre-work-based learning or training,
and during the period of employment;
(B) connection of individuals with pre-work-based
learning or training, including through a pre-
apprenticeship program;
(C) provision of additional mentorship and
retention supports for individuals pre-work-based
learning or training, and during the period of
employment;
(D) provision of tools, work attire, and other
required items necessary to start employment pre-work-
based learning or training, and during the period of
employment; and
(E) provision of transportation, child care
services, or other support services pre-work-based
learning or training, and during the period of
employment, except that not more than 5 percent of
grant funds received by an eligible partnership may be
used for the provision of such services.
(2) Length of services.--Each eligible partnership shall
provide support services for workers for not less than 12
months after the date of placement of an individual in a work-
based learning program. That 12-month period shall include a
period of pre-work-based learning or training, a transitional
period of employment as described in subsection (b)(4), and a
period of continuing employment.
SEC. 8. PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
(a) Local Reports.--Not later than 1 year after receiving a grant
under section 6, and annually thereafter, each eligible partnership in
a State shall conduct an evaluation and submit to the State a local
report containing information on--
(1) levels of performance achieved by the eligible
partnership with respect to the performance indicators under
section 116(b)(2)(A) of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3141(b)(2)(A))--
(A) for all workers in the work-based learning
program involved; and
(B) for all such workers, disaggregated by each
population specified in section 3(24) of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102(24)) and
by race, ethnicity, sex, and age; and
(2) levels of performance achieved by the eligible
partnership with respect to the performance indicators under
that section 116(b)(2)(A)--
(A) for individuals with barriers to employment in
the work-based learning program involved; and
(B) for all such individuals, disaggregated by each
population specified in section 3(24) of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act and by race, ethnicity,
sex, and age.
(b) State Reports.--Not later than 24 months after receiving
initial local reports under subsection (a) (but in no case less than 18
months after the corresponding grants are awarded) and annually
thereafter, the State shall conduct an evaluation and submit a report
to the Secretary containing--
(1) the information provided by the eligible partnerships
through the local reports; and
(2) the State level of performance, aggregated across all
eligible partnerships, with respect to the performance
indicators described in subsection (a).
SEC. 9. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
(a) American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of
1998.--Section 414(c) of the American Competitiveness and Workforce
Improvement Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 3224a(c)) is repealed.
(b) Immigration and Nationality Act.--Section 286(s)(2) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1356(s)(2)) is amended to
read as follows:
``(2) Use of fees for work-based learning programs.--50
percent of amounts deposited into the H-1B Nonimmigrant
Petitioner Account shall remain available to the Secretary of
Labor until expended to carry out the PARTNERS Act.''.
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