Washington, D.C. — Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Drew Ferguson (R-GA), Susan Davis (D-CA) and Brett Guthrie (R-KY) yesterday introduced the Promoting Apprenticeship through Regional Training Networks for Employers’ Required Skills (PARTNERS) Act. The bill establishes a grant program to support the creation and expansion of industry and sector partnerships to help small- and medium-sized businesses develop work-based learning programs and provide mentoring and support services for workers.
Katie Spiker, Director of Government Relations at National Skills Coalition, issued the following statement in support of the legislation:
This is what real leadership looks like. On the heels of the longest government shutdown in history, Senator Baldwin and Representatives Bonamici, Ferguson, Davis and Guthrie are proof that we still have leaders who put country over party and the needs of working people over politics.
This legislation is a win-win for both workers and local businesses. Apprenticeships and other work-based learning programs allow workers to learn while they earn – building skills that grow their careers while meeting the needs of businesses.
Small- and medium-sized businesses often lack the infrastructure toestablish apprenticeships and other work-based learning programs. And workers need help accessing the training, child care, and transportation they need to succeed in these programs. Local partnerships between businesses, human services providers, and the workforce and education systems can ease these burdens for businesses and workers.
This investment would go a long way towards fostering a healthier economy with more opportunities for workers to develop the skills they need to access good-paying jobs.
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