Apprenticeship Legislation Garners Widespread Support

WASHINGTON, DC – Since U.S. Sens. Cory Booker D-N.J., and Tim Scott R-SC reintroduced the Leveraging and Energizing America’s Apprenticeship Programs (LEAP) Act last week, the legislation has received support from respected national think tanks, nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities, vocational schools, and trade unions.
These state and national organizations have endorsed and embraced the LEAP Act, which provides a tax credit to employers to help increase the number of registered apprenticeships in the U.S. to put more people to work and help fill the 4 million job vacancies across the United States.
Center for American Progress
“Apprenticeships offer businesses the opportunity to build a pipeline of skilled workers, and they offer young people higher wages, debt-free education, and a path to a well-paying career. By creating an employer tax credit to offset some of the costs associated with training an apprentice, the LEAP Act will encourage more businesses to start new apprenticeship programs. With this bipartisan legislation, Senators Booker and Scott are taking an important step towards expanding the use of this highly successful training model.”
-Neera Tanden, President, Center for American Progress.
Urban Institute
“This week, Senators Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) and Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) introduced a bill to provide tax credits to employers who start apprenticeship programs or who increase the number of apprentices beyond 80 percent of their recent levels. The Leveraging and Energizing America’s Apprenticeship Programs (LEAP) Act would offer tax credits of $1,000 to $1,500 a year per apprentice for up to two years. Expanding apprenticeship offers a long-term, evidence-based strategy that increases productivity by increasing skills at very modest cost to the government. Apprenticeships combine serious work-based learning and classroom instruction usually lasting two to four years, aimed at mastering occupational and employability skills, and leading to a recognized credential.”
-Robert Lerman, Institute Fellow, Urban Institute
Young Invincibles
“The Great Recession ravaged Millennials’ earning power and career prospects. Six years later, we’re still waiting for Congress to address this. The bipartisan bill known as the LEAP Act can change the trajectory for Millennials who will make up 50 percent of the workforce by 2020. Senators Booker and Scott’s bill is a commonsense approach that benefits young workers and employers by increasing the number of apprenticeships in exchange for tax relief.”
-Jennifer Wang, Policy Director, Young Invincibles
Jobs for the Future
“At a time in this country, when a highly skilled workforce is more important than ever before, registered apprenticeships are highly effective strategies for preparing America’s workers with the skills needed for high demand jobs and careers. Jobs for the Future strongly supports the LEAP Act, introduced by Senators Booker and Scott, which would provide tax incentives to employers who carry out apprenticeship programs — particularly for young adults under the age 25. This legislation recognizes not only the effectiveness of registered apprenticeships but also the critical need for high quality pathways to industry recognized credentials and good jobs for young adults. We applaud the Senators’ efforts and look forward to working in support of this legislation.”
-Maria Flynn, Senior Vice President, Jobs for the Future
New Door Ventures
“Apprenticeships are a fundamental way young people learn to work and become members of our community. For the highest risk 16-24 year-olds, apprenticeships may unlock the door to further education and sustained employment. The LEAP legislation brings back to America a practical, proven way for youth to enter the workforce.”
-Tess Reynolds, CEO, New Door Ventures
New Jersey-based colleges, technical schools, trade unions and business programs are also praising the LEAP Act:
NJ Building and Construction Trades Council
“The New Jersey Building and Construction Trades Council support Senator Booker’s LEAP Act and applaud his efforts in encouraging apprenticeships. With the economy continuing to recover from the most recent economic downturn, apprenticeship programs are a crucial to recruiting and training America’s next generation of building trades workers. Apprenticeship programs include new technologies, a greater emphasis on certification, and ongoing recruitment of women and minorities. Today, people who come through our apprenticeship training programs will become the skilled works of tomorrow. With the many changes in materials and construction methods in our industry, apprenticeship training provides a vital hands-on approach in an educational environment to keep up with those changes. ”
– William Mullen, President, New Jersey Building and Construction Trades Council
Rutgers – the State University of New Jersey
“I strongly endorse the LEAP act. I have observed first hand over many years how effective registered apprenticeship programs can be for both employers and employees. The possibility to ‘earn while you learn” is such an important option to make obtaining a valuable postsecondary credential possible for so many young people from working families. The tax credit will create an incentive for employers in many new industries and occupations to incorporate apprenticeships in their training and development programs.”
-Susan J. Schurman, Dean, School of Management & Labor Relations
New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program
“The ‘Leveraging & Energizing America’s Apprenticeship Programs or LEAP Act’ is a true step forward for assisting manufacturing & STEM companies in their quest to develop their highly trained staffs through apprenticeship efforts. The tax incentives allow them the business ‘flexibility’ to build a stronger team for growth. Our Senator Booker, along with Senator Scott (SC) should be applauded for working together to building a stronger foundation for vocational education in the US and (especially) in New Jersey. This program connects positively with the ongoing efforts through our State’s Business Action Center, Department of Labor, and Department of Education already in motion, but the key remains that we continue to work together to create ‘workforce sustainability’ especially during the current resurgence of our Manufacturing Sector”.
-John W. Kennedy, Chief Executive Officer
Rutgers Business School, Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development
“The Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development supports the “LEAP” Act because it will help many of the small business owners that we work with to provide enhanced job skills training for their employees. The result will be a more knowledgeable American workforce and a more productive business environment. We are pleased that Senator Booker is introducing this important legislation.”
-Lyneir Richardson, Executive Director
New Jersey Business & Industry Association
“Everyone knows job seekers need the right skills to be successful in the workplace and to find meaningful careers. Many employers are willing to help individuals get the skills they need in order to be more productive employees. The LEAP Act will not only make it easier for employers, who already offer apprenticeship, to help job seekers, but incentivize additional employers to do the same. This is another great bipartisan piece of legislation from Senator Booker.”
-Melanie Willoughby Senior Vice President, New Jersey Business & Industry Association
Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership
“At the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership, we believe strongly in the value of apprenticeship programs. We adopted an apprenticeship model last summer and I am happy to say that we were able to hire the apprentice full-time following successful completion of the program. We now have a second apprentice with us. It is a great way for young people or those interested in changing careers to test the waters and gain practical experience, and possibly to work their way into a job.”
-Jill L. Johnson, Chief Executive Officer
Essex County College
“Essex County College endorses The Leveraging and Energizing America’s Apprenticeship Program Act (LEAP Act) because it will directly address the shortage of skilled workers in the U.S. and will empower these workers with the means to positively impact the U.S. economy and possible pursue higher education.”
-Gale Gibson, President
New Jersey Small Business Development Center
“The America’s SBDC – New Jersey (NJSBDC) is in support of the legislation. If this could be an incentive for businesses especially small business to hire, we are in.”
-Brenda Hooper, COO & State Director
NJ Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools
“The NJ Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools applauds Senator Booker’s introduction of the LEAP Act. We support apprenticeship programs and the proposed incentive, as well as other efforts to engage more employers with career and technical education programs and work-based learning experiences for young people.”
-Judy Savage, Executive Director
The LEAP Act has also been endorsed by:
• African American Chamber of Commerce
• NJ Council of Community Colleges
• NJ Institute of Technology NJ Innovation Institute
• The Council for Higher Education in Newark
• NJ Council on County Colleges