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WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), and Congressman Drew Ferguson (GA-03) reintroduced the PARTNERS Act, a bipartisan bill which would establish a grant program to help small and medium-sized businesses develop work-based learning programs in addition to providing mentoring and support services for workers. Guthrie, Bonamici, and Ferguson released the following statements following the bill’s introduction:

“Small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of our Commonwealth and the backbone of our national economy. As I travel throughout my district, I hear from businesses far and wide that are facing increasing challenges due to rising costs and historically high inflation. This has made it increasingly difficult to fill workforce shortages across all industries. Apprenticeships are a great way for people to learn new applicable skills, while earning a paycheck, making apprenticeships a critical path into the workforce for many individuals. For these reasons, I am proud to once again co-lead the PARTNERS Act, which will allow small and medium-size businesses to join with community partners to create work-based opportunities for the individuals who need them the most,” said Congressman Guthrie.

“Investing in workers and workforce training improves lives, strengthens the economy, and offers Oregonians and Americans a path to the middle class,” said Congresswoman Bonamici. “Supporting partnerships among businesses, colleges, and other organizations is vital to building a diverse pool of skilled workers. I’m grateful to work with my colleagues to introduce this bipartisan package of legislation to support workers create more opportunities for people to access good-paying, in-demand jobs.”

“In order to stay competitive on the world stage, communities across the country need the flexibility and resources to create work-based learning opportunities catered to their local job markets,” said Congressman Ferguson. “In Georgia, employers are seeing the value of putting skills training directly in the workplace – and programs like the Central Education Center in Newnan have been implementing an innovative style of apprenticeship that prepares our young people for 21st century careers. I’m proud to reintroduce the PARTNERS Act, which is an innovative solution that give every American the opportunity to live the American dream.”

Background

The Promoting Apprenticeships through Regional Training Networks for Employers’ Required Skills (PARTNERS) Act, which was reintroduced today, would establish a grant program to help small and medium-sized businesses develop work-based learning programs in addition to providing mentoring and support services for workers.

These grants would be awarded for the purposes of job training for workers in in-demand industries and economic sectors. The PARTNERS Act authorizes the use of 50 percent of fees generated by certain Department of Labor accounts for use by the Department of Labor for these workforce training grants, resulting in no additional cost to taxpayers.

States would provide grants of up to $500,000 for three years to eligible community partners. The funds would support small and medium-sized businesses in establishing or expanding work-based learning programs in addition to providing support services for workers, such as adult basic education classes, mentorship and retention support services, pre-work-based training programs, and access to tools, work attire, transportation, child care services, and other items required for employment.

Click here for bill text.