H.R. 6377

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6377 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6377

To establish a grant program for States to support apprentices in 
apprenticeships programs, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 13, 2023

Mr. Cuellar (for himself, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Norcross, and Mrs. Dingell) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways 
and Means, 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 establish a grant program for States to support apprentices in 
apprenticeships programs, and for other purposes.

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 ``Apprentice-Related Child Care Act'' 
or the ``ARCC Act''.

SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) Grants Authorized.--
(1) In general.--From the amount appropriated under 
subsection (i)(1) that is not reserved under subsection (i)(2), 
the Secretary of Labor shall award grants, on a competitive 
basis, to 10 States for each such State to provide monthly 
stipends to eligible child care providers on behalf of 
individuals who are participating in pre-apprenticeship 
programs or apprenticeship programs to assist such individuals 
in covering the costs of childcare during such participation.
(2) Grant amounts.--In awarding grants under paragraph (1), 
the Secretary shall award an equal amount to each State awarded 
such a grant.
(3) Grant periods.--A grant awarded under this section 
shall be awarded--
(A) for a period of two years; and
(B) in equal amounts for each year of such period.
(4) Grant priority.--In awarding grants under this section, 
the Secretary shall ensure that States that are awarded the 
grants--
(A) are geographically diverse; and
(B) have pre-apprenticeship programs and 
apprenticeship programs in in-demand industry sectors 
and occupations, including in emerging high-tech, high-
growth industries.
(b) Application.--To be eligible for a grant under this Act, a 
State shall submit to the Secretary an application, in such form, at 
such time, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require, which shall include the following:
(1) Information regarding how the State intends to 
distribute monthly stipends in accordance with subsection (c).
(2) In the case of any individual who is selected to 
benefit from a stipend under subsection (c) and participating 
in a pre-apprenticeship program or an apprenticeship program 
that will end after the end of the grant period, any plan the 
State may have to provide child care support for such an 
individual for the period of such pre-apprenticeship or 
apprenticeship program during which the individual will not be 
benefitting from such stipends.
(c) Uses of Funds.--
(1) In general.--A State that receives a grant under this 
Act shall--
(A) in accordance with the requirements of 
paragraph (3), select individuals to benefit from a 
monthly stipend who--
(i) have one or more dependent children; 
and
(ii) are participating in a pre-
apprenticeship program or an apprenticeship 
program in the State; and
(B) distribute such stipends to eligible child care 
providers directly on behalf of the individuals 
described under subparagraph (A).
(2) Monthly stipend amounts.--A monthly stipend described 
in paragraph (1) shall not be less than $500 per dependent 
child.
(3) Priority.--In selecting individuals to benefit from a 
monthly stipend, a State shall prioritize individuals who are 
historically underrepresented in the industries of the pre-
apprenticeship programs or apprenticeship programs of such 
individuals, based on race, ethnicity, or gender.
(d) Reports by States.--
(1) Initial report.--Not later than 180 days after the end 
of the grant period of the grant awarded to a State under this 
Act, the State shall submit to the Secretary a report that 
includes information on--
(A) the individuals that benefitted from monthly 
stipends, including with respect to each such 
individual--
(i) the total number of months such 
stipends were provided to a eligible child care 
provider on behalf of the individual;
(ii) the total amount provided by such 
stipends;
(iii) in the case of an individual enrolled 
in an apprenticeship program, the wage rate, 
benefits, stipends, or other compensation 
provided to such individual--
(I) while enrolled in such program; 
and
(II) after exiting the program and 
beginning work in the industry of such 
program;
(iv) in the case of an individual enrolled 
in a pre-apprenticeship program, a description 
of any compensation provided to the individual 
while enrolled in such program, including the 
wage rate, benefits, stipends, or any other 
compensation;
(v) the industry of the pre-apprenticeship 
program or apprenticeship program in which the 
individual was a participant;
(B) for each apprenticeship program and pre-
apprenticeship program for which the State provided 
stipends to eligible child care providers on behalf of 
such individuals--
(i) the retention and completion rates for 
the individuals described in subparagraph (A); 
and
(ii) the retention and completion rates for 
the individuals not described in subparagraph 
(A); and
(C) the method the State used to distribute the 
stipends to eligible child care providers.
(2) Follow-up reports.--For each of the 3 years after the 
date that a State submits the report under paragraph (1), the 
State shall submit to the Secretary a report on the retention 
and completion rates described in clauses (i) and (ii) of 
subparagraph (B) for the preceding year.
(3) Disaggregation.--The information submitted under 
paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be disaggregated by race, 
ethnicity, and gender, except that such disaggregation shall 
not be required in the case in which the number of apprentices 
in a subgroup is insufficient to yield statistically reliable 
information or the results would reveal personally identifiable 
information about an apprentice.
(e) Report by the Secretary.--
(1) Initial report.--Not later than 180 days after the 
Secretary receives the last report under subsection (d), the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that summarizes--
(A) the effect the stipends had--
(i) on the pre-apprenticeship program or 
apprenticeship program retention and completion 
rates of individuals who received monthly 
stipends; and
(ii) the wage rates and benefits received 
by such individuals after exiting an 
apprenticeship program;
(B) the methods the States used to distribute 
stipends to eligible child care providers;
(C) any unanticipated effect or consequence on--
(i) individuals receiving the stipend;
(ii) the sponsors of the pre-apprenticeship 
programs or the apprenticeship programs; and
(iii) the local areas in which the 
individuals who received a stipend participated 
in such programs.
(2) Follow-up reports.--For each of the 3 years after the 
date that the Secretary submits the report under paragraph (1), 
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that summarizes 
the information in the reports received from the States under 
subsection (d)(2) for the preceding year.
(3) Disaggregation.--The information submitted under 
paragraph (1)(A) shall be disaggregated in accordance with the 
disaggregation requirements of subsection (d)(2).
(f) Stipend Amounts Excluded From Federal Taxation.--Stipend 
amounts awarded under this Act may not be included in the gross income 
of the individual who benefitted from such stipend for purposes of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
(g) Disregard Stipend Amounts in Other Federal Programs.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a stipend distributed to an 
eligible child care provider under this Act shall not be taken into 
account in determining the need or eligibility of the individual who 
benefitted from such stipend for benefits or assistance, or the amount 
of such benefits or assistance, under any Federal, State, or local 
program financed in whole or in part with Federal funds.
(h) Supplement and Not Supplant.--Any monthly stipend distributed 
to an eligible child care provider on behalf of an individual under 
this Act shall supplement and not supplant the wages such individual 
earns while participating in a pre-apprenticeship program or 
apprenticeship program.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
carry out this Act $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024-
2025.
(2) Reservation.--The Secretary shall reserve 1.5 percent 
of the funds appropriated under paragraph (1) for each fiscal 
year to carry out the study and report required by subsection 
(e).
(j) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Apprenticeship program.--The term ``apprenticeship 
program'' means an apprenticeship program 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.), including any requirement, standard, or rule 
promulgated under such Act.
(2) Eligible child care provider.--The term ``eligible 
child care provider'' has the meaning given the term in section 
658P of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 
(42 U.S.C. 9858n).
(3) Pre-apprenticeship program.--The term ``pre-
apprenticeship program'' means a program, initiative, or set of 
strategies that--
(A) is designed to prepare individuals to 
participate in an apprenticeship program, including 
preparing individuals with the skills and competencies 
necessary to succeed in such program;
(B) is carried out by an entity that has entered 
into a formal agreement with one or more sponsors of an 
apprenticeship program; and
(C) includes--
(i) theoretical education (including the 
use of curricula); and
(ii) training (including hands-on 
training)--
(I) aligned with industry standards 
of an apprenticeship program; and
(II) that does not displace an 
employee where such training takes 
place.
(4) State board.--The term ``State board'' means a State 
workforce development board established under section 101 of 
the Worker Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101).
(5) WIOA terms.--The terms ``area career and technical 
education school'', ``community-based organization'', ``in-
demand industry sector or occupation'', ``local area'', ``local 
board'', ``local educational agency'', ``secondary school'', 
and ``State'', have the meaning given such terms in section 3 
of the Worker Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3103).
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