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Bill

HR 9684

PATH Act

119th Congress Introduced by Brian Fitzpatrick and 1 co-sponsor

Creates a federal program to fund nonprofit partnerships that prepare underrepresented individuals for registered construction apprenticeships through structured pre-apprenticeship

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 9684

Summary of HR 9684 – PATH Act (Pre-Apprenticeships To Hardhats Act)

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes a federal program to develop pre-apprenticeship opportunities in building and construction trades.
  • Specifically aims to serve underrepresented populations, including individuals from low-income and rural areas, helping them prepare for and access registered apprenticeships.

Key provisions and changes

  • Definitions (Section 2)

    • Clarifies terms used in the bill, including: area career and technical schools, Federally recognized Indian Tribes, high school, in-demand industry sectors or occupations, local/state workforce boards, postsecondary institutions, and sponsors of apprenticeship programs.
    • Pre-apprenticeship program is a structured effort designed to prepare individuals to enter and succeed in a registered apprenticeship, carried out by an eligible entity in partnership with at least one sponsor of a registered apprenticeship program, and aligned with industry standards and approved annually by sponsors.
    • Defines “underrepresented population” as including racial minorities, women, veterans, Native Tribes, long-term unemployed, or residents from low-income census tracts.

  • Grant program to support pre-apprenticeships (Section 3)

    • The Secretary of Labor may award competitive grants to eligible nonprofit partnerships to develop pre-apprenticeship programs in building/construction trades.
    • Initial grant periods: up to 3 years; eligible for a possible extension of up to 1 additional year based on satisfactory performance.
    • Eligible entity requirements (subsection c):
    • Must be a nonprofit partnership with equal participation of industry (employers, labor groups, joint programs) and other partners (education providers, workforce boards, community-based organizations, small businesses, veterans services, etc.).
    • Demonstrate experience in worker skills training, ability to engage target populations, and capacity to help participants achieve economic self-sufficiency.
    • Priority criteria (subsection d): Preference for projects that leverage additional public/private resources, including cash or in-kind contributions from employers.
    • Application content (subsection e): Must describe the pre-apprenticeship training and curriculum, assurance of available openings in a corresponding registered apprenticeship, advisory partnerships, and alignment with in-demand regional industries, career exploration activities, high school diploma pathways, alignment with existing CTE or WIOA resources, and connection to an established registered apprenticeship program.
    • Use of funds (subsection f):
    • Mandatory activities include funding training/education for underrepresented individuals, curriculum development aligned with registered apprenticeships, maintaining link to registered programs, conducting participant assessments and enrollments, and evaluations.
    • Optional activities include stipends for work-based learning and coordination with Perkins Act or WIOA activities.
    • Federal share and non-federal match (subsection g):
    • Federal share set at 75% of project costs; non-federal share may be provided in cash or in-kind.

  • Performance and evaluation (Section 3, subsections h)

    • The Secretary must identify common performance measures, including metrics for entry into registered apprenticeships and alignment with WIOA and Perkins measures.
    • Grant recipients must arrange for independent evaluations (or participate in Secretary-sponsored evaluations) using the common measures; findings can influence future extensions or renewals of grants.

  • Authorization of appropriations (Section 3, subsection i)

    • Authorizes $20 million for fiscal year 2027 and each subsequent fiscal year to fund the program.

Who would be affected

  • Eligible entities: nonprofit partnerships with diverse stakeholders (industry employers, labor organizations, educational institutions, workforce boards, community organizations, veterans groups, etc.) would apply for and administer grants.
  • Participants: individuals from underrepresented populations, including those from low-income or rural census tracts, who participate in pre-apprenticeship programs with the goal of entering registered apprenticeships in building/construction trades.
  • Employers and sponsors of registered apprenticeships: would collaborate as part of the partnership and benefit from a pipeline of prepared candidates.
  • Local and state workforce systems: may coordinate with pre-apprenticeship activities and align with WIOA/Perkins programs.

Timeline and procedural notes

  • Effective as introduced in July 2026, with initial grants for up to 3 years plus potential 1-year extension based on performance.
  • Funding level set at $20 million annually starting in FY 2027.
  • Programs must be designed to show readiness to place graduates into existing registered apprenticeship opportunities and to measure outcomes against established performance indicators.

Overall impact

  • The PATH Act creates a federally funded mechanism to expand access to pre-apprenticeship opportunities in construction, prioritizing underrepresented and economically disadvantaged populations.
  • By requiring partnerships across industry, labor, education, and community organizations, it seeks to build a structured pipeline from pre-apprenticeship to registered apprenticeship.
  • The program emphasizes accountability through defined performance metrics and independent evaluations to inform continuation of funding.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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