PATH Act

Full Title:
PATH Act

Summary#

This bill directs the Secretary of Labor to run a competitive grant program to support development of pre-apprenticeship programs in the building and construction trades. Grants go to nonprofit partnerships that include equal participation from industry (including employers) and labor organizations, and that partner with at least one sponsor of a registered apprenticeship program. Pre-apprenticeship programs must teach skills aligned with industry standards, be reviewed annually by apprenticeship sponsors, and prepare people to enter registered apprenticeship programs. The bill defines underrepresented populations to include racial minorities, women, military veterans, members of Federally recognized Indian Tribes, the long-term unemployed, and people from low-income census tracts.

The grant period is up to 3 years with a possible 1-year extension for satisfactory performance. The Federal share of project costs is 75 percent; the non-Federal share may be cash or in-kind. The bill authorizes $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 and each subsequent fiscal year to carry out the program. Grants must include plans for training, curriculum, evidence of openings in related registered apprenticeships, career exploration activities, and alignment with relevant career and technical education and workforce programs.

Allowed uses of funds include paying training and education costs for underrepresented participants, curriculum development, maintaining connections to registered apprenticeship programs, participant assessments and enrollment, evaluations, and, optionally, participant stipends during work-based training. Projects may coordinate with the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The Secretary must identify common performance measures (including entry into registered apprenticeship), and each grantee must arrange or participate in evaluations.

What it means for you#

  • If you are an individual from an underrepresented population, the bill aims to increase access to pre-apprenticeship training that prepares you for registered apprenticeships in construction trades.
  • If you run a training program, school, employer group, or labor organization, you can form or join an eligible nonprofit partnership to apply for competitive grant funding to create or expand pre-apprenticeship programs.
  • Employers and apprenticeship sponsors would be expected to partner with grantees and may provide cash or in-kind contributions to meet the non-Federal share.
  • High schools participating must show how their model can lead to a high school diploma for participants without one.

Expenses#

  • The bill authorizes $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 and each subsequent fiscal year to carry out the grant program.
  • The Federal share for grant projects is 75 percent of total project cost. Recipients must provide the remaining 25 percent as cash or in-kind contributions.
  • Grants are initially for up to 3 years; a 1-year extension may be granted based on satisfactory performance as shown by evaluations and common measures.
  • No publicly available information on additional budget estimates, offsets, or long-term fiscal effects beyond the authorized appropriations in the bill text.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.