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Press Releases

NECA Helps Defeat Apprenticeship Amendment in House of Representatives

Jun 14, 2019

The National Electrical Contractors Association has delivered a major victory to members on NECA/IBEW apprenticeships in the House of Representatives.

This week, House voted on a “minibus” funding bill, H.R. 2740 - Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Legislative Branch, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2020.

More than 100 amendments were offered during debate. One of the measures, Amendment #139, would allow the use of grant funds for industry-recognized apprenticeship programs (IRAPs) in an attempt to place those programs on the same level as U.S. Department of Labor-registered apprenticeship programs.

NECA conducted outreach to all House offices, including the office of Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), who spoke against the amendment on the floor. Subsequently, it was defeated 266 to 158.

NECA Executive Director of Government Affairs Marco Giamberardino said the overall bill represents six of the 12 funding bills that must pass to fund the government before the end of the fiscal year. The Senate is expected to make significant changes to all the funding bills passed out of the House.

NOTE: NECA will provide updates on the status of government funding throughout the summer.

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