S. 760Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)Enacted

Support for Veterans in Effective Apprenticeships Act of 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 3:03 AM UTC

The Support for Veterans in Effective Apprenticeships Act of 2019 aims to make registered apprenticeship programs more accessible and beneficial for veterans and other service‑eligible individuals. It requires apprenticeship sponsors to acknowledge veterans' educational benefits, to try to secure those benefits for each location that hires veterans, and to treat veteran applicants fairly. The law also lets veterans receive credit for military training and higher wages, and it ensures the Department of Veterans Affairs is notified about approved programs.

Key Provisions

Apprenticeship sponsors must provide a written assurance that they know about veterans' educational assistance and will try to obtain that assistance for each site that employs or recruits veterans.
Sponsors may not reject a qualified veteran applicant simply to avoid seeking the veteran’s educational assistance.
Veterans who enroll in an apprenticeship and have relevant military training or demonstrated competence must be eligible for advanced standing or credit and receive higher wages reflecting that standing.
When a program is approved, the Department of Labor must send a copy of the program’s registration certificate to the state VA agency that oversees veterans’ benefits.

Legislative Activity

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18 earlier actions

Became Law Latest Action

Became Public Law No: 116-134.

March 26, 2020

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

March 12, 2019

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

March 12, 2019

SenateCommittee

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

December 4, 2019

SenateFloor

Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6837-6839)

December 4, 2019

SenateFloor

Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (text: CR S6838-6839)

December 4, 2019

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

December 4, 2019

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

December 4, 2019 • 7:31 PM

HouseFloor

Held at the desk.

December 4, 2019 • 8:30 PM

HouseFloor

Mrs. Lee (NV) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

March 10, 2020 • 1:01 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1574-1575)

March 10, 2020 • 1:01 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 760.

March 10, 2020 • 1:01 PM

HouseFloor

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

March 10, 2020 • 1:11 PM

HouseFloor

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1613-1614)

March 11, 2020 • 2:00 PM

SenateFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 412 - 0 (Roll no. 97).

View vote Passed

March 11, 2020 • 2:08 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 412 - 0 (Roll no. 97). (text: 03/10/2020 CR H1574)

View vote Passed

March 11, 2020 • 2:08 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

March 11, 2020 • 2:08 PM

President

Presented to President.

March 16, 2020

Became Law

Signed by President.

March 26, 2020

Became Law

Became Public Law No: 116-134.

March 26, 2020

Voting History

1 vote recorded • Roll call available

HOUSE

Roll Call Available

March 11, 2020 at 2:06 PM

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass

Majority required: 2/3 (66.7%)

Passed

412 - 0

Amendments

1 amendment

Offered to this bill

S.Amdt. 1254Dec 4, 2019

In the nature of a substitute.

Amendment SA 1254 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6838; text: CR S6838) · Sponsored by Gary C. Peters

Bill Text

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Enrolled BillPublication date not provided

One Hundred Sixteenth Congress of the United States of America

2d Session

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday, the third day of January, two thousand and twenty

S. 760

AN ACT

To enable registered apprenticeship programs to better serve veterans, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Support for Veterans in Effective Apprenticeships Act of 2019.

Improved apprenticeship program coordination between the Department of Labor and the Department of Veterans Affairs

(a)

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Registered apprenticeship program

The term registered apprenticeship program means an apprenticeship program registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (50 Stat. 664; commonly referred to as the National Apprenticeship Act).

(2)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Labor.

(b)

Additional registered apprenticeship program requirements

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for any program applying to become a registered apprenticeship program on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall—

(1)

acquire from the program sponsor a written assurance that the sponsor—

(A)

is aware of the availability of educational assistance for a veteran or other individual eligible under chapters 30 through 36 of title 38, United States Code, for use in connection with a registered apprenticeship program;

(B)

will make a good faith effort to obtain approval for educational assistance described in subparagraph (A) for, at a minimum, each program location that employs or recruits a veteran or other individual eligible for educational assistance under chapters 30 through 36 of title 38, United States Code; and

(C)

will not deny the application of a qualified candidate who is a veteran or other individual eligible for educational assistance described in subparagraph (A) for the purpose of avoiding making a good faith effort to obtain approval as described in subparagraph (B);

(2)

in accordance with paragraphs (5) and (12) of section 29.5(b) of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act), require the program sponsor, to the extent practicable, to provide standards that contain provisions to grant advanced standing or credit, and provide increased wages commensurate to such standing or credit, for any veteran or other individual eligible for educational assistance under chapters 30 through 36 of title 38, United States Code, who—

(A)

is enrolled in the registered apprenticeship program; and

(B)

(i)

has a demonstrated competence applicable to the apprenticeship occupation; or

(ii)

has acquired experience, training, or skills through military service that is applicable to the apprenticeship occupation; and

(3)

when the Secretary approves the registered apprenticeship program, provide a copy of the program's certificate of registration to the State approving agency designated under chapter 36 of title 38, United States Code, in the State where the program is located.

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate