WASHINGTON – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5509, the Innovations in Mentoring, Training, and Apprenticeships Act, sponsored by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and co-sponsored by Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas).  

The bipartisan bill enacts critical policy improvements to advance science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science (STEM) education innovations. It will expand America’s workforce pipeline for STEM jobs by combining traditional education at community and four-year colleges with on-the-job work experiences, such as apprenticeships and internships, by partnering with local employers in in-demand STEM fields. 

Chairman Smith:

“The IMT Apprenticeships Act directs the NSF to fund initiatives that support innovative partnerships between academic institutions and local industries. These programs will combine formal education with work experiences, such as apprenticeships, pairing local employers with the STEM industry. 

This bill also requires the NSF to conduct research on market analysis innovations and America’s skilled technical workforce.

I would like to thank Leader McCarthy, Ranking Member Johnson, and Senate Commerce Chairman John Thune for their leadership on this bipartisan bill. The IMT Apprenticeships Act will enhance America’s STEM competitiveness and contribute to our future economic prosperity.”

Click here to see a statement of support of H.R. 5509 from James Brown, executive director of the STEM Education Coalition.

Text of the bill can be found here