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HR9684119th CongressWALLET

PATH Act

Sponsored By: Representative Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would create a federal grant program to expand pre-apprenticeship programs in the building and construction trades for underrepresented populations. It links classroom and work-based training to registered apprenticeship entry and requires partnerships between industry and labor.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

New federal grants for pre-apprenticeships

If enacted, the Labor Secretary would run a competitive grant program to fund pre-apprenticeship projects in building and construction trades. The bill would authorize $20 million per year starting in fiscal year 2027. Federal grants would pay up to 75% of project costs and require at least a 25% non‑Federal match from local or private partners. The Secretary would give priority to nonprofit partnerships with equal industry and labor participation and to applicants that leverage extra public or private money. Grants would run up to 3 years and could be extended one more year for satisfactory performance.

Stipends and supports for participants

If enacted, PATH grant money would pay for pre-apprenticeship training, curriculum, assessments, and program evaluations. The bill would allow grants to provide stipends to participants during work-based training. Programs would have to provide or align with supportive services like transportation or childcare to reduce financial barriers to participation.

Who can get pre-apprenticeship help

If enacted, the bill would define which groups count as underrepresented for PATH grants. That would include racial minorities, women, veterans, members of Federally recognized Indian Tribes, the long-term unemployed, and people living in census tracts meeting the tax code's low-income community test (IRC §45D(e)). The bill would define a pre-apprenticeship as training run with at least one registered-apprenticeship sponsor, using industry-aligned curriculum reviewed annually by sponsors. Grant applications would have to show how finishing the program makes participants eligible for specific registered apprenticeship openings and offer career exploration and diploma pathways if a high school is involved.

Performance measures and grant reviews

If enacted, the Labor Secretary would set common performance measures for PATH grants, including tracking entry into registered apprenticeships. Grantees would have to arrange for or participate in external evaluations using those measures. The Secretary would use evaluation results to decide whether to extend or renew grants.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1]

NJ • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 7/14/2026

  • Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 8/17/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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