Reducing Arbitrary Barriers to Apprenticeship Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]
In Committee
Summary
Equalize apprenticeship and on-the-job training benefits with college pathways for veterans. This bill would change three veterans' education programs so apprentices get full monthly rates and construction trades are exempt from minimum-attendance limits.
Show full summary
- Veterans in Post-9/11 programs would receive a housing stipend set to the basic allowance for housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents based on the employer's ZIP code military housing area. Construction apprentices in NAICS Sector 23 (construction) would be exempt from the program's month-to-month attendance minimum.
- The All-Volunteer Force and Selected Reserve education benefits would be paid at 100% of the monthly amount for full-time apprenticeship or on-the-job training and define the payment rate as 100% of a month. Those programs would also apply the same Sector 23 attendance waiver.
- The changes primarily alter benefit calculations and eligibility rules across the three programs and do not include explicit new funding authorizations in the text.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Full pay for veteran apprentices
If enacted, veterans and reservists in qualifying full-time apprenticeships or on-the-job training would receive 100% of the monthly education allowance otherwise payable under each program. For Post-9/11 apprentices, the monthly housing stipend would equal the basic allowance for housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents in the military housing area that covers the employer's ZIP code. These changes would apply only to people who qualify under the named education chapters and are enrolled full time in approved apprenticeship or on-the-job training.
Attendance waiver for construction apprentices
If enacted, the bill would remove the monthly minimum-attendance rule for apprentices and on-the-job trainees whose occupation performs work in NAICS Sector 23 (construction). The waiver would apply in the Post-9/11, All-Volunteer, and Selected Reserve educational-assistance programs. This change would ease a procedural attendance requirement for qualifying construction apprentices.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]
MT • R
Cosponsors
Elissa Slotkin
MI • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]
ND • R
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Dan Sullivan
AK • R
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov