Washington, D.C. – Today Representative Dina Titus of Nevada’s First Congressional District, the co-chair of the Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus, released the following statement after the House of Representatives voted to pass the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021, which includes an amendment she drafted to create apprenticeships in the hospitality and tourism industry: 

“These apprenticeships will provide workers in Southern Nevada access to paid, on-the-job learning opportunities for careers in hospitality and tourism,” said Congresswoman Titus (NV-1). “At a time when so many in Las Vegas are struggling, my proposal will offer new pathways to the middle class. Now that the Senate is under new leadership, I am hopeful that Senator Schumer will move quickly to advance this bill and create these high-paying career opportunities.”

The National Apprenticeship Act of 2021, H.R. 447, invests more than $3.5 billion over 5 years in expanding opportunities and access to Registered Apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeships. The legislation would create nearly 1 million new apprenticeship opportunities on top of the current expected growth of the apprenticeship system. The bill would also yield $10.6 billion in net benefits to U.S. taxpayers in the form of increased workers productivity and decreased spending on public-assistance programs and unemployment insurance. According to the Department of Labor, 94 percent of people who complete Registered Apprenticeships are employed upon completion – earning an average annual starting wage of above $70,000. 

The bipartisan amendment offered by Congresswoman Titus that passed as part of this legislation instructs Department of Labor officials to fund the creation of new apprenticeships specifically in the hospitality and tourism industry. Her amendment is supported by the Culinary Workers Union Local 226, the U.S. Travel Association, and the American Hotel and Lodging Association.