1. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Apprenticeships can help veterans bridge the gap between service in the Armed Forces and civilian employment by— (A) receiving on-the-job training under the direct supervision of a professional and classroom instruction; (B) implementing skills the veterans acquired while in the Armed Forces; (C) providing practical work experience to the veterans; and (D) forming professional connections to fellow members of skilled occupations. (2) According to the Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor, in fiscal year 2016— (A) more than 21,000 apprenticeship programs across the United States are registered with the Administration; (B) approximately 1,700 new apprenticeship programs were established in the United States; (C) more than 206,000 individuals across the United States entered an apprenticeship program; (D) more than 505,000 apprentices sought to acquire skills to earn the wages necessary for financial security; and (E) approximately 49,000 individuals graduated from apprenticeship programs. 2. Educational assistance for veterans who pursue certain apprenticeship programs Section 3313(g)(3) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs: (E) In the case of an individual pursuing a program of apprenticeship (that is registered with the Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor) on more than a half-time but less than full-time basis, an annual stipend for tuition and fees not to exceed the lesser of— (i) the actual net cost for tuition and fees for the program of apprenticeship after the application of any waiver of, or reduction in, tuition and fees