; Whereas the national registered apprenticeship system provides employers— (1) skilled workers trained to industry and employer specifications to produce quality results; (2) reduced turnover; (3) a diverse talent pipeline for new skilled workers and future managers; (4) reduced workers’ compensation costs due to an emphasis on safety training; (5) key employability skills such as improved employee engagement, greater problem-solving ability, flexibility to perform a variety of tasks, and a reduced need for supervision; and (6) valuable contribution to output by apprentices; Whereas, according to the Department of Labor— (1) there are 800,000 apprentices annually across the United States; (2) registered apprenticeships have a 93-percent placement rate at program completion; (3) after completion, registered apprenticeship participants have an average starting salary of $77,000; (4) apprentice graduates earn $300,000 more over their lifetime compared to peers not in apprenticeship programs; (5) there are over 27,000 registered apprenticeship programs across the Nation; and (6) there has been a 64-percent growth in new apprentices since 2012; and Whereas the celebration of National Apprenticeship Week— (1) honors industries that have mastered the registered apprenticeship model; (2) encourages expansion of the registered apprenticeship model into new industries and occupations; (3) encourages the creation of new opportunities for nontraditional apprenticeship populations like women and minorities; (4) recognizes the role the national registered apprenticeship system has played in preparing workers for the jobs of today and tomorrow; and (5) promotes conversation about ways the national registered apprenticeship system can continue to respond to workforce challenges in the 21st century: Now, therefore, be it