Committee hears resolution urging Congress to set apprenticeship hiring goals that include veterans

The Alaska House Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs on May 6 heard testimony on House Joint Resolution 20, which encourages the U.S. Congress to establish hiring goals on Department of Defense construction projects for apprentices and veteran apprentices.

“House Joint Resolution Number 20 would encourage Congress to establish hiring goals for domestic DOD construction projects, namely for individuals who are participating in qualified apprentices or post secondary programs,” sponsor Representative David Nelson said. “These hiring goals would be no less than 10% of the total workforce employed on the performance of the project with no less than 10% of those being veterans.” Nelson represents House District 18 (Anchorage and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson).

Nelson and committee members emphasized the language in the resolution is an encouragement to Congress and not a binding federal requirement. Nelson described the figures as goals rather than mandates: “The 10% is just a goal. It is not establishing a requirement.”

Committee members pressed for details about feasibility and local data. Representative Sadler asked how the 10% figure was chosen; Nelson said it was intended as a starting point. Representative Allen asked whether the goal applies nationwide or just to Alaska; Nelson answered it would be a nationwide goal for DOD projects. Representative Hall asked for national and Alaska-specific unemployment data; Nelson did not have Alaska-specific numbers on the record but said he would provide them. Representative Fields told the committee that apprenticeship guidelines typically use a 1-to-1 journeyman-to-apprentice ratio and that apprenticeship-utilization targets commonly range from 10% to 20% in many jurisdictions and have been used historically in Alaska DOT policy dating to the Murkowski administration.

The committee received invited testimony from Kyle Kiser (Viper Transitions), who said Alaska’s veteran unemployment rate is about 4.9% and urged stronger pathways into construction apprenticeships for transitioning service members. Kiser testified apprenticeships help veterans obtain marketable skills, keep work and training local, and may reduce long-term public costs related to unemployment and veterans’ benefits. Kiser, who described his own service in the Army and tours overseas, said apprenticeships can improve mental-health outcomes by providing veterans with steady employment and purpose during transition.

No formal committee vote on HJR 20 was taken at the hearing. The chair set an amendment deadline for HJR 20 (and HJR 21) for Friday, May 9, at noon. Committee members expressed support for advancing the measure to the next stages of the legislative process so the language can be included in congressional outreach.

Key details discussed include the sponsor’s proposed 10% apprenticeship goal and the suggestion by Representative Fields that targets between 10% and 20% are feasible on construction projects given standard journeyman-to-apprentice ratios. Kiser provided the Alaska veteran unemployment figure of approximately 4.9% during his testimony.

The resolution asks Congress to “establish hiring goals” and therefore would require federal legislative action to take effect. The committee’s next step is consideration of any amendments submitted before the May 9 deadline.