Natasha Sherwood, chapter and workforce development director for Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), testified to the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, Education and Workforce Committee during the hearing “Workforce Rewired: Modern Apprenticeships for a Modern Economy” on June 24, 2026.
The hearing enabled members of the subcommittee to explore bipartisan ways to strengthen America’s apprenticeships and grow the workforce in the skilled trades. The nation needs 80,000 net new apprentices every year in the electrical industry alone, simply to keep up with demand.
“Merit shop contractors are making enormous investments in workforce development and are training a significant and growing share of the construction workforce,” said Sherwood. “It was important for Congress to hear directly from that segment of the industry and recognize the vital role employer-led, merit shop apprenticeship programs play in developing the skilled workforce our country depends on.”
The hearing also explored barriers that make it difficult to expand apprenticeship, including outdated regulations, restrictive apprentice-to-journeyworker ratios, limitations on program approval in some states, and the need to modernize funding and support systems.
Since President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14278 on April 23, 2025, there has been a renewed focus on growing apprenticeships in the United States across many industries, including construction and electrical contracting. The administration’s goal of one million new apprentices has been widely publicized, and the committee discussed whether current and proposed funding levels would be adequate to meet this goal.
All speakers and legislators present at the hearing, both Republican and Democratic, affirmed the importance of apprenticeships. But Sherwood drew attention to the strengths of IEC’s programs, combining the flexibility afforded by new technology with the resources of the group sponsorship model.
“Group sponsorship empowers our contractors and chapters to grow by leveraging nationally developed curriculum and shared best practices, so even small employers can participate in apprenticeship,” said Sherwood.
One of the most impactful moments of the hearing came when Sherwood shared the story of Jayden, an IEC apprentice who came to his local chapter through a second-chance partnership and was able to access training through a combination of online learning, in-person instruction, mentoring, and supportive services.
“The committee members physically sat up, leaned in, and listened to his story,” said Sherwood. “There is genuine bipartisan interest in how we can create more on-ramps into apprenticeship through schools, military transition programs, pre-apprenticeship, and community partnerships.”
Sherwood highlighted how IEC has used technology to make apprenticeships more accessible without compromising the importance of person-to-person mentorship.
“Technology doesn’t change lives; people do,” said Sherwood. “Apprentices still master their trade the way they always have — by learning from skilled professionals while earning a paycheck on the jobsite.”
At the same time, the trade association has expanded asynchronous online instruction, used immersive simulation technology to allow apprentices to safely practice complex skills, and used personalized AI tutoring to scaffold the curriculum for struggling readers and translate it into more than 200 languages.
Rep. Bob Onder (R-MO) highlighted a concern Sherwood raised in her testimony: the limitations Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) place on apprenticeships. Sherwood expanded on this by describing the sizeable investments IEC firms devote to their apprentices, only to have those apprentices barred from working on federal projects because they are not union members.
“Government policies should ensure that every qualified contractor, apprentice, and apprenticeship sponsor can contribute to building and maintaining our nation’s energy and infrastructure needs,” said Sherwood.
Other committee members, particularly Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) and IBEW member Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ), specifically highlighted union contributions to construction apprenticeships. However, Norcross also credited IEC’s group sponsorship model for effectively growing the workforce, and Courtney invited Sherwood to visit a union shipbuilding project in his district.
Sherwood said she took this as a compliment.
“The fact that members felt compelled to respond directly to IEC’s arguments tells me that our voice is being heard and that our message is resonating,” said Sherwood.
Reflecting on the experience, Sherwood was excited about the significance of IEC’s invitation to the hearing and the opportunities it represents to grow the trade association’s influence in the industry and Washington.
“Being asked to testify before Congress on a national stage reflects the recognition that IEC has become one of the nation’s leading voices on apprenticeship and workforce development,” said Sherwood. “Among the witnesses, IEC was uniquely positioned as the only large-scale, employer-led apprenticeship provider representing thousands of businesses and apprentices across the country.”
Sherwood’s testimony and other IEC advocacy efforts are made possible by member donations to Freedom Fund and engagement with IEC’s Political Action Committee (PAC). Members can also text IECACT to 50457 to receive IEC Action Alerts on pending legislation that can impact merit shop businesses.
Sherwood’s full testimony can be read here.