The Fourth District has seen a distinctive shift in the economic drivers at play in our area--now boasting one of the largest concentrations of high-skilled manufacturing in the country.

By increasing the number of students seeking higher education, we can begin the process of decreasing our unacceptable 10% unemployment rate.

I hope to work with each of our witnesses today in this endeavor.

I also want to thank Congressman Wilson.

I-CAR is a solid model of how partnerships between institutions of higher education and the community they serve can spark tremendous job growth and economic development.

I know I want to join with Congressman Gowdy; we are very sorry that our chairwoman, Virginia Foxx, is not here.

In fact, their foresight and courage allows us to tell the story of success today.

It is an honor for me to be here right on I-85.

And actually I saw that firsthand in visiting BMW a number of years ago. I was startled to find out that the paint on the vehicles is water-based, environmentally sound.

I want to thank you, First Lady Marsha Barker for your service.

Actually it was a committee like this that met 50 years ago with U.S. Senator Fritz Hollings and Congressman Floyd Spence, and they came up with the early pioneering view of creating institutions that would help train persons to be able to…

Thank you very much, Congressman Gowdy.

I am grateful to be here today, and thank you for your leadership, Congressman Gowdy.

It has been an extraordinary opportunity for me to return.

We ask Thy guidance and direction as we seek to promote jobs for our younger citizens.

The upstate of South Carolina is one of the world's leading manufacturing, banking, and academic communities.

We are grateful for predecessors such as Armed Services Committee Chairman Floyd Spence who died 10 years ago today, setting an example of service above self.

Thank you for attending this important hearing on promoting the creation of jobs and the role higher education and job growth initiatives will play in creating jobs.