"We should have made investments in our water systems 20 years ago--but the least we can do is make those investments right now."
"This is a program that I think really works."
"We have some real issues in making sure that folks actually can get the career education that they need to be gainfully employed in our economy."
"In my district, any guess what our unemployment rate is? It's about 7 percent."
"What are you going to do to expand access to Job Corps programs outside of the major cities that have these low unemployment rates?"
"Mr. Harder. Sorry to interrupt you, Secretary. But am I correct in believing that about a fifth of the current job centers for the Jobs Corps are going to be closed with this budget?"
"Mr. Harder. Hard for me to imagine we cut a budget by 40 percent and we don't actually cut some of the centers."
"Mr. Harder. And yet you're trying to cut this budget by 40 percent, when in fact you say we should be doubling down on it."
"I actually want to put that on the side for a minute and talk about the Job Corps program."
"We have real challenges making sure that we actually are connecting people into jobs."
"Are we cutting these centers? Are there going to be fewer centers in 5 years if this budget passes?"
"this is a proven program with high success, and yet all the centers that exist are in areas that don't actually have the same needs as my district."