On the recordNovember 16, 2016
Today I rise in recognition of National Apprenticeship Week. In conversations with employers in my district at companies like Ward Leonard in Thomaston and Forum Plastics in Waterbury, I hear about how our businesses struggle to find employees with the right skills. Apprenticeship programs give workers the hands-on training they need to close that skills gap. In Connecticut, our community colleges are helping workers get the skills they need to land high-paying, in-demand jobs. But there is more we must do to help both workers and small- business owners. That is why I introduced the TECH Careers Act. This bill will open the door for more Americans to have successful careers in 21st-century fields and help small businesses access a qualified pool of talented and skilled workers. If we close the skills gap and raise folks up into the middle class, everyone benefits. ____________________





