Frederica Wilson

There is a teacher shortage and it is getting worse.

We need to make a substantial investment in dropouts and those we consider out-of-school youth.

investing in WIOA and skills development is one of the best things we can do to boost our economy.

A WIOA reauthorization must cater to the needs of diverse job seekers and ensure workforce investment helps businesses.

My mantra has always been jobs, jobs, jobs.

Investing in workforce development is a critical step we must take to ensure a brighter future for our economy.

For workers to benefit from this historic job growth, they need the skills and credentials to succeed in new careers.

The reality is that the unemployment rate is still near record lows, and wages are increasing.

WIOA is the backbone of our workforce system.

We cannot afford to fall behind in this critical area, and increasing our investment is the only way to stay competitive.

Today I rise in opposition to H.R. 5. As an educator, I believe parent voices should be honored in schools. All educators believe this. We know that this bill is not about that at all. We have always had parents involved in our schools, so…

The work we do here today has direct consequences on your lives and futures. I hope all my colleagues will keep today's hearing grounded in our most important priority: supporting your success and pursuit of the American Dream.

We all know that a college degree is the surest pathway to economic mobility.

These school closures can be devastating for students, plunging them into financial and emotional despair, while robbing them of the education opportunities they deserve.

Let us help our children. Let us help the hard-working people who are making a difference, and who deserve our support, and who will help our economy, and our economy will prosper.

I'm particularly troubled by the number of students who have been left behind with not only significant student loans, but also no meaningful degree.

In 1975, the Pell Grant covered nearly 80 percent of the average cost of tuition room and board at a public 4 year university.

Now it covers just less than a third of the average cost, leaving far too many low-income students and families with unmet needs.

The declining value of the Pell Grant, the bedrock of our financial aid system, has also increased the burden for students and families.

President Biden said erase student loans up to $20,000.00 for some, and $10,000.00 for most, and the republicans are whining.

Thankfully, in response, the Biden Harris administration has taken historic steps to provide borrowers with a clear path to repayment, and protect students, families and taxpayers.

But the Pell Grant could not keep up with the cost of college. So, through the years the student debt crisis grew. And now the crisis has turned into a catastrophe.

Where were you when we bailed out the airlines, the automobiles, the State governments, the local governments?

The cost of attending college today has more than tripled what it cost to attend college in 1980.

The cost of college keeps rising out of control.