Sanford Bishop: “I am perplexed that anyone would not want to provide good-paying jobs that will help our Nation tackle the climate…”

“I am perplexed that anyone would not want to provide good-paying jobs that will help our Nation tackle the climate crisis and build a stronger country. The goal of the Civilian Climate Corps is to put more than 20,000 young people on career pathways in the growing fields of clean energy, conservation, and climate resilience. In launching this effort, President Biden is calling on Tribal, State, and local governments, labor unions, nonprofit service allies, the private sector, and philanthropy to collaborate with the Federal Government to build on current relationships and expand skills-based training partnerships to ensure that our workforce is ready to meet the climate crisis. We have seen the devastation to coastal communities impacted by hurricanes and tropical storms. Why would we not want to train our youth to restore coastal wetlands that can protect communities from storm surges? We know the damage and the loss that accompanies wildfires across our Nation, so why would we not want to train youth to manage forests, to improve health, and prevent catastrophic wildfires? We know the power of skills-based training as a tool to expand pathways into good-paying jobs. Let's not deny our youth this opportunity, and let's not deny our country the resources for our future. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.”