David Trone

Every year three is 600,0000 folks that should be graduating and they would have graduated but instead they are coming out of incarceration.

It is disappointing.

That is just so unacceptable. It is mind boggling.

I really appreciate the comments by Ranking Member Foxx and I couldn't agree with more what she had to say.

Thank you, Chair, Mr. Chairman, and Ranking Member Foxx for your leadership in looking for innovative ideas.

I am not convinced that it is an effective way to bring Iran to the negotiating table.

I understand rural America and my district is very rural. There is actually deeper struggles with hunger in rural areas.

The rule is shameful and if you are not pushing back that is doubly shameful. It is an abdication of your duties.

Okay. We have got to move past the good intentions.

But that has been basically the process for the entire time we have had this focus and we are not making any progress.

I do not think that holding people accountable is punishment. And I do not think that work is punishment. I think that work is opportunity.

A top priority of mine is criminal justice reform. I believe the impact of education on these individuals that have been incarcerated, society as a whole is crucial.

A Maryland graduate can expect to make a million dollars more a year due to that credential.

The 2017 report found that the total economic impact in the U.S. is 14.8 billion annually.

It is great to see the committee coming together in a bipartisan way to prioritize and address this issue.

We know the community colleges and historically black colleges and universities and other minority serving institutions play a key role in providing college opportunities for low income students and students of color.

We believe that investment in education in the State of Tennessee is going to pay huge dividends for our State.

100 percent graduate with 0 debt, where the average debt of a college student... is around $30,000 in our State.

77 percent of students graduate on time in a career path--77 percent, much higher than college.

We made community college free. Anybody in our state who graduates from high school now can go to community college or technical school.

In Tennessee we recognized--we had a skills gap and we recognized that in our State.

What do you think is the key to convince employers?

Thirty-four states and more than 150 cities have adopted a Ban the Box policy providing applicants a fair chance at employment.

Raising the Social Security age without considering the impact of age discrimination is very shortsighted.

It is not just the skills that are changing, that are, you know, that are going to help people retain employment.