Political Quotes

“as we approach a new century with a globally competitive economy that increasingly puts pressure on many domestic industries, I believe it is critical that Congress recognize and address a serious need in our nation's workforce: the need to provide increased access to training for incumbent workers at small businesses. As the distinguished Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources are aware, many states have seen workers displaced as long-standing local businesses have been downsized or closed. In Maine, we have endured dramatic shifts in our labor force as footwear manufacturers, textile manufacturers, and paper mills have been closed, and workers have been forced out of long-standing jobs that had been the cornerstone of their communities. This shift in long-standing industries is occurring not only in Maine, but across the nation as cities, towns, and communities attempt to stay one step ahead of the changing demands of the global job market. These displacements have demonstrated time and time again that the only certainty in the workforce is uncertainty--and the most important attribute that any worker can have when a job is in jeopardy is to have a broad base of training and skills.…”