Tim Walberg: “I thank Chairwoman Foxx for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman's emphasis on preparing people for the…”

“I thank Chairwoman Foxx for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman's emphasis on preparing people for the real world through educational experiences that expand not only their abilities, but also their dreams. A lot of times the best education takes place when a person is dreaming. I have seen a lot of things happen in Michigan as a result of people all of a sudden being caught with a sweet spot dream saying, ``Could I do that?'' and they have done it. Since coming to Congress, my top priority has been creating good- paying jobs and growing a healthy economy in Michigan. We have had our challenges. We are delighted to see some very positive things taking place in Michigan, and specifically in my district. That is why every year we hold a large job fair at multiple places in my district. We had one just last week, in fact. Over the years, we have helped the hardworking men and women in our communities find employment, further their education, and pursue career advancement opportunities. That is a key: to let them know that they can advance; they are not stuck; you can always move on. When we did our first job fair back in 2011, the national unemployment rate was around 9 percent. Now it is down below 4 percent for the first time since 2000. As our economy continues to thrive, there are currently 6.6 million job openings waiting to be filled across the country, and businesses are anxious to hire workers with the right experience to fill them.…”