Max Baucus: “Different students will opt for different types of training. That is good. We need workers with different skills to fill…”

“Different students will opt for different types of training. That is good. We need workers with different skills to fill all the new jobs that are constantly being created. One thing is sure: We need to train more engineers. Listen to this, Mr. President. We train only half as many engineers as does Japan. We train only half as many engineers as does Europe. We train only a third as many as does China. Think how many engineers China is going to train next year and the year after that and the year after that. Where will we be? Engineers play a critical role in the development of new jobs and new industries. We should encourage students to pursue training in this vital field. We need to help displaced workers to receive the retraining needed to succeed in a changing economy. There is one thing they can be sure of: Things will always change. Jobs will change. Workers should be equipped with the tools to change with these jobs. Education is certainly the key. The amendment I am going to offer will put a downpayment of $10 billion into our workforce. The U.S. economy is the most flexible, vibrant, dynamic in the world. We have to keep it that way. We owe that to the ingenuity of the American people and their relentless thirst to create and innovate. I urge my colleagues to join me in a positive response to offshoring. It should not be negative; it should not be protectionism. It has to be positive. I am offering a sound, positive approach.”