Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this en bloc incorporates three amendments to the underlying bill that would enhance opportunities in the registered apprenticeship system. The amendment offered by Mr. Kilmer of Washington and Mr. Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania amends the grant program within the underlying bill to promote offerings for computer science programs. Modernizing the 80-year-old National Apprenticeship Act ought to include apprenticeship opportunities within a variety of sectors. Far too often, society paints apprenticeships as only applying to the ``trades.'' While there are certainly valuable pathways within those fields, we need to expand the horizons of what apprenticeships are capable of providing for workers. This is also why I think it is important to call these ``professions'' rather than the ``trades.'' A broader policy should not be limited by how it has traditionally been viewed or how we speak about it. Computer science is a high-growth and promising career path leading to in-demand lucrative jobs for workers. We hear too often that students are graduating without the technical skills they need to be successful in today's workforce. This amendment would support employers in recruiting and developing new employees with the computer science competencies they need to make up for these deficits and help fill a widening skills gap. Similarly, the amendment offered by Ms.…”