Lloyd Smucker

Even though IRAPs are in the early stages, we are already seeing many new stakeholders getting involved. The program is showing tremendous promise, and we are finally starting to grow apprenticeship programs in industries that have never…

During the committee's markup earlier this year, I offered an amendment that would transfer the Keystone line to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Thanks to pro-growth policies ushered in by Republican leadership in Congress and the White House, our economy is booming and unemployment is at historic lows.

By supporting apprenticeships and other earn as you learn programs, we can help change the misconception that a baccalaureate degree is the only pathway to a successful life.

Congress must ensure that hard-earned taxpayer dollars are used efficiently and effectively.

I applaud you and the Trump administration for this commendable effort to close our widening skills gap with commonsense solutions.

Employers know best what skills their employees need to excel in the workplace, and Congress should encourage employer-led innovation in the apprenticeship space.

The idea that I have heard in this hearing today, bashing all Uber and Lyft drivers due to the criminality and the horrific crimes of a few of them, it is insulting.

We need to look at ensuring that we are adequately doing what we can to ensure that drivers are protected.

I want to go back to the testimony and the legislation that is being proposed by two other Members.

The purpose of today's hearing should be to come up with solutions to solve program confusion for borrowers

Spinning data to drive a political agenda doesn't serve the American people.

There is bipartisan legislation we can act on now to start addressing this issue, like my bill H.R. 4137, the Jennifer Kepner HOPE Act, a bill to provide quality, affordable health care for all exposed veterans.

I have started a bipartisan Congressional Burn Pits Caucus with Congressman Brad Wenstrup, and I invite everyone on this dais to join the caucus so we can get the answers our veterans deserve.

I call on the Senate to pass this bill to ensure the tragic loss of hundreds of veterans across our nation are properly counted in the burn pits registry.

It is simply unacceptable and must end.

In thanks for their courageous service, our veterans certainly have earned and deserve the highest quality care that we can provide.

Today, someone can apply at that company and have no experience and start at $16 an hour. That wasn't a government prescription. That is the free enterprise system at work. I am very, very proud, as the result of the work that we have done…

We must encourage flexibility in the system. We must encourage employer-led innovation.

Students and families should never feel stigmatized for taking a path that is best for them.

We all want to see the skills gap shrink and see the needs of our local communities and employers met; and in order to do that, we must encourage flexibility in the system.

I think we need to--one of the things we need to do here is look at our rules and laws around that and perhaps make some changes to make that access to the workforce easier at a younger age but that is a discussion for another day.

In recent years we've seen a surge in interest for apprenticeships across the world, as more employers and small businesses recognize the critical role apprenticeships play in the development of a skilled workforce.

If my colleagues truly were interested in improving accountability, then they would apply these standards to all institutions of higher learning, not just the ones they dislike. I strongly oppose this unneeded amendment.

I believe that if we give students access, those who are willing to work hard, make good decisions have an excellent opportunity to succeed.