Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Career and Technical Education Month. I am proud to be able to work with my colleague, G.T. Thompson of Pennsylvania, as he and I cochair the Career and Technical Education Caucus. In particular, Mr. Speaker, I would like to address the importance of the initiative that President Obama announced recently that supports partnerships between community colleges and expanding industry. It should be a bipartisan priority. We've heard a lot about the skills gap that we're facing in this country, and businessowners repeatedly tell me that they cannot fill openings because the applicants lack the necessary skills. We need better collaboration between the companies doing the hiring and the educators who are preparing our students. In my district, National Grid--the primary utility--and the Community College of Rhode Island offer a model program to prepare workers for available high-skilled jobs. Through coursework and hands-on training, students receive a certificate in Energy Utility Technology and can then become new employees. Unfortunately, community colleges simply can't afford enough of these programs. The President's Community College to Career Fund is a small price to pay for the resulting benefit. It's a worthwhile program, and I believe that we need to support it. Mr.…”