Sheila Jackson Lee: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise with great promise to support H.R. 447, the National Apprenticeship Act of…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise with great promise to support H.R. 447, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021, and thank the manager. I thank the chairman for investing $3.5 billion over 5 years in expanding opportunities and access to registered apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and pre- apprenticeships. Let me tell you that in this time of record unemployment, 10 million jobs lost in the United States, we need the opportunity to redirect and retrain the American public. I am a strong supporter of apprenticeship programs. Colleges in my district, like HCC, have programs: independent electrical contractors, plumbers, masonry, that make a difference and have individuals making dollars that they have not made before. I include in the Record two articles. The first one is from the ``Houston Chronicle,'' and the second article is entitled: ``Houston City Leaders Honor Students in Pre-Apprenticeship Program at TRIO Electric,'' both referencing Houston Community College. [From the Houston Chronicle] Interested in a New Career? Consider an Apprenticeship Union-sponsored Programs Build Skills, Careers Houston Community College is restoring an old high school and converting it into college classrooms. And it's using some of its own apprentices to do it. San Jacinto Senior High was built in 1960, and the community college is gutting it for new academic classrooms. The project started about a year ago, and is scheduled to be completed in October.…”