Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020. The programs being addressed in this bill support on the job training, mentoring, and other assistance to help individuals gain employment and build careers in high paying and/or high skilled occupations. Registered Apprenticeships are our nation's most successful federal workforce training program. According to the DOL, 94 percent apprentices are employed after completing a Registered Apprenticeship and earn an average starting wage of $70,000. That success is to be applauded. Yet, this powerful tool can be improved. Just consider these two facts: Registered Apprenticeships only account for 0.3 percent of our workforce and nearly two-thirds of active apprentices are employed in just one industry, construction. It's long past time we bring these federal efforts into the 21st Century and expanding access to apprenticeship opportunities is now especially important as we work to build back our economy from the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Key provisions to me in this bill are the calls to strengthen equity and promote equal opportunity to participate in youth apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, and apprenticeships, especially for nontraditional apprenticeship populations. Who are they?…”