Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight the importance of career and technical education. Our education system needs to empower students to pursue the type of education that works best for them--be it an apprenticeship, a trade school, or a 4-year college. That is why I joined the bipartisan Congressional Career Technical Education Caucus, or CTE, which is committed to supporting and promoting CTE for all Americans. These programs prepare students for jobs in STEM disciplines such as healthcare, agriculture, information technology, manufacturing, the skilled trades, and many more. There are more than 9 million job openings in the United States, and many are within the industries with noted skilled labor shortages. Madam Speaker, 55 percent of the jobs in my home State of Wisconsin require CTE skills training but do not require a 4-year degree. There are men and women working downstairs in this building and in other buildings in the woodshop and in the upholstery shop. We have pipe fitters, steam fitters, and we have welders. I encourage every one of my colleagues, if they have a chance, to go down and visit these men and women that keep this building running. These are fantastic jobs, and they do not require a 4-year degree. I remind the American people that the lights in this hallowed Chamber are not on because someone got a master's in French poetry. They are on because someone went to trade school and became a master electrician. ____________________”