National Apprenticeship Week

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my good friend, co-chair of the Career and Technical Education Caucus, Mr. Langevin from Rhode Island, for his leadership and his remarks. I also rise in recognition of National Apprenticeship Week, which runs through this Saturday.

Training and support for those looking to enter vocational fields is something that is very important to me, as co-chairman of the bipartisan Career and Technical Education Caucus. It is essential that we give our workers the training and resources that they need to secure family-supporting jobs.

Apprenticeships are a vital part of this effort to help workers prepare for the jobs of tomorrow, along with the in-demand positions that are currently going unfilled. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the industries which rely on apprenticeship training are in demand, including a huge need for certified electricians, construction workers, and those in the health technology fields. More than 430,000 Americans are currently participating in an apprenticeship program, gaining the knowledge to rise to the demands of today's workforce.

Mr. Speaker, these programs give workers hands-on experience and lead to much higher lifetime earnings for those that participate.

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