National Apprenticeship Week

Floor Speech

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Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week and to highlight the importance of registered apprenticeships in building a diverse and talented workforce, expanding economic opportunity, and growing a more inclusive and resilient economy.

Registered apprenticeships allow workers to learn and earn both a living wage and a nationally recognized credential within their industry of choice.

Workers who go through apprenticeships earn an average starting salary of $70,000 a year, a salary that provides them with social mobility and economic security.

This Congress, we have passed historic legislation to fix our roads, bridges, ports, and infrastructure; to shore up domestic semiconductor manufacturing; and to combat climate change. The laws we pass create a need for thousands of well-prepared and fairly compensated workers.

Mr. Speaker, during this year's National Apprenticeship Week, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in expanding the opportunity to get more people, including more women and people of color, on the path to a good job by investing in registered apprenticeships.

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