On September 22, the Employment and Workplace Safety Subcommittee of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing to discuss ways to improve access to and awareness of apprenticeships.
Two co-chairs of the Senate CTE Caucus, Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Rob Portman (R-OH), attended the hearing as off-committee members. Sen. Portman celebrated the CTE Caucus during the hearing, called for more senators to join, and emphasized the role that apprenticeships play in skilling and reskilling Ohio workers as the economy rapidly changes and businesses seek qualified workers to fill positions. Sen. Kaine discussed efforts to expand access to short-term Pell Grants to high-quality CTE programs, but he reiterated that these efforts are not yet finished!
In response to a question from Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN), Leah Curry of Toyota Indiana Manufacturing noted that students should not be pigeonholed into groups – those who belong in four-year degree programs and those who belong in apprenticeships and CTE programs. Curry noted that skills are for life, and they can be built upon to achieve industry-recognized credentials. Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Chairman of the Subcommittee, noted that he himself is a former small business owner and understands that apprenticeships lead to good-paying, high demand jobs.
You can watch the full hearing on the Senate HELP Committee’s website.
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