mesut/congress_speeches huggingface dataset:
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2020
Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2020-11-19

I rise in support of my amendment with Representative Ayanna Pressley. This amendment works to ensure that people with disabilities are able to access registered apprenticeships on an equal basis with their nondisabled peers. prgtoken Three cogent facts: The workforce participation rate for people with disabilities is still less than one-third that of nondisabled peers; number two, among people with disabilities actively seeking work, the unemployment rate is twice that of nondisabled workers; and number three, people with disabilities are less likely to have meaningful access to participate in apprenticeship programs. prgtoken This amendment ensures that individuals with disabilities will be able to access apprenticeship programs that will help them develop the skills and build a work history that will open doors to their future. prgtoken This can also help employers understand the value of this workforce and learn from experience that accommodating a disabled employee is usually a simple, inexpensive process that benefits the employee, the employer, and, ultimately, all of us who benefit from having an engaged and diverse workforce. prgtoken I thank Representative Susan Davis for this bill and the leadership of our chairman, Bobby Scott.
TRIBUTE TO HONOR THE LIFE OF THE HONORABLE PHILIP RANDOLPH LEE, M.D.
Anna G. Eshoo (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-11-19

. Madam , I rise today to honor a highly distinguished American, Dr. Philip Randolph Lee, who was born in Palo Alto, California, and died in New York City on October 27, 2020, at the age of 96. prgtoken Dr. Philip Lee was the son of Dorothy Womack Lee and Peter Van Arsdale Lee, a physician who founded what is today, the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Dr. Lee, his three brothers and sister followed in their father's footsteps, all becoming highly regarded physicians. His nephew Peter Lee, serves as the distinguished and highly effective Executive Director of California's health benefit exchange, Covered California. Medicine, healthcare and public service run deep in the Lee family. prgtoken Dr. Lee received his undergraduate and medical degrees at Stanford University. He earned fellowships at the Mayo Clinic and New York University; and a Masters of Science degree from the University of Minnesota. He was a professor at both Stanford and UCSF, and he served our country on active duty and as a member of the United States Naval Reserve from 1943 to 1951, including during the Inchon Invasion in Korea. prgtoken Dr. Lee served our nation as Director of Health Services in the Office of Technical Cooperation and Research, part of the Department of State's Agency for International Development, from 1963 to 1965. He was a strong advocate for Medicare, and for this he was vilified by the AMA and others as a socialist. prgtoken He served as Assistant Secretary for Health and Scientific Affairs in the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare from 1965 to 1969. During this time, he worked directly with President Johnson and helped implement the newly passed Medicare program, integrating many of the hospitals in our country as mandated by the Medicare legislation. prgtoken From 1969 to 1972, Dr. Lee was UCSF's third Chancellor, and founded what became the Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies. He worked closely with UCSF's Black Caucus to end unequal pay and other discriminatory practices. prgtoken Dr. Lee was Chairman of the Physician Payment Review Commission in Congress from 1986 to 1993 and then served in the Clinton administration as Assistant Secretary for Health in the Department of Health and Human Services, from 1993 to 1997. prgtoken Dr. Lee had a profound impact on our country and its healthcare system. He was a friend and beloved mentor to me and hundreds of others, and a wise and compassionate man. He had a sharp wit, a great laugh, and always a twinkle in his bright blue eyes. He will be missed by everyone who had the good fortune to know him, and he will be honored for generations to come for the enormous influence he had on the delivery of medicine in the United States. prgtoken Madam , I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring the life and work of Philip Randolph Lee, and in extending our condolences to his wife, Dr. Roz Diane Lasker, and his entire family. He was as
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2020
Derek Kilmer (Democrat, WA) \u2014 2020-11-19

I rise today in support of this package of en bloc amendments, which includes a bipartisan amendment I offered along with my good friend and colleague from Pennsylvania, Representative Fitzpatrick, to expand access to computer science youth apprenticeship programs that are critical to the 21st century workforce. prgtoken We know education is the door to economic opportunities, and one of the most American and foundational paths to high-quality, work-based learning and education are apprenticeship programs. prgtoken In today's changing economy, it is important to continue to find ways to prepare our kids for the jobs of the future: jobs in advanced manufacturing, healthcare, technology, green jobs, and, yes, computer science. prgtoken According to Code.org, across 24 States, only 35 percent of high schools in the U.S. teach computer science. That same study found that Black and Hispanic students, students receiving free and reduced lunch, and students from rural areas are less likely to attend a school that provides access to this critical subject. prgtoken Not everyone is going to have a tech-related job, but we know that there is a growing demand--a demand that we are struggling to meet--for students able to fill these in-demand jobs and for equipping workers with advanced computer science skills. prgtoken To prepare students to be successful and innovative in the workforce, the Federal Government needs to expand computer science education and pathways to more students. That is why my amendment would ensure that computer science youth apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and apprenticeship programs are prioritized.
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2020
Suzanne Bonamici (Democrat, OR) \u2014 2020-11-19

I rise in support of H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act. prgtoken In my home state of Oregon and around the country, Registered Apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, and youth apprenticeships are helping workers, particularly those with barriers to employment, access meaningful employment. This is even more important at a time when hundreds of thousands of people are out of a job because of the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, significant sectors of our economy are on the brink of transformation as the future of work evolves. prgtoken Recently I held a virtual roundtable discussion with apprentices, pre-apprentices, and union leaders from across Northwest Oregon. I heard from apprentices like Melissa who said that joining the Boilermakers Local 242 apprenticeship was a ``life-changing decision.'' And Lacy who said, ``I don't know where I would be or what I would be doing'' without her apprenticeship with Laborers Local 737, because it ``made it possible to pay my bills and feed my kid.'' By supporting the National Apprenticeship Act, we can strengthen investments in Registered Apprenticeships and help workers like Melissa and Lacy gain the skills and support services they need to be able to provide for themselves and their families. prgtoken Last month, I visited with apprentices at IBEW Local 48 in Portland, Oregon. Through a partnership with the National Electrical Contractors Association, IBEW's electrical apprenticeship program demonstrates how our transition to a clean energy economy provides an extraordinary opportunity to create good-paying jobs. Earlier this year, I joined my colleagues on the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis in releasing a bold, comprehensive, science-based Climate Action Plan, which emphasizes the need to reauthorize the National Apprenticeship Act as part of supporting the increasing demand for skilled workers in the clean energy sector. Efforts at the NECA/IBEW Local 48 Electrical Apprenticeship Training Program provide an excellent example of the need to protect and strengthen our Registered Apprenticeship system. prgtoken Industry partnerships can be one helpful tool in scaling up Registered Apprenticeships. For example, the Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center, or OMIC, is bringing together industry leaders with educational institutions such as Oregon Institute of Technology, Oregon State University, Portland State University, and Portland Community College to develop a Registered Apprenticeship program in advanced manufacturing. My bipartisan Promoting Apprenticeships through Regional Training Networks for Employers' Required Skills Act is modeled on the efforts at OMIC to help small and medium sized businesses develop Registered Apprenticeships. The bill supports industry partnerships that bring together employers, education, training, labor, and community-based organizations to create paid, on-the-job training programs t
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2020
Susan Wild (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2020-11-19

I rise in support of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020. prgtoken COVID-19 has exposed shortcomings in our workforce infrastructure, but those shortcomings are the result of a long history of making only marginal investments in our national apprenticeship model. It seems we are always reacting to crisis rather than planning in advance. prgtoken In response to the Great Recession of 2008, Congress invested significant funding in our workforce systems. In this Congress, we made investments through the CARES Act, but only as this COVID crisis spiraled. prgtoken It should not take a recession or a pandemic to invest in workers in communities like mine. Lehigh, Northampton, and Monroe Counties are replete with potential, but it is critical that we invest in times of prosperity, too. For every dollar invested in our registered apprenticeship program, we see a return of $28 in benefits, but the U.S. invests just $195 in public money per apprentice while a system like Canada spends $1,300 per apprentice. prgtoken This bill would reset our approach. It makes long-term investments regardless of our economic fortunes or misfortunes. It provides grants for employers to incentivize the hiring of apprentices. At the same time, it provides workers with the opportunity to earn while they learn and obtain portable credentials without incurring significant debt. This bill emphasizes the importance of apprenticeship programs' high- need social service occupations, like apprenticeship programs for early childhood educators, something Congressman Guthrie and I have sought to do with our Early Educators Apprenticeship Act. prgtoken , I thank my friend, Representative Susan Davis, for her leadership on this bill, and I urge a ``yes'' vote.
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2020
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2020-11-19

. Then I would like to emphasize real-life activity that comes about through the apprenticeship: HCC apprenticeship students help build a new hospital. prgtoken , I don't think we are doing anything better today and this week by providing for $3.5 billion in apprenticeship programs and $10.6 billion in return to the United States. I ask my colleagues to support this legislation and put Americans back to work. prgtoken , as a senior member of the Committees on the Judiciary, on Homeland Security, on the Budget, and as a cosponsor, I rise in strong support of H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, which invests more than $3.5 billion over 5 years in expanding opportunities and access to Registered Apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeships. prgtoken and good friend, Congresswoman Susan Davis of California and Chairman Bobby Scott for introducing this important legislation that has the potential to yield $10.6 billion in net benefits to U.S. taxpayers in the form of increased workers' productivity and deceased spending on public-assistance programs and unemployment insurance and which bring America's investments in apprenticeship more in line with countries around the world. prgtoken , the Registered Apprenticeship (RAs) system is America's most successful federally authorized workforce development program. prgtoken According to the Department of Labor, 94 percent of people who complete RAs are employed upon completion, earning an average starting wage of above $7,000 annually. prgtoken Yet, according to the most recent data, only 0.3 percent of the overall workforce in America have completed an apprenticeship. prgtoken , this legislation could not be more timely because during a time of record unemployment, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 invests more than $3.5 billion over 5 years in expanding opportunities and access to Registered Apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeships. prgtoken This legislation also creates an additional 1 million new apprenticeship opportunities on top of the current expected growth of the apprenticeship system, an investment that not only will pay off for workers and employers, but also benefit the taxpayers. prgtoken , this legislation is critical to expanding the nation's workforce development system during our country's deepest economic downturn since the Great Depression. prgtoken Specifically, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 Authorizes $400 million for fiscal year (FY) 2021, increasing $100 million annually to $800 million for FY 2025, to support the creation or expansion of registered apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships and pre- apprenticeships programs, including in non-traditional apprenticeship occupations and for nontraditional populations. prgtoken This funding will also attract and encourage employer participation and recruitment for individuals with barriers to employment, including in
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2020
Marcy Kaptur (Democrat, OH) \u2014 2020-11-19

I rise in strong support of H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, and thank the gentleman for his enormous leadership, as well as Chairwoman Susan Davis. prgtoken This legislation takes real meaningful steps to increase access to registered apprenticeships, one of the most successful workforce development programs we have ever had in our country, where 94 percent of people who complete them actually earn an average salary of over $70,000 a year. prgtoken As Representative of the cities of Toledo, Lorain, and Cleveland, all of which boast a strong industrial and automotive heritage, it is difficult to overemphasize the value that these apprenticeships have for young people and adults starting careers in the industrial and automotive trades. prgtoken Whether it is the expertise it takes to rebuild an engine or build it to begin with, replace a battery in a hybrid vehicle or TIG weld the rear quarter of an old Wagoneer, there will always be a market for skilled craftspeople who can repair or restore modern and classic vehicles. It is these curious minds and hands that are America's inventors of the future for new power systems and new engines. prgtoken This legislation is estimated to create over 1 million apprenticeship opportunities over the next 5 years and will strengthen our workforce, ensuring businesses large and small can recruit the skilled workers they need. prgtoken I include in the Record a letter from the National Task Force on Tradeswomen's Issues that supports this legislation. National Task Force on Tradeswomen's Issues, November 18, 2020. Re H.R. 8294 Letter of Support, NAA Reauthorization. To: Committee on Education and Labor Chairperson Robert C. ``Bobby'' Scott Attention: Katherine McClelland. The National Taskforce on Tradeswomen's Issues (TWTF) is a coalition of tradeswomen organizations, advocates, allies and individual tradeswomen. TWTF promotes public policies and best practices towards equity in apprenticeship, training, workforce development, career and technical education, and in workplace experience in construction and other nontraditional occupations for women. Women make up close to 50% of the nation's workforce. Women occupy 2/3's of the minimum wage jobs in this country. Yet, women comprise only 7% of our nation's apprenticeship programs. Apprenticeship is a critical component of our efforts to increase economic opportunity for women, particularly women of color, in blue- collar occupations. TWTF very much appreciates the interest of the House of Representatives Education & Labor Committee and its Higher Education & Workforce Investment Subcommittee in reauthorizing the National Apprenticeship Act in a way that best pro
ADDING COUNTIES TO THE SOUTHWEST BORDER REGIONAL COMMISSION
TJ Cox (Democrat, CA) \u2014 2020-11-19

. Madam , I rise today to introduce a bill that would add the counties in my Congressional District--Fresno, Kern, Kings, and Tulare--to the Southwest Border Regional Commission. prgtoken Modeled after the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Southwest Border Regional Commission, or SBRC, was established to promote economic growth to help distressed regions that have historically been left behind attain socioeconomic parity with the rest of the Nation. prgtoken The Central Valley is one such region plagued by economic disparities, yet it is not part of any Federal regional commission. This must change. That is why I am here. prgtoken My district continues to be in deep need of economic development and Federal investment. Unemployment in the region is consistently higher, and education attainment consistently lower than any other region in California. prgtoken The need for more Federal investment is critical now more than ever because of the COVID-19 pandemic and recession. Adding these counties and funding the SBRC will jump-start communities and small businesses, helping America ``Build Back Better'' while generating new economic opportunities for hardworking people who are waiting for their chance of achieving the America Dream.
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2020
Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democrat, VA) \u2014 2020-11-19

pursuant to House Resolution 1224, I call up the bill (H.R. 8294) to amend the National Apprenticeship Act and expand the national apprenticeship system to include apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeship registered under such Act, to promote the furtherance of labor standards necessary to safeguard the welfare of apprentices, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.
TRIBUTE TO MARK ANTHONY BROWN
Elissa Slotkin (Democrat, MI) \u2014 2020-11-19

I rise today to remember a lifelong servant of the Lansing community, Mr. Mark Anthony Brown, who passed away November 9. I had the honor of knowing him and to have learned much from him. prgtoken Born and raised in Lansing, and devoted to Lansing until his final days, he lived with relentless desire to improve himself and those around him. He was an integral part of many Lansing organizations, from the local branch of the NAACP to the Mayor's Diversity Inclusion Advisory Board. In every endeavor, he was dedicated to making sure that underrepresented voices were heard when decisions were made. prgtoken Mr. Brown was a man who was loved deeply. Guided by faith, with his family as his north star, he never stopped working for his community. Above all, Mr. Brown believed in the power of genuine connections across race, creed, background, and belief. He was a unifier who brought people together to better Lansing, and I will be forever grateful to him. prgtoken Today, I am thinking of those closest to him: His mother, his brothers and sisters, his aunts and uncles, and his four children. prgtoken I speak these words today so that his legacy is forever remembered in the permanent Record of the people's House, letting all who read it know: Mark Brown made a difference.
RECOGNIZING TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
Mary Gay Scanlon (Democrat, PA) \u2014 2020-11-19

. Madam , today, I rise to recognize Transgender Day of Remembrance and honor the memories of far too many transgender or gender-nonconforming people, at least 36 of whom were lost this year to fatal violence, the majority of whom were Black and Latinx transgender women. prgtoken I want to take a moment to lift up the names and stories of a few of the Black transgender women who faced violence this year in the city of Philadelphia to honor their memory, because when we fail to acknowledge this issue, we cannot begin to address it. prgtoken Dominique ``Rem'mie'' Fells was murdered on July 9. A friend described her as a beautiful and unique soul. We are heartened by the fact that an arrest in her murder has finally occurred. prgtoken Tracy ``Mia'' Green was murdered on September 28. Her friends and family shared how ``her smile was so perfect and so contagious'' and how she always made people laugh. prgtoken Kendall Stephens was brutally attacked in her own home on August 24. As she was beaten, her attackers yelled transphobic slurs and said they would ``come back to finish the job.'' Thankfully, Kendall survived the assault and dedicates her work to healing the transgender community in Philadelphia. prgtoken This violence is motivated by anti-transgender bigotry, and the intersections of employment, housing, and other forms of discrimination put too many transgender people, particularly transgender women of color, at risk of violence. prgtoken This Transgender Day of Remembrance, we honor those lost, honor their survivors. As an ally, I rededicate myself to working for change to protect this community from discrimination and violence.
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP ACT OF 2020
Lori Trahan (Democrat, MA) \u2014 2020-11-19

I rise to offer my strong support for the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020. prgtoken Especially I would like to commend the bill's author, my friend, Representative Susan Davis. It is due to her steadfast and visionary leadership on the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee that we are here today advancing this important and timely legislation. This bill is an apt capstone on her remarkable legacy. prgtoken Registered apprenticeships are a tried and true system for preparing our workforce for stable jobs that provide family sustaining wages and benefits. I have seen firsthand how unions have put this tool to excellent use over the years. In fact, just last year I visited the Laborers' training facility in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, where young apprentices are training for careers in construction. The Laborers recognize the importance of this bill, which is why they have endorsed it and urged its passage. prgtoken , I include in the Record a letter. LiUNA!, Washington, DC, November 18, 2020. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative: I write on behalf of the 500,000 hardworking men and women of the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA) to ask you to vote for H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, when it comes to the House floor for a vote this week. LIUNA is proud to support this important bill to keep our union apprenticeship programs strong. Registered Apprenticeship Programs, like the ones that LIUNA has had for decades, help workers earn while they learn. H.R. 8294 invests more than $3.5 billion over five (5) years in expanding opportunities and access to Registered Apprenticeship Programs and Preapprenticeship Programs, among others. The bill creates nearly a million new apprenticeship opportunities on top of the current expected growth of the apprenticeship system. It would also yield $10.6 billion in net benefits to U.S. taxpayers in the form of increased workers productivity and decreased spending on public assistance programs and unemployment insurance. The rigorous standards in the bill ensure that the programs that apprentices will work in will be top-quality. At a time when our nation's infrastructure needs are so great, H.R. 8294 will ensure that we continue to train the best workforce in the world. Again, I ask that you vote in favor of this important bill on the House floor. With kind regards, I am. Sincerely yours, Terry O'Sullivan, General President.