[Page H8549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              FUND THE NEXT GENERATION OF SKILLED WORKERS

  (Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, in Rhode Island and across the country, 
the manufacturing industry employs Americans in high-paying, high-
skilled jobs while driving innovation and bolstering our national 
defense.
  Unfortunately, manufacturers in my home State have informed me that 
they can't find enough qualified candidates to fill job openings, and 
their current workforce is aging. This is something that is facing 
manufacturers, I know, across the country.
  To address this challenge, I have been a strong advocate for career 
and technical education, and yesterday, I introduced the Retain 
Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence Act.
  This bill, which is a companion to my good friend Senator Sheldon 
Whitehouse's bill in the Senate, will help manufacturers train new 
workers by providing funds to retain retiring employees long enough to 
train their replacements.
  Our Nation's manufacturers are a cornerstone of our economy, and I am 
proud to introduce this bill during Manufacturing Month to build the 
next generation of skilled workers.

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