Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Page H4893]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RESTORE, REBUILD, RENEW
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, our country has
undoubtably been rocked by coronavirus. The pandemic has put a strain
on our physical, mental, and financial health.
As time has passed, it has been easy to focus on the negative;
however, I am encouraged by the work I have seen from my House
Republican colleagues.
Instead of playing partisan politics, I have seen a commitment to
America. I have seen a concerted effort to renew the American Dream,
restore our way of life, and rebuild the greatest economy ever.
America is worth fighting for, and while the pandemic is currently at
the forefront of our minds, there is a bright future ahead of us all.
We will rise from this crisis thanks to the resiliency, the grit, and
the determination of the American people.
Renewing the American Dream can mean a lot of different things. To
me, it starts with two things: broadband connectivity and a capable,
trained workforce.
In 21st century America, reliable connectivity is something many of
us take for granted. Just like flipping the switch to turn on your
lights, we have come to expect reliable, fast, uninterrupted access to
the internet.
Still, many communities across the country don't have reliable
broadband connectivity, particularly in rural America.
In time, the coronavirus will be a thing of the past, but our
national need for reliable broadband connectivity is not going
anywhere. Connectivity impacts every aspect of our lives: commerce,
education, healthcare, precision agriculture, and more. We can and must
invest in this critical infrastructure.
We must also invest in career and technical education opportunities.
Just prior to the pandemic, there were nearly 7 million job openings
across the country. Contrasting that figure with the potential of our
Nation's learners, whether they are entering the workforce for the
first time, learning a new skill, or reentering the workforce after
some time away, there is an obvious disconnect. This is often referred
to as the ``skills gap,'' and CTE is a proven way to bridge this
divide.
A one-size-fits-all approach to education is not an effective way to
prepare students for the workforce, and CTE should not be viewed as
plan B. It is a valuable educational option that empowers learners of
all ages to take control of their personal and their professional
futures.
Restoring our way of life includes defeating this virus and keeping
America healthy. Thanks to President Trump's leadership, Operation Warp
Speed has placed us light-years ahead in researching, developing, and,
soon, administering a coronavirus vaccine. The President has unleashed
the power of the private sector to partner with the Department of
Health and Human Services, as well as the Department of Defense, to
help eradicate the virus.
Prior to the pandemic, we had built the greatest economy this country
has ever seen, and we will rebuild it. We have done it once, and we can
do it again with America-first trade policies and by strengthening our
supply chain--that means a strong manufacturing sector that helps
America stay competitive--and supporting legislation that strengthens
the supply chain and bolsters our Nation's potential for a prosperous
future by keeping good-paying, family-sustaining jobs right here at
home.
Now I am confident that we can and will defeat this virus and renew
the American Dream, restore our way of life, and rebuild our economy.
____________________
