Education

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As a former school board president and a proud father of two, Joe has a deep appreciation for educators and the professionals who help to educate and prepare our children for bright futures. Joe also knows that one of the greatest lessons we can take away from the recent economic downturn is the need to ensure that our children are receiving an education that will prepare them to enter an increasingly global and competitive economy. From the earliest days of K-12 through job training and higher education, Joe thinks our nation’s schools and educators must be well-positioned to educate the next-generation workforce.

College Affordability

A generation ago, a high school diploma was often enough to secure a career that could support a family and help keep that family in the middle class. Today, a college degree or advanced technical training has become even more important in achieving the goal of economic security. Unfortunately, rising tuition costs can easily create a barrier to entry for many aspiring students, blocking job opportunities and growth. Joe has worked during his time in Congress to provide relief for families wishing to send their children to college. By supporting Pell Grants and the G.I. Bill, Joe has worked and will continue to work to ensure that those who wish to attend a college or university have resources available to help them afford it, especially those who have served our country bravely.

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Closing the Skills Gap

Through his travels across Indiana, Joe has spoken with employers, educators, workers, and students about the existing “skills gap” between the skills job seekers have and skills employers need to fill the positions available right now. It is estimated that close to 600,000 manufacturing jobs are currently going unfilled across the country because employers cannot find workers with the skills to fill them. Joe looks forward to the day when instead of workers competing for the same job, jobs compete for the same worker, but in the meantime, he’s working to help close this gap.

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That is why Joe helped introduce the bipartisan AMERICA Works Act. This bill would modify federal training programs to place a priority on programs and certifications demanded by today’s industries. The improvements made in this bill would benefit both workers and employers, as workers would know that the time they spend training is more likely to lead to employment in a well-paying job, and employers would be more likely to hire people whom they know have the training they need to be productive on day one.

Further, Joe introduced the Skills Gap Strategy Act with Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV), which would direct the Secretary of Labor to develop a strategy to help close the “skills gap” by increasing on-the-job training and apprenticeship opportunities. It would encourage the Department of Labor to develop plans in consultation with the Departments of Commerce and Education to increase employer participation in education and workforce training.  Recognizing current budgetary constraints, the bill asks the Department of Labor to focus on solutions that utilize existing resources, programs, and personnel. Closing the skills gap must be an employer-driven effort, but the federal government can help.

Joe wants every Hoosier who wants a job to have a job, and through the AMERICA Works Act and the Skills Gap Strategy Act, many more hard-working Hoosiers would have the opportunity to gain the skills employers need for jobs available now.  

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