Op-Eds

The debate in Congress and at town hall meetings across the country is over how best to find new, real-world solutions that will again make America competitive in the global economy.

The U.S. must find ways to be competitive again across every sector of our economy, especially manufacturing, if we are to create more jobs. Investing in government programs to service narrow special interests isn’t the way to help the millions of people who have lost their jobs.

In December, I introduced legislation to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act, which provides federal investment in job training, adult education, and vocational rehabilitation services.

The bill will eliminate duplication, strengthen coordinating infrastructure, improve accountability, enhance the role of employers, and increase state and local flexibility to better serve our nation’s workers. Together, these reforms will ensure the nation’s workforce development system can respond quickly and effectively to the changing needs of job seekers and those in need of training.

There has never been a more critical time to ensure our workforce has the opportunity to find new jobs or receive additional training.

I come from a small business, manufacturing background and I have seen firsthand that unemployed workers who receive additional training for new skills obtain a higher-paying job, radically transforming their way of life.

Unemployed Americans need jobs. Washington must do three fundamental things to help job creation: rein in skyrocketing deficit spending that discourages investment and threatens to bankrupt our nation; allow individuals and businesses to keep more of their hard-earned tax dollars; and finally, get out of the way and let American entrepreneurial genius lead the way to prosperity.

Our country was built on the entrepreneurial spirit. We must help create a path and environment for individuals who want to work and provide for their families. That is why I support reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act.

In addition, we should ensure our nation’s education system is adequately preparing students for a global economy, including a continued focus on STEM education and additional vocational opportunities.

We are facing some of the toughest economic challenges in recent memory. Americans are hardworking and driven individuals. We can and must do better in order to restore our nation’s economy.

Washington must end its path toward higher taxation and greater debt. The further down this path we go, the harder it will be for us to pass along a country to our children that is greater than the one we were given by our parents.