Restore, Rebuild, Renew

Floor Speech

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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.

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