Supporting Small Business and Career and Technical Education Act of 2022

Floor Speech

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Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7664, the Supporting Small Business and Career and Technical Education Act. This important piece of legislation will encourage younger generations to pursue CTE careers, knowing they will have support on the back end to help find a job.

Costly 4-year degrees create burdensome financial obligations and saddle students with decades of debt. It is important individuals have alternatives, such as CTE programs, when wanting to find meaningful careers at a fraction of the cost.

Skilled labor has become a high-demand market, and our country is in need of more plumbers, electricians, welders, and other skilled professionals who are the lifeblood of our economy. This growing skills gap is hurting small businesses across the country.

My bill will fill that void and connect graduates to high-demand occupations and opportunities that earn good wages and will help them provide for their family. Additionally, this bill provides valuable assistance so CTE graduates can translate their skills over to starting their own small business and help build long-term careers and employ more people.

I have been a small business owner for over 50 years, and I can tell you that leading sales meetings, signing the fronts of checks, and giving other people the opportunity to make a living is one of the most rewarding things, if not the most rewarding, I have ever done.

The American Dream is built on innovation and entrepreneurship, and this only continues when the next generation is willing to better themselves, be empowered to take risks, and understand that risk-reward is the dream.

It is our responsibility to unlock the potential of our next generation so we can keep America the greatest nation in the world and keep it strong.

I thank Chairwoman Velazquez and Ranking Member Luetkemeyer for helping to get this bill to the floor. I urge all my colleagues to vote in support of H.R. 7664.

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Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to close.

Madam Speaker, small businesses and the American worker are the backbone of our economy. By empowering the SBA's resource partners, including small business development centers and women's business centers, to engage with the career and technical education community, we will replenish our skilled workforce and grow our economy.

Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 7664, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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