Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman. Listen, I am so glad to be here today, talking about the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. As we congratulate each other on this great work--this bipartisan work and bicameral, in saying, my, what a wonderful piece of legislation--because what we are really trying to do is get people back to work.

In Webster's definition of ``education,'' the ultimate function of education is to prepare us for complete living. That is the key to this.

Do you know who the biggest winner in this program is? The hardworking American taxpayers who fund every penny of these programs--I think, sometimes, we forget about who it is that does this.

We think it actually takes place in this House. It doesn't. It takes place in houses, but it is the homes around the United States. It is these hardworking American taxpayers that deserve a much better return on their investment. It is just that simple.

If we are going to get people ready for the labor market, let's redirect those funds, and let's make sure that it is more effective, more efficient, and something that the people look at and say: Do you know what? I didn't mind putting money in those programs because there was a positive result from it.

From the standpoint of congratulating each other and patting each other on the back and saying how wonderful this is, what I really want to do is take this moment to thank the hardworking American taxpayers who fund every single penny of these programs.

I thank you all for your work on it; Mr. Chairman, I thank you.

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