This week officially marks the sixth annual National Apprenticeship Week – a week that’s dedicated to highlighting the bountiful opportunities that Americans and businesses have found through apprenticeship programs across the country. The simple truth is that apprenticeships aren’t a vogue idea that will die out over time; they’re a solidified pathway for many to hone skills, learn more about career fields, and get first-hand experience in the workforce. Republicans on the Education and Labor Committee are adamant about finding innovative ways to expand access to these important opportunities, and in the end, the American people stand to benefit tremendously.

Thanks to President Trump, and the Department of Labor, $80 million has been awarded across 42 states and territories to help Americans gain fundamental, occupational skills. What’s more, over 800,000 Americans have already joined apprenticeship programs and that number stands to grow considerably during the latter part of this year and into next year. To strengthen our competitiveness in today’s global economy, we must look at the nexus between education and the American workforce more closely than ever.

Apprenticeships offer one of the strongest solutions to strengthen the American workforce and close our nation’s skills gap. In recent years we’ve seen interest for apprenticeships surge as more small businesses and other employers are recognizing the critical role they play in the development of a skilled, 21st century workforce.

For more information on National Apprenticeship Week and opportunities to become engaged, click here.

Honoring Veterans

When you take a moment to reflect on the meaning of Veterans Day, you can’t help but be in awe of the amazing men and women who choose to serve in the armed services, knowing full well the sacrifices they may make. But still, they answer the call to serve, and they do so without hesitation or doubt. They do so because of America’s brilliance, and the freedoms that we espouse. They answer that call because America is worth defending. Her ideals. Her people. Her way of life. That’s what’s at stake.

Members of the armed forces are not serving for themselves; they’re doing so because they love America. However, one day is not enough to pay tribute to these men and women. We must do so every day. The nation owes our military personnel and veterans a profound debt of gratitude and ensuring that debt is properly repaid will always be one of my top priorities in Congress.

To our veterans, and those who are currently in uniform: thank you for defending our country and thank you for the innumerable sacrifices you have made so that the America remains the most prosperous and free nation in the world.

Guidance From The NC Wildlife Commission

The North Carolina Wildlife Commission recently released guidance on how to deal with the newest influx of coyote sightings. But why is this important? An annual peak in overall coyote sightings and activity occurs in North Carolina in both October and November every year. Though they’re not a direct threat to humans, there are a few precautions, outlined by the NC Wildlife Commission, that you can take to keep them away from your homes and neighborhoods:

• Feed pets indoors or remove all food when a pet is finished eating outside;

• Store food waste in secure containers with tight-fitting lids;

• And, keep birdseed off the ground around feeders, or attract birds with seed-bearing wildflowers in lieu of feeders

Sincerely,