New Dems Host Workforce Roundtable in Gary, IN on Seventh Stop of the On the Road Tour
Today, New Dem Members completed the seventh stop on the New Dems on the Road Tour, an initiative to get New Dem Members out of DC to hear from American workers, businesses, industry experts, nongovernmental organizations and local leaders about how to improve policy in Washington.
New Dem Workforce and Education Working Group Chair Frank Mrvan (IN-01) hosted Vice Chair for Policy Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) for a roundtable discussion in Gary, IN. Reps. Mrvan and Budzinski were joined by representatives of organized labor, higher education institutions, and local nonprofits at the roundtable to discuss the federal government’s role in strengthening the workforce through education and training initiatives.
“Thank you to Rep. Budzinski, all of our colleagues in the New Democrat Coalition, and all of the participants today for this discussion on how we can continue to collaborate together to create more work and wealth in Northwest Indiana and communities across our country,” said Working Group Chair Frank Mrvan. “Northwest Indiana is a community of people who work hard to get ahead, and I am grateful that this conversation can focus on the invaluable contributions from labor unions and their apprenticeship programs, nonprofits with dedicated job training resources, and technical education programs offered at high schools and institutions of higher education. This region’s commitment to education and training sends a clear message that Northwest Indiana is not only open for business, but we have the skilled workforce to get the job done.”
"I was excited to join Congressman Mrvan for our seventh New Dems on the Road stop to talk about a workforce development agenda that meets the demands of the 21st century economy,” said Vice Chair for Policy Nikki Budzinski. “As a trade unionist, I know that a traditional four-year degree is far from the only path to a successful career – in fact, programs like registered apprenticeships offer incredible opportunities for folks to learn in-demand skills and get connected with good-paying jobs. It was great to hear from union leaders, community colleges, and local nonprofits about the work they’re doing in Indiana to expand access to these job training programs, and I look forward to bringing the insights from this conversation back to Washington, DC.”
Roundtable attendees discussed methods to improve and expand apprenticeship and job training opportunities, access to affordable education, and the role of federal assistance in strengthening workforce development programs. Takeaways from the roundtable will inform an ongoing effort by the Workforce & Education Working Group to update the New Dems’ Jobs Action Plan, which was originally released last year and has informed the Coalition’s work in the 119th Congress.
Background
Through New Dems on the Road, New Dem Members are holding conversations across the country to hear from the American people, with each meeting organized under the policy goals of one of the Coalition’s nine Working Groups. New Dems are meeting with local leaders, stakeholders, small business owners, industry experts, and more to hear about the cost of President Trump’s chaos and what New Dems can do to fight back and make progress on the issues that really matter to the American people.
The sixth New Dems on the Road event was held on July 19th in Santa Barbara, CA where New Dem Vice Chair for Outreach Salud Carbajal (CA-24) hosted Top House Agriculture Committee Democrat and New Dem Angie Craig (MN-02) in Santa Barbara, CA for a roundtable discussion on wildfire preparedness and prevention with local government officials, first responders, wildfire experts, and nonprofit groups.
The fifth event was held on July 11th in Garner, NC, where New Dem Clean Energy Deployment Task Force Chair Deborah Ross (NC-02) hosted New Dem Member Nikema Williams (GA-05) and Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy for a roundtable discussion about the impacts of Congressional Republicans’ Big, Ugly Bill on the clean energy economy.
The fourth event was held on June 23rd in Frederick County, MD, where New Dem Rural Broadband Task Force Chair April McClain Delaney (MD-06) hosted Vice Chair for Policy Nikki Budinski in Frederick County, Maryland to tour a local broadband construction site and hold a roundtable discussion on rural broadband.
The third event was held on May 22nd in Wilmington, DE, where New Dem Care Economy Task Force Chair Sarah McBride (DE-AL) hosted House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05) and Economic Growth & Cost of Living Working Group Chair Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) in her district for a care economy roundtable discussion with medical professionals, advocates, non-profit leaders, labor representatives, and care providers.
The second event was held on May 9th in Metro East, IL, where Vice Chair Nikki Budzinski hosted Environment, Climate, & Clean Energy Working Group Chair Scott Peters (CA-50) and Rep. Wesley Bell (MO-01) for a clean energy roundtable discussion with business owners, industry and union representatives, academic researchers, and utility service providers.
The first event was held on April 23rd in Phoenix, AZ, where New Dem Immigration and Border Security Working Group Members Reps. Greg Stanton (AZ-04) and Lou Correa (CA-46) held an immigration roundtable discussion with industry and union representatives, members of the Arizona business community, and DACA recipients.
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