House Accepts Bipartisan Amendment To Increase Women In Apprenticeships

Source: House Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL, 8th)

Washington, D.C. - September 12, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Congresswomen Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) announced that the House has passed their bipartisan amendment to increase the number of women in apprenticeships and improve skills training.

The lawmakers, all members of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, are longtime supporters of increasing opportunities for women as a step to help close the skills gap. The amendment increases funding for Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) grants.

“In my home state of Oregon, I have seen how apprenticeships can help women enter the building trades and lead to success in the field,” said Congresswoman Bonamici. “Our bipartisan amendment will increase funding for the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grants, which will help more employers and organizations train, place, and retain women in apprenticeships and good-paying jobs. Because of this funding, tradeswomen in Oregon will have additional support and assistance getting the skills they need to advance their careers.”

“Apprenticeships are valuable programs that provide career opportunities in high paying technical fields, and this added funding will help more women find careers in advanced manufacturing, transportation or construction,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “By delivering this funding to programs in our district and across the country, we can help support women entering these crucial fields and support important apprenticeship programs that train our workers. I thank Congresswoman Bonamici for her leadership on this issue.”

“Apprenticeships play a vital role in our economy through strengthening the middle class and it’s essential that we expand these opportunities to more women,” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. “By increasing funding for Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grants, we can help more women develop the in-demand skills they need for good-paying, family-sustaining jobs.”