There is opportunity in the trades

During National Apprenticeship Week, we celebrate the people who work in the trades and on factory floors as well as the next generation coming up to do this important work. To my knowledge, there’s no artificial intelligence that can lay a foundation for a house or chatbot that can fix a toilet. Skilled jobs are in-demand jobs, and they will continue to be in-demand for a long time to come. So we need to invest in these careers and support the next generation of workers going into the trades, manufacturing, and other skilled professions.
That’s exactly what Republicans did last year as part of our Working Families Tax Cuts bill. In addition to delivering significant tax relief for American workers, we made substantial investments in America’s skilled workforce – investments that will grow our skilled workforce, create jobs, and help strengthen our economy by strengthening American workers.
The new Workforce Pell program, which will begin this year, will provide a hand-up to individuals participating in shorter-term training programs for in-demand jobs in fields such as construction, manufacturing, and health care. Workforce Pell grants will also be available to workers who already have undergraduate degrees, providing an option for people to learn additional skills or switch careers as well as for those getting started after high school.
The Working Families Tax Cuts also expanded 529 education savings plans and allows them to be used for vocational training, among other things. And it doubled the annual withdrawal cap to $20,000 to provide even greater flexibility for South Dakotans to use their money to pursue the education that works for them.
Alongside investments in training, the Working Families Tax Cuts also included a number of pro-worker and pro-growth tax policies. No tax on overtime will allow those working in manufacturing and in the trades, among others, to keep more of the money they earn when they work extra hours. Pro-growth policies like full expensing for new factories and factory improvements will help manufacturers grow, innovate, and importantly, create good-paying jobs. And by making the 20 percent small business deduction permanent, this bill helps Main Street businesses grow by investing in their operations and employees.
Republicans are focused on creating new opportunities for Americans to get ahead, and education is a part of that. Ensuring American workers have the opportunity and support to pursue the education that fits their dreams for the future is just one part of those efforts. The opportunities exist, and we need to support Americans pursuing them. That’s what we’ve done with the Working Families Tax Cuts and will continue to do to help more hardworking people pursue and achieve their American Dream.