[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 185 (Wednesday, December 10, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2372]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING RICHMONDBUILD

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                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 10, 2008

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor 
RichmondBUILD from Richmond, CA, in my congressional district, a 
program that is leading the national trend toward green-collar jobs 
while simultaneously enriching the lives of students by giving them an 
alternative to drugs and violence. The Pre-Apprenticeship Construction 
Skills & Solar Installation Training program, run by RichmondBUILD, 
today received the 2008 FBI Director's Community Leadership Award, 
which recognizes achievements in the area of violence, drug prevention, 
and education.
  With programs like RichmondBUILD, we can help train the next 
generation of Americans so that they can succeed in green-collar jobs--
jobs that provide a secure future in the renewable energy and energy 
efficiency fields.
  My recent visit with the RichmondBUILD students showed me the 
students' pure excitement in learning the new skills that will move 
them forward in their careers. Not only does RichmondBUILD help to stem 
the use of violence and drugs in our community, the program gives 
students the opportunity and tools to succeed in a new economy.
  I invite my colleagues to learn more about RichmondBUILD, which has 
brought together community organizations, municipalities, and local 
industry and labor groups to provide such a successful green-collar job 
training program.
  What Richmond has built with this public/private partnership is a 
model for cities around the country, and I commend the program's staff 
and its students for all of their hard work. I am proud to represent a 
community that includes programs like RichmondBUILD.

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