[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 164 (Thursday, October 17, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1299]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CALLING ATTENTION TO AN IMPRESSIVE PROGRAM THAT ORIGINATED IN 
                            POCATELLO, IDAHO

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                        HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 17, 2019

  Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 2019 Idaho 
Career & Technical Education (ICTE) Special Program Award recipient, 
the Construction Combine.
  At the Construction Combine, program participants learn to 
demonstrate their construction skills to builders who are potential 
employers. The program recruits local contractors to teach construction 
skills to interested high school students and others, and construction 
materials suppliers such as Home Depot generously provide the necessary 
supplies and tools to facilitate building sheds for this two-day event. 
The completed sheds are donated to deserving veterans at no cost.
  The Construction Combine is the brain-child of Mr. Scott Stevens. As 
a staff member in Idaho State University's (ISU) Continuing Education 
and Workforce Training Program (CEWT), Mr. Stevens recognized the need 
to attract more skilled workers to the construction industry and to 
increase the housing stock in order to promote economic growth. He 
teamed up with Brad Landon, the Pocatello/Chubbuck Home Depot Store 
manager, to execute his vision--one that helps home builders, veterans 
and students. There was extensive additional support from the 
surrounding high schools; local contractors; Gary Salazar, the Director 
of ISU's CEWT; and others in ISU's CEWT Program.
  The first Construction Combine event took place at the Pocatello/
Chubbuck Home Depot in the Spring of 2018 with 54 participants, 
producing eight sheds. The following year, in 2019, the Construction 
Combine hosted six events in Idaho and Oregon with 228 participants, 
producing 41 sheds. I am eager to see the continued growth of this 
program in years to come.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to join the ICTE Awards Selection 
Committee in recognizing the Construction Combine as an innovative 
solution to the construction and low housing stock issues associated 
with Idaho's very low unemployment rate and our booming economy. I 
would like to recognize ISU's CEWT, the Home Depot, and the local 
contractors for their efforts to make the Construction Combine a 
success and to give back to their communities. Congratulations.

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