[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 149 (Thursday, September 11, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S6572]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF WISCONSIN REGIONAL TRAINING 
  PARTNERSHIP BUILDING INDUSTRY GROUP SKILLED TRADE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

  Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I rise to recognize the 50th anniversary 
of Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership, WRTP, Building Industry 
Group Skilled Trade Employment Program's, BIG STEP. I am delighted to 
celebrate this impactful organization's 50 years of service to the 
State of Wisconsin.
  Founded in 1975, WRTP BIG STEP was determined to improve the labor 
force through its efforts in reshaping apprenticeships. The 
organization envisioned an environment that intertwined diversity, 
resilience, and creativity to produce an incredible generation of 
workers. Soon, their vision became a reality as WRTP BIG STEP developed 
pre-apprenticeship programs and advanced training courses that 
increased the number of minority workers, ensuring everyone has a 
pathway to a quality career in the trades.
  Over the last 50 years, BIG STEP has been essential to creating 
Milwaukee landmarks, from our skyscrapers to our sports complexes. 
After helping tens of thousands of people take their first steps into 
the trades, BIG STEP has served Wisconsin's workforce by building 
courage, innovation, and equity.
  Today, WRTP BIG STEP creates pre-apprenticeship programs and provides 
access to specialized training, consistent sponsorship, and support for 
its clients with targeted curricula for direct career pathways. In 
addition, WTRP BIG STEP helps industry employers and labor 
organizations create career pathways through intercultural workforce 
learning, the development of a skilled talent pipeline, and through 
working groups that identify and reduce barriers in real time. As just 
one example of their work, WRTP BIG STEP recently welcomed 180 high 
school students to their Milwaukee Summer Trades Academy, introducing 
them to careers in construction and teaching them about skilled trade 
jobs and apprenticeship pathways, so they could consider a future 
career in the skilled trades.
  We in Wisconsin are so grateful to WRTP BIG STEP for helping to 
uplift our workforce and create the next generation of leaders. I am 
honored to recognize the 50th anniversary of WRTP BIG STEP and look 
forward to its continued success in Wisconsin for years to come.

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