[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 18579]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1030
                   THE AMERICAN GRADUATION INITIATIVE

  (Mr. SCHAUER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. SCHAUER. Today I want to tell you about Ray Roddy from Hillsdale, 
Michigan. Ray was laid off from his job making engine components and 
realized he would need further education to find another job. He 
enrolled at Jackson Community College and is working hard to become a 
nurse. Ray isn't alone. In the last 2 years, 6.5 million Americans have 
lost their jobs and many remain unemployed.
  In today's economy with rising unemployment, it is critical to invest 
in our future by increasing the number of college graduates. That's why 
I support President Obama's American Graduation Initiative. This 
initiative will help prepare Americans for the jobs of the 21st 
century. It will help people like Ray gain the education and skills 
they need to compete in the global economy. It will also establish new 
grants to help community colleges improve access to education and build 
ties to businesses to increase graduates' chances of gaining 
employment. With the American Graduation Initiative, the number of 
unemployed Americans will be dramatically reduced in the next 10 years 
by helping 5 million people earn more college degrees. Ray Roddy needs 
a job, and he is going to get one. Thanks to this exciting initiative, 
so will 5 million other Americans.

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