[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5623]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WORKFORCE BOARDS W.O. LAWTON 
             BUSINESS LEADERSHIP AWARD WINNER AND HONOREES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOHN KLINE

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 3, 2014

  Mr. KLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate this year's 
National Association of Workforce Boards W.O. Lawton Business 
Leadership Award winner and honorees.
  The 2014 winner, Michigan Works! The Job Force Board, and honorees 
ExxonMobil Chemical Company and Qualcomm deserve recognition for their 
commitment of time, resources, and leadership to better their 
communities' workforce and economy.
  NAWB established the W.O. Lawton Business Leadership Award to 
annually honor forward-looking businesses and public partners, such as 
economic development organizations, education providers, and community 
and faith-based organizations.
  Mr. Speaker, at a time when businesses and organizations across the 
country are still coping with an extraordinarily slow economic 
recovery, these groups should be commended for taking the initiative to 
train today's workers for the jobs of the future. Their efforts to 
establish partnerships between workforce boards, community colleges, 
businesses, and other area economic and workforce development leaders 
has garnered real results for their communities.
  Michigan Works! The Job Force Board, ExxonMobil Chemical Company, and 
Qualcomm have implemented policies similar to those promoted by 
policymakers in the House and Senate to support a highly-trained 
workforce and stronger economy. As Chairman of the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce, I recognize the critical need to improve 
our nation's workforce development system, and appreciate the important 
role these organizations play in helping achieve this shared goal.
  Once again, I congratulate these organizations and salute their 
diligent work to improve their communities and local economies.

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