Vice President Kamala Harris and Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su hit the road last week, stopping in Madison, Wisconsin, to unveil the Biden-Harris administration's latest executive order. The move is designed to expand Registered Apprenticeships, aiming to create a slew of new programs within the federal workforce and encourage agencies to bring apprentices on board for various projects. This initiative is part of a larger effort to bolster worker representation in federal programs and contracts, according to a release by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Harris and Su's trip, set against the backdrop of an under-construction Madison Metro Transit facility, became an opportunity to spotlight the pivotal role these apprenticeships play. The administration has already poured over $440 million into the Registered Apprenticeship system since 2021, supporting the training of more than one million apprentices nationwide. This new push, as Harris underscored, will furnish workers with the skills and training necessary to snag the good jobs spurred by the president's Investing in America agenda, underlining key components like the American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
In an exclusive sit-down with Channel 3000's Jaylon Banks, Acting Secretary Su spoke on the administration's efforts on Wisconsin soil, highlighting the synergy between federal initiatives and local leadership. She mentioned, "It’s so important so we’re investing in programs like that, but we can’t do that without good strong local and state leadership, which we have here. We have a mayor that’s committed to bus lines and public transit and using electric vehicles for them. We have a Governor that’s really committed to having good jobs throughout Wisconsin," as obtained by Channel 3000.
Acting Secretary Su, a Madison native, relayed a sense of coming full circle during her visit. Describing sentimental memories of growing up in the Wisconsin capital, she declared herself 'born a Badger.' The visit also served as a platform for discussing the burgeoning job opportunities sweeping across the state. Expected improvements encompass road enhancements, bridge constructions, and a transition to electric buses, which reflect a broader public transit overhaul. Su's remarks were captured in an interview with The Badger Herald, affirming her advocacy for federal workers born out of local identity.
As these apprenticeships flourish, the hope is that a more sustainable and inclusive workforce will emerge—a principal goal Su and Harris reiterate as they continue championing their jobs-first narrative. Spectrum News 1 quoted Su saying, "We want to walk the talk,” and, “This is about saying apprenticeship programs—we know they work; we know they create opportunity. We know that they are a pathway for people who might not have even known there was a job like that," highlighting the concrete possibilities these new apprenticeships may unlock for Americans, particularly in the clean energy sector.
