Warnock Highlights Bipartisan Public Policy Bills During HELP Committee Member Day

Yesterday, during the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee's member day, Senator Warnock highlighted several of his bipartisan public policy bills within the committee's jurisdiction

Senator Warnock uplifted his Pathways to Prosperity Act and the HEADWAY Act

Member Days are an opportunity for on- and off-Committee members to share their legislative priorities

Senator Warnock: "These investments in good public policy literally changed the trajectory of my life. What keeps me up at night is the recognition that it would be harder for me to achieve today the things that I achieved all those years ago"

Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) highlighted two of his landmark public policy and workforce development bills during the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee's annual Member Day. During his remarks, Senator Warnock underscored the importance of good public policy and the role such programs have played in his life.

"I sit here as living proof of what good public policy can achieve. Without federal programs that are directly under this committee's jurisdiction, I would not be serving in the United States Senate," said Senator Warnock."I am a proud alum of Head Start. I'm a proud alum of Trio, which placed me on a college campus, convinced the kid growing up in public housing that I belong there because I was already there during my summer breaks and on weekends. Without Pell Grants, I would not have been able to graduate and become the first college graduate in my family."

"These investments in good public policy literally changed the trajectory of my life. What keeps me up at night is the recognition that it would be harder for me to achieve today the things that I achieved all those years ago. I am still fighting for that kid who grew up on Cape Street," Senator Warnock continued.

The HEADWAY Act would allow Head Start to fulfill its commitment to providing high-quality, early childhood education for children from vulnerable families, laying the foundation for their future success by supporting Early Head Start learning professionals and giving program directors the flexibility they need to respond to employment trends.

The Pathways to Prosperity Act focuses on strengthening the nation's workforce development pipeline by bridging the gap between community and technical colleges and local industry via career training and apprenticeship programs that allow students to "earn while they learn." This legislation ensures a strong pathway from a vocational degree to a good-paying job. It would also codify the Strengthening Community Colleges Grant Program, a critical initiative that provides competitive grants for community and technical colleges to partner with employers and align training programs with local industry needs.

Senator Warnock's full remarks can be found HEREand below.

Senator Reverend Warnock (SRW): "Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

"I sit here as living proof of what good public policy could achieve. Without federal programs that are directly under this committee's jurisdiction, I would not be serving in the United States Senate. I am a proud alum of Head Start. I'm a proud alum of Trio, which placed me on a college campus, convince the kid growing up in public housing that I belong there because I was already there during my summer breaks and on weekends. Without Pell Grants, I would not have been able to graduate, making me the first college graduate in my family."

"These investments in good public policy literally changed the trajectory of my life. What keeps me up at night is the recognition that it would be harder for me to achieve today the things that I achieved all those years ago. I am still fighting for that kid who grew up on Cape Street."

"I remain deeply committed to ensuring others have the same opportunities through policies that bolster the workforce, that are good investments and that give every child a chance and the recognition that a kid's outcome should not be based on their parents' income. When we do that, not only do we hope that kid, in a real sense, we lift this country towards its greatness."

"One such investment that I'm fighting for in light of my own story and in my own recognition of the difference these programs make is my bipartisan workforce development bill with Senator Marshall, the Pathways to Prosperity Act, which would fund partnerships between technical and community colleges and industry partners to work together and develop workforce development programs aligned to the real needs of nearby industries."

"Our technical colleges and community colleges I think are a vastly underutilized resource. We must ensure students are graduating with technical degrees that are in high demand and that yield good paying jobs on day one. Last congress committee advances the bill in the workforce development package and I urge the committee to support this legislation and get it passed on the floor."

"I also encourage you to consider the Headway Act. My bipartisan bill with Senator Capito. Which will help address the Head Start shortage by allowing Head Start teachers to teach under supervision while they are working on their degrees. This bipartisan bill is supported by the National Head Start Association and would cut red tape to get more headstart teachers in the classrooms right away."

"I hope this committee will advance this bill that will help teachers and small children get a great head start. Finally, I am excited to share that next week Senator Britt and I will introduce bipartisan legislation to expand access to research grant opportunities for our nation's HBCUs, our Historically Black Colleges and Universities. These schools have historically punched way above their weight. They have been doing so much for so many, with so very little for so long that I think too often we as a nation take for granted."

"I am a graduate of Morehouse College. I know firsthand what these schools produce. I hope this committee will take that bill once it is introduced to ensure that our HBCU students, as part of a larger ecosystem of all of our great colleges and universities, will have the same opportunities to participate in cutting-edge research, research that our nation needs in order to remain competitive and to keep our competitive edge we need everybody's talent."

"Together, these bipartisan efforts will expand opportunities and keep the American dream, thank you so much."

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