Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) Delivers GOP Weekly Address
Hi, I’m U.S. Senator Tim Scott from the great state of South Carolina.
As we all know, the most important issue facing our nation today is job creation. Unfortunately, it’s been that way for the last six years.
But instead of tackling the causes of unemployment and underemployment, too many politicians are focused only on the effects and on making political points. We should without a doubt make sure folks get a hand up, but more importantly, that they have a solid foundation on which to stand.
As someone who grew up in poverty, I know the hard choices facing so many families every night. And as a former small business owner, I know the importance of ensuring that the next generation of Americans is the most well-trained, best-educated workforce the world has ever seen.
There are currently 4 million open jobs in America, including 65,000 in my home state of South Carolina. These are good jobs that for a variety of reasons, including a lack of workers trained for their specific industry, go unfilled day after day, week after week.
That’s four million families that could sleep a little better at night and thousands of businesses that could become more profitable and offer more opportunities for their employees.
So let’s tackle this problem head on. A more responsive and efficient system will ensure our workforce competes and wins in the 21st century. Less bureaucracy means more resources helping those in need, rather than getting caught up in the quagmire pit of red tape and regulation that big government creates.
Instead of having 35 separate federal workforce training programs with expensive overhead and administrative costs, let’s simplify them into one flexible Workforce Investment Fund.
Instead of throwing billions of dollars each year at these programs with no measurable end results, let’s give states and localities the flexibility they need to develop targeted plans to help low-income families, young folks, those with disabilities and of course the unemployed, the long-term unemployed and the underemployed.
And instead of watching 4 million jobs sit empty, let’s make sure those who want to work are learning the skills they need to succeed.
My SKILLS Act will do all of this. That’s why it has already passed the House of Representatives under the great leadership of Congresswoman Virginia Foxx and why I introduced it as an amendment to the Senate unemployment insurance bill.
Unfortunately, Senate Democrats, for some reason – I can only imagine a political reason – blocked its passage this week. Simply put, the American people deserve better than that. A modern, efficient workforce development system is essential to our future.
I believe in America, and I believe that our greatest days still lie ahead. The SKILLS Act is a straightforward, common sense solution for American families and for helping get America back to work.
Thank you and God Bless America
It is interesting that nowhere did Tim Scott mention the Paul Ryan budget which was recently introduced. He mentioned nothing about assisting the unemployed while they attempt to get the meager four million jobs he claims is available. He does not mention the effects of healthcare on jobs. He does not mention the plight of the poor.
Tim Scott, like most Republicans have the same answer for every issue. Cut regulations. Cut taxes. Tim Scott should examine the statistics of his own state. They are near the bottom in median income. They are near the bottom in per capita income.
It is sad that the politicians from states with the most need are the ones that continue to support policies that decimate the financial well-being of their citizens. While they preach that they care, their actions hurt. These politicians are not dumb. They just care more about the purity of their ideology than humanity. It is an immoral stance.
Every American should start believing a phrase many activists live by. Political involvement should be a requirement for citizenship. We must all get involve to save our democracy from those intent on maintaining a democracy for the few.
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