Hoyer Delivers Remarks at "Nine Innings of Networking" Hiring Event
WALDORF, MD–Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) hosted "Nine Innings of Networking," an event for job-seekers from across Southern Maryland to meet and network with area businesses looking to hire. The event was held in partnership with the Southern Maryland Tri-Council Workforce Investment Board; Southern Maryland Job Source; the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation; and the Job Match Re-Employment Project. Rep. Hoyer delivered remarks and introduced the guest speaker, Portia Wu, the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training at the U.S. Department of Labor. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:
"Welcome to the 4th Annual Southern Maryland Hiring Event and Business-to-Business Lunch.
"What an incredibly successful event this has been over the past four years, with more than 1,000 people participating last year.
"I hope we can help all of those participating this year connect with their next employers.
"I'm grateful to the Tri-County Council; the Southern Maryland Workforce Investment Board; the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation; Job Match; and our county governments for their help in organizing this event and their ongoing efforts to connect job-seekers with good jobs that pay well.
"Throughout my career – and particularly since the beginning of our economic recovery – I've been making it my number one priority in Congress to ensure that those who lost their jobs or are entering the job market for the first time have all the resources and assistance they need to get the jobs they seek.
"Our recovery has been robust, with extraordinary gains seen in the stock market and growth for private sector businesses.
"The unemployment rate nationally has fallen to 5.4%, and more than 12 million jobs have been created since 2009.
"However, for thousands of unemployed people and their families here in Southern Maryland, the recovery is something they read about in the news, not something they are experiencing firsthand.
"We can change that and we must.
"I'm working in Congress to promote policies that restore the certainty businesses need to invest in job creation here in Maryland – as well as to invest federal resources in infrastructure and in promoting innovation, which are key ingredients for the growth of high-wage jobs.
"Workforce development has been a major part of the ‘Make it in America' jobs plan I've been leading in the House, and last July I joined with my colleagues to pass the bipartisan Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to invest in skills training and securing a workforce prepared for the jobs of the 21st century.
"Many businesses are already looking to hire, and it's important that we make sure our workforce is ready to compete for those jobs – which is why I'm continuing to push for greater investment in education and workforce training.
"I'm proud that our state has an outstanding education system and that we've already begun to build bridges between local employers and colleges and universities to ensure that graduates and those who have undergone retraining have in-demand skills.
"I hope that today's hiring event will connect those possessing in-demand skills with employers who need them.
"Today, I am privileged to introduce a keynote speaker who knows a great deal about how to translate skills training into hiring.
"Assistant U.S. Secretary of Labor Portia Wu is here with us to speak about the work currently being performed by the Labor Department's Employment and Training Administration or ETA.
"In that role, she oversees the unemployment insurance program and runs the agency that helps states, municipalities, educational institutions, and labor organizations provide job training to those who need it.
"Prior to her appointment as Assistant Secretary of Labor, Ms. Wu served as special assistant to the president for labor and workforce policy on the White House Domestic Policy Council.
"Earlier, she worked on Capitol Hill as a labor policy advisor and counsel to Senator Ted Kennedy.
"She is a graduate of Yale Law School and Yale College and holds a master's from Cornell.
"We are very fortunate to have her joining us in Southern Maryland today.
"Please join me in welcoming Assistant Secretary of Labor Portia Wu."