Congresswoman, Secretary, Commissioner Hold Labor Town Hall, and Roundtable
Fairfield, NJ– Today, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) hosted the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) Secretary Marty Walsh and the New Jersey Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo for a labor town hall at the Bricklayers Union Hall to discuss the legislation they championed in Washington DC, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the CHIPS and Science Act.
The Congresswoman, USDOL Secretary, and Commissioner also visited EYES INC in Essex County, where they toured the facility and held a roundtable to discuss the Maximizing Opportunities for Veterans to Employment and Success (MOVES) project. The MOVES Project, funded through a grant from the USDOL, works to reduce the number of homeless veterans, and increase the number of heroes achieving stability through training, job placement, and stable housing.
A video of today's roundtable can be found here.
“I work hard to make sure my constituents’ voices are heard in Washington and their priorities are addressed. Bringing Secretary Walsh to NJ-11 to hear directly from labor leaders and veterans is so important to that effort. He and Commissioner Asaro-Angelo were able to join me at the labor town hall so we could better understand how we can build an economy that works for all,” said Rep. Sherrill.
“We were also able to visit the MOVES project at EYES INC - a crucial partner in providing a wide range of workforce and career placement programs to homeless veterans in North Jersey,” Rep. Sherrill continues. “The stories we heard from veterans seeking employment, and how crucial the services provided by the MOVES project, highlighted the importance of the DOL grant. It is imperative we continue to support and invest in workforce training programs like the MOVES project to strengthen the local economy and provide residents with career opportunities. As a member of the House Committee on Education and Labor, I look forward to working with Secretary Walsh on continuing to strengthen our nation’s workforce and economy.”
“The MOVES program, funded proudly by the Department of Labor, is a critical example of how federal investments can help shape the livelihoods and career pathways of our veterans,” said Secretary Walsh. “I look forward to working with Rep. Sherrill to ensure workforce training and career connection programs like MOVES continue to support the communities that need it most.”
"None of the work we do is more impactful than providing our armed services veterans with the training and support they need to transition to sustaining careers. Governor Murphy's vision for a stronger, fairer economy starts with the women and men who answered the call to serve our country," said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. "I'm humbled by the opportunity to hear firsthand from our local heroes how we are serving their needs and what more we can do to help ensure they thrive in the workplace."
“The Bricklayers Union has always valued our relationship with Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill and have supported her since she initially ran for congress. We were so honored and humbled when we were asked if we would not only host the Congresswoman’s Labor Committee meeting, but also have as a special guest, US Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. We were also honored to have State of New Jersey Commissioner Rob Angelo in attendance. Secretary Walsh was gracious enough along with Congresswoman Sherrill, who has visited our training center several times, and Commissioner Angelo to tour our training facility. They got to see up-close the training apprentices receive to eventually become journey workers. Both the Secretary and Congresswoman rolled up their sleeves and laid a couple of bricks, although a bit crooked. To have this special event at our union hall/ training center shows the commitment congresswoman Sherrill, Secretary Walsh and Commissioner Angelo have towards the Labor movement and the hardworking people of NJ. Again, we cannot thank them enough for sharing a few minutes with us and the other unions who were in attendance,” said John F. Capo, Director Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Administrative District Council of NJ, Locals 4 & 5
"Our mission as EYES INC of NJ NPO is to "Motivate...Empower...Educate for Success!" This includes our Veterans and all the other populations we look to serve. We welcome Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill and Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and are excited to highlight all the great work MOVES has accomplished within the veteran community by placing at risk and/or homeless veterans in vocational training and preparing them to enter the workforce," said Ginay Granda, MA,LAC,NCC Director of Operations EYES INC of NJ NPO.
Funded through a grant from the DOL-Veterans Employment and Training Service, under the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) initiative, MOVES is the only program in the State of New Jersey funded to provide these supportive services to veterans, and the only one funded to empower female veterans, and address chronic homelessness among this group.
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Original source can be found here.
