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THE ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2021
Forum: Women account for
less than 10% of all apprentices
Continued from Page A1
“We are working hard as advo-
cates to talk about how our indus-
try needs to change, so that not only
women and people of color get in to
serve an apprenticeship in the con-
struction sector, they can stay in —
because we know they face discrim-
ination and job-site hostility.”
Jenna Hill is a third-year com-
mercial painting apprentice spon-
sored by District Council 51 of the
International Union of Painters and
Allied Trades in the Washington,
D.C., area. In response to a ques-
tion from Bonamici, Hill said she
did not feel overt discrimination,
but she was somewhat uncomfort-
able at fi rst.
“All the guys I have worked with
have been supportive,” she said.
“I’ve had a lot of great role models,
both men and women. They have
helped me come out of my shell a
little bit and be more comfortable,
whether I’m the only woman on the
job site or not.”
Bonamici, a Democrat from
Beaverton who represents the 1st
Congressional District , is co-chair-
woman of the Bipartisan Appren-
ticeship Caucus and a member of
the House Education and Labor
Committee.
She organized the online forum
not only in recognition of National
Apprenticeship Week , but to call
attention to legislation that the
House passed 10 months ago to
renew the National Apprenticeship
Act for fi ve more years. The bill
proposes $3.5 billion over fi ve years
to expand apprenticeship opportuni-
ties by 1 million — and it is the fi rst
overhaul since the original law was
passed in 1937.
A 247-173 vote, including 28
Republicans who voted in favor,
sent the bill to the Senate, where it
has not moved.
“We need the Senate to pass the
act,” Bonamici said.
At the same time, she said,
women account for less than 10%
of all apprentices, and women of
color earn less than their white
counterparts.
“We need to make sure that
women and people of color can
access this benefi t equally,” she said.
“I understand the importance
of and potential of apprentice-
ships. They provide exposure to
the working world. They correlate
with higher wages. Transferable
credentials can be used in other
places of employment. They can
also lead to some type of long-term
employment.”
Big returns
U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, a Vir-
ginia Democrat who leads the
House committee, said 92% of
apprentices get jobs immediately
upon completion — at annual aver-
age wages of $72,000. He said the
Build Back Better budget resolu-
tion that contains money for Pres-
ident Joe Biden’s social priorities,
as passed by the House, contains
$20 billion for workforce training,
WOMEN OF COLOR
EARN LESS THAN
THEIR WHITE
COUNTERPARTS.
including enough for the 1 million
new apprenticeship opportunities.
Those apprentices, he said, will
generate $10 billion in tax collec-
tions or savings in other federal
spending.
“As we continue to recover from
the pandemic, workers across the
country are looking for higher-pay-
ing jobs that allow them to provide
for themselves and their families,”
he said. “Meanwhile, the shortage of
skilled workers is a major challenge
for our employers and our econ-
omy. So, we have to use every tool
we have to help workers fi nd jobs
and prepare them for high-quality
employment opportunities.
“Our workforce development
system has not received meaning-
ful investment in any of our COVID
relief packages. Simply put, we have
left our businesses and our nation’s
best workforce development initia-
tives under resourced at a time when
it is most needed.”
Bonamici and Scott said Build
DeFazio will not run
for reelection in 2022
Oregon Capital Bureau
Back Better, coupled with the
recently signed federal infrastruc-
ture legislation, will create 2.3 mil-
lion jobs that will pay well but
demand higher skills.
Aliea Mansaray is a human
resource apprentice at City Works
DC and a senior at Friendship Tech
Prep Charter School. She said her
participation shows that all appren-
ticeships are not tied to heavy indus-
try — and that there is an alternative
to college that allows people to earn
money while they learn on the job.
“My family was really strict
about me going into a career that
would guarantee fi nancial stability. I
was not too sure about going against
them,” she said. “What I did was
take a risk — you don’t know any-
thing until you try it.”
Women champions
Two U.S. Department of Labor
offi cials say they are ready to
press the case for more women
and racial and ethnic minorities in
apprenticeships.
“We are hoping to change out-
comes for individual women and
for their work environments,” said
Wendy Chun-Hoon, director of the
Women’s Bureau. “For the past 100
years, the bureau has challenged
the status quo. It requires bold and
sustained investments in women’s
work.”
Angela Hanks is the principal
deputy assistant secretary who over-
sees the Employment and Train-
ing Administration. Her aunt was
the second woman — and the sec-
ond Black person — to complete
an apprenticeship under the Inter-
national Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers in 1978. She is a master
electrician now, although under the
United Auto Workers.
Hanks said, however, there are
still too few women and minorities
in apprenticeships.
“It was incredible that she had
this opportunity, which has given
her a career that has lasted until
today,” Hanks said. “We need
more women to have those types of
opportunities.”
The Oregon Capital Bureau is a
collaboration between EO Media
Group and Pamplin Media Group.
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, the longest-serving congressman
in Oregon history, announced Wednesday that he will not seek
reelection in 2022.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as con-
gressman for the Fourth District of Oregon,” the Springfi eld
Democrat said in a statement.
A former Lane County commissioner, DeFazio has repre-
sented his Eugene-area district since 1987.
Since Democrats took control of the House in 2018, he has
served as chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture Committee and played a crucial role in pushing President
Joe Biden’s infrastructure package through the House.
DeFazio, 74, had back surgery earlier this year and said that
his health was a major factor in deciding not to run again.
Special session: ‘Are the
most diffi cult of all sessions’
Continued from Page A1
of that money was spent by June.
“I am continuing to work with
federal offi cials at U.S. Trea-
sury and the White House to
secure additional federal emer-
gency rental assistance funding
for Oregon, but it is clear that a
state solution is needed to address
the urgent and immediate needs
of Oregon renters,” Brown said
Tuesday in her announcement of
the special session.
“And, we must begin laying
the groundwork now for the tran-
sition to local eviction prevention
services after federal pandemic
emergency programs draw to an
end.”
State Senate President Peter
Courtney, the Legislature’s senior
member, has seen runaway spe-
cial sessions with no apparent
ending .
“Special sessions are the most
diffi cult of all sessions,” the Salem
Democrat said. “Everything must
be carefully planned. We have a
lot of work to do. I hope we will
be ready.”
The Democratic leaders of the
housing committees in both cham-
bers say they have been working
for months to craft a plan that can
win legislative approval.
“After months of work, we
have developed a proposal to
extend the state’s bipartisan safe
harbor protections and provide
additional funds for direct rent
assistance that will benefi t both
tenants and housing providers,”
Rep. Julie Fahey, of Eugene, and
Sen. Kayse Jama, of Portland,
said in a statement. “As we head
into the holiday season and the
coldest winter months, this spe-
cial session package will pre-
vent heartbreaking evictions and
support small housing providers
who have made major sacrifi ces
throughout the pandemic.”
Representatives of Stable
Homes for Oregon Families have
taken part in the talks, as well as
previous legislative eff orts.
“We also appreciate all the state
lawmakers who have been work-
ing together on a solution,” the
group said in a statement. “Ten-
ants are counting on the L egisla-
ture to ensure no one loses their
home while their applications are
pending and also to provide addi-
tional funding to help keep people
safe and stable during this time of
ongoing economic upheaval.”
The Oregon Capital Bureau
is a collaboration between EO
Media Group and Pamplin Media
Group.
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