Viewed from afar these days, it might be easy to conclude that life in Washington, D.C., has become a reality show gone awry.
Cabinet-level nominees stepping down amid claims of wrongdoing; a president seemingly at war with the press and members of his own team; an intelligence community that appears to have forgotten the source of its authority; and a bureaucratic “swamp” that refuses to be drained.
Not to be overlooked, however, are the real issues facing Congress, the White House and the nation as the hard work of governing marches on. Read the Journal Sentinel article here.
That’s why about representatives of 30 state-based technology groups – including the Wisconsin Technology Council – joined with industry leaders in Washington last week to trade ideas and to “talk tech” with members of the Senate and House of Representatives.
The agenda included advancing technologies and policies to better secure the internet from cyber-attacks; advancing tax and regulatory changes to spur the growth of America’s $1-trillion tech industry; building tech platforms to support adoption of “the internet of things;” releasing unlicensed wireless spectrum for rural broadband and Wi-Fi; ensuring that free trade remains a priority; keeping highly skilled immigrants in the United States; and building a skilled tech-based workforce from the nation’s grade schools on up.
Republicans hold a majority in the House but only a tie-breaker edge in the Senate, where it takes a 60-vote “super-majority” to pass most bills. That means the turmoil that so far clouds President Trump’s first 100 days must give way to rational discussions – dare we hope for outbreaks of bipartisanship? – in order for work to get done.
“The Trump administration obviously enters the White House with a much different agenda and leadership style than President Obama has had over the past eight years,” said Elizabeth Hyman, executive vice president of CompTIA, an industry coalition that worked to bring various state tech groups and associations to Capitol Hill. “At the same time, narrower Republican majorities in Congress will require more bipartisan support to move legislation.”
One of those rare bipartisan issues may be building the kind of tech-savvy workforce needed to expand the tech industry overall and to combat urgent challenges such as cybersecurity.
That’s why virtually every conversation on Capitol Hill last week included a pitch for the “CHANCE in TECH Act,” a proposal to address workforce issues found in each of the 50 states. CHANCE in TECH is an acronym for Championing Apprenticeships for New Careers and Employees in Technology.
The proposal calls for a long-term adjustment in how students are trained for science, technology, engineering and math jobs – the so-called STEM professions – in an age when those skills are required for a growing number of careers.
It envisions a combination of apprenticeships, internships and work-based learning accelerators that would put more students on the track of learning skills and earning certificates valued by industry. It urges industry itself to step up with the necessary help, and calls for a combination of public and private funding to support the system.
“These skills aren’t necessarily acquired through a traditional four-year college track, but rather can start in K-12 education, continue into higher education and include industry recognized certifications,” read a CompTIA summary.
Experts who addressed the tech leaders agreed the need for workforce training is most evident in cybersecurity, which one speaker described as “the new space race.” Cyber-attacks have become rampant in industry as well as within government institutions, yet there are relatively few people trained for cybersecurity careers. Speakers agreed many of those jobs don’t require a four-year degree and years of experience, but certificates and hands-on training that can allow young people to get a foot in the door.
Because there’s a shortage of teachers at all levels, industry partnerships are needed to expose students to careers. Also needed is leadership from state governments to help fund such programs. Speakers also urged schools and universities to take part in federal training programs such as the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Training.
Uncertainty in Washington doesn’t mean emerging national problems such as workforce training and cybersecurity go away. It does reinforce the need, however, for cooperation across political, business and educational lines.
;
