MILWAUKEE (Oct. 17, 2011) – U. S. Representative Gwen Moore discussed the American Jobs Act Monday, Oct. 17, at Milwaukee Area Technical College’s West Allis Campus. The event was held in a welding lab where associate degree and technical diploma students receive education and training.

Representative Moore addressed how the proposed $5 billion in modernization funds for community and technical colleges across the nation.

"The American Jobs Act will provide jobs and financial security for Americans," said Moore. "Our ability to end the economic deficit depends on our investment in students and their future."

Moore,  former MATC student, praised the college, "MATC is one of our hidden treasures. The college has done a marvelous job with the resources it has and produced a century of outcomes that has been impeccable."

MATC student Monzell McClinton shares how increased funding would benefit students in the college's welding program.

MATC President Dr. Michael L. Burke confirmed the college's committment to closing the skills gap by working closely with local business partners to ensure that the students of today and tomorrow are prepared not just to enter the workforce, but to help rebuild our local, state, regional and national economy. "We also are prepared to introduce new programs in new and emerging technologies so that our local companies have a skilled workforce that will help them take the next step to economic prosperity," said Dr. Burke.

MATC welding instructor Larry Gross and Abdulhamid Ali, owner of DAAR, a Milwaukee-based multi-disciplinary civil engineering firm that specializes in transportation improvement projects for the public and private sectors, also spoke at the event.