America's future depends on making things again

When I was in college, I painted houses during the summer and worked as an apprentice electrician. I sold tickets for the Richmond Braves, stocked grocery shelves, cleaned carpets, worked in restaurants, and parked cars at Kings Dominion. Every one of those jobs depended on someone making something, growing something, or building something. Those jobs taught me that there's satisfaction in seeing something tangible at the end of a hard day's work.

Walk through almost any community in Virginia and you'll find people who build things. They build ships in Newport News. They manufacture pharmaceuticals in Richmond. They produce advanced technologies, machinery, food products, and countless other goods that keep our economy moving. Across our Commonwealth, manufacturers employ hundreds of thousands of Virginians and contribute billions of dollars to our economy each year.

Manufacturing has always been about more than factories. It is about innovation, opportunity, and the dignity that comes from creating something of lasting value. Today, that work is more important than ever.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed just how vulnerable America had become after decades of relying on overseas production. Supply chain disruptions affected everything from automobiles and medical supplies to household appliances and computer chips. Businesses struggled to obtain basic materials and the shelves of supermarkets and home improvement stores – usually stocked with everyday items—were oftentimes bare.

Those challenges served as a reminder that economic security and national security are closely connected. When America loses the ability to manufacture essential products, we lose more than jobs. We lose resilience. We lose innovation. And we become increasingly dependent on competitors and adversaries for goods that are critical to our economy.

Virginia is uniquely positioned to help reverse that trend. Our Commonwealth is home to world-class manufacturers, research universities, community colleges, and ports, and it boasts one of the most highly skilled workforces in the nation. We have the people, the infrastructure, and the entrepreneurial spirit to lead the next generation of American manufacturing.

But success depends on more than simply building new factories. It depends on building the workforce to support them.

One of the greatest challenges employers consistently raise is finding enough workers with the skills necessary to fill today's manufacturing jobs. Modern manufacturing increasingly relies on advanced technology, automation, robotics, and precision engineering. These are rewarding careers that require specialized training that isn’t always taught in a college classroom.

That is why we must continue investing in Career and Technical Education, STEM education, apprenticeships, and workforce credentialing programs. We should make it easier—not harder—for students and working adults to acquire the skills employers are seeking.

This Congress, I was proud to see my bipartisan Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow's Workforce Act signed into law as part of the Working Families Tax Cuts. Families can now use 529 education savings accounts not only for traditional college expenses, but also for postsecondary credentialing, licensing, apprenticeship-related costs, and workforce training programs. This gives parents and students greater flexibility to pursue the educational pathway that best fits their goals and aspirations.

That flexibility matters because there is no single definition of success.

Some students will pursue engineering degrees. Others will complete apprenticeships, earn professional certifications, or attend technical schools before entering rewarding careers in manufacturing, construction, healthcare, information technology, or skilled trades.

Our responsibility is not to choose those paths for them. It is to ensure every pathway remains open.

Throughout my career, I have believed that opportunity grows when government removes barriers instead of creating them. By strengthening workforce development, encouraging innovation, and supporting American manufacturing, we create an economy where businesses can grow and workers can succeed.

America has never led the world simply because we consumed more than anyone else. We have led because we invented, designed, engineered, and built.

That spirit of innovation remains one of our nation's greatest competitive advantages. If we continue investing in our people, strengthening our workforce, and supporting American manufacturing, I am confident it will remain so for generations to come.