During a recent visit to Washington, D.C., ABC-FEC Director of Government and Political Affairs T.J. Long met with several U.S. Representatives and congressional staff to spotlight the critical role of apprenticeship education in strengthening America’s workforce. Discussions emphasized that a four-year degree is not the only path to prosperity. Skilled trades currently offer high-wage, high-demand careers with entrepreneurial potential.

With the construction industry projected to need 439,000 new workers in 2025 (100,000 in Florida alone), Long urged lawmakers to prioritize policies that support training, opportunity, and free enterprise. She met with U. S. Representatives Aaron Bean, Mike Haridopolos, Lois Frankel, and Burgess Owens, Chair of the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development. These conversations reinforced the urgent need to empower the next generation of builders, not burden them with unnecessary mandates.