Kaine Visits Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School, Philippine Cultural Center In Virginia Beach

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine continued his two-week tour of the Commonwealth with a visit to the Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School. Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin and Newport News Shipbuilding Vice President of Operations Danny Hunley accompanied Kaine on the tour. An institution of Huntington Ingalls Industries, the Apprentice School trains students for careers in shipbuilding. Kaine, who co-chairs the Senate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus, toured the school’s facilities and discussed the importance of CTE programs as an alternative to traditional four-year colleges that can prepare students for highly-skilled, well-paying jobs.

“Career and technical education is critically important, and there’s no better example of a CTE program in the country than the apprenticeship program here,” said Kaine. “I formed a caucus in the Senate to really spotlight the good programs like this one and accelerate creating more…CTE allows students to acquire a great skill that will equip them for jobs for the rest of their lives.”

In addition to offering tuition-free apprenticeships in 19 trades and 8 advanced programs, the school pays its apprentices for all work conducted during their 40-hour week, including time spent in academic classes.

“This particular CTE program is also about keeping the nation safe. It’s training shipbuilders to make sure that America’s security is safe for generations to come. It combines a great educational model with an important defense mission.”

Following his tour of the Apprentice School, Kaine visited the Philippine Cultural Center in Virginia Beach.

Tomorrow, Kaine will complete his two-week tour of the Commonwealth in Norfolk. In the morning, Kaine will tour the Craney Island dredge fill facility to learn about its current operations, oyster restoration efforts, plans for expansion, and the construction of a new marine terminal on the site that, when complete, will dramatically bolster the container capacity and economic competitiveness of the Port of Virginia. At noon, Kaine will join U.S. Senator Mark Warner to headline the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce Forum.

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