GRADUATES DESERVE OPPORTUNITIES OVER BARRIERS

On 2026-06-25, Representative George Latimer (D-NY-16) delivered a floor speech titled "GRADUATES DESERVE OPPORTUNITIES OVER BARRIERS" in the House.

GRADUATES DESERVE OPPORTUNITIES OVER BARRIERS

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 107 (Thursday, June 25, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 107 (Thursday, June 25, 2026)] [House] [Pages H4250-H4251] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] GRADUATES DESERVE OPPORTUNITIES OVER BARRIERS (Mr. LATIMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as students around the country celebrate well-earned graduations from high school and college and prepare to enter the workforce. I remember when I graduated from Fordham University, a long time ago, you almost were guaranteed a job--the jobs were plentiful--that would allow you to make ends meet. Now, the percentage of graduates with entry-levels jobs in their field was only 30 percent last year and represents an unsustainable decline. This difficult job market has only been further strained by the Trump administration's dismantling of the Department of Education, the removal of [[Page H4251]] necessary Department staff, a cap on student graduate loans, cuts to research, and other destructive policies that have left Americans worse off at every step of the way. As graduates cross the stage and celebrate 4 years of hard work, they should be given opportunities to thrive rather than barriers to overcome. ____________________