Carpe diem. Latin for “seize the day,” this phrase is used by many to encourage folks to make the most out of every opportunity. I’m a strong believer in taking full advantage of opportunities that arise. In Congress, I’m also working to increase opportunities — for things like more good-paying jobs, economic security, and high-quality education – to help make life better for individuals and families in the eighth district. For instance, I have been a staunch advocate for getting North Carolina into America’s booming energy business and have worked hard to advance an all-of-the-above energy strategy to responsibly unlock our natural resources. By seizing the tremendous opportunity of energy exploration and development off our coast, we will lower costs and create more jobs right here at home.

Right now, America is a global leader in energy production. Through my position on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, I’m working with my colleagues to maximize this growing energy potential in North Carolina and across the nation. Our bipartisan, comprehensive energy plan called the Architecture of Abundance, spearheaded by Chairman Fred Upton and Energy and Power Subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield, will capitalize on our newfound energy abundance. This robust energy package has four important areas: modernizing infrastructure, bolstering a 21st century energy workforce, strengthening America’s energy diplomacy for a changing world, and promoting efficiency and accountability. By replacing outdated policies and clearing out burdensome regulations, we will secure our energy future.

A big piece of solving our 21st century energy puzzle is guaranteeing an educated, modernized energy and manufacturing workforce. Last week, my colleagues on the Energy and Power Subcommittee and I hosted a hearing to determine the best way to empower workers to get and keep today’s high-skilled energy and manufacturing jobs. We discussed draft legislation that would improve workforce-training programs while ensuring that good-paying jobs are accessible to all Americans.

Much like the bipartisan Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act that I helped champion last Congress, this legislation would strengthen job-training programs to invest in our workforce and help folks get back to work. By directing the Department of Energy to effectively utilize existing resources, it would connect individuals with job-training programs — including under-represented and low-income communities — while also making current programs more efficient and effective.

In this critical discussion, I drew upon the knowledge I gleaned from my recent visit with professors and energy leaders at the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center at UNC Charlotte. EPIC is an innovative facility in our backyard that provides students with an energy focused education and the technical skills needed for 21st century jobs. As a proud UNC Charlotte alumnus, I’m thrilled to see my university at the cutting edge of energy infrastructure development and energy and manufacturing workforce training. The work EPIC is doing will greatly elevate North Carolina’s role in providing affordable, reliable energy to folks across the nation and could serve as a national model for an effective energy and manufacturing workforce training plan.

As I’ve said before, my top three priorities are jobs, jobs and jobs. Our robust energy plan will not only create jobs, but help equip workers with the skills necessary to find employment. It’s time for us to seize the tremendous energy opportunity ahead to lower energy costs, empower folks with more good-paying jobs, and get one step closer to energy independence.