Skills, Infrastructure, and Veterans: Labor Tour Kicks Off in Nanticoke

On a bustling Friday in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer stepped into the heart of a training center humming with activity. Joined by Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr., union leaders, and local officials, she launched her nationwide America at Work listening tour on April 5, 2025. The setting was the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 163 Joint Apprenticeship Training Center, a place where sparks fly and skills take shape. It’s a fitting start for a mission to hear straight from the people who keep America running, workers who rarely get a say in Washington’s policy debates.

The roundtable buzzed with voices from electricians, ironworkers, and boilermakers, all sharing a common thread, the need for practical solutions to real-world challenges. They talked about apprenticeships that turn raw talent into skilled labor, infrastructure upgrades that could draw businesses to towns like theirs, and the rocky road veterans face when swapping combat boots for work boots. Chavez-DeRemer listened, nodding as she scribbled notes, promising to carry their stories across the country. It’s a rare scene, a cabinet member hitting the road to bridge the gap between federal plans and factory floors.

At the heart of the discussion was a push for apprenticeships, programs that pair classroom learning with hands-on work. Supporters say they’re a win-win, businesses get loyal, skilled employees, and workers earn wages while dodging student debt. Data backs this up, companies with apprenticeship programs often see lower turnover and happier staff. In Pennsylvania, union leaders pointed to success stories, like electricians who started as apprentices and now wire the region’s future. Yet access isn’t equal everywhere, with rural areas and underrepresented groups still lagging behind in opportunities.

The idea isn’t new. Since the National Apprenticeship Act of 1937, these programs have churned out skilled workers for industries like construction and manufacturing. Today, they’re branching into tech and agriculture, with companies like John Deere partnering to train the next generation. Critics, though, warn of bottlenecks, funding shortages and uneven quality can hobble progress. In Nanticoke, the talk wasn’t just about praise, it was about making these programs work better for more people, a challenge Chavez-DeRemer vowed to tackle as her tour rolls on.

Infrastructure kept cropping up in the conversation, and for good reason. The U.S. has poured $1.2 trillion into roads, bridges, and broadband through the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, sparking over 60,000 projects nationwide. Rep. Bresnahan stressed the ripple effect, better roads and faster internet don’t just fix potholes, they lure businesses and jobs. Unions chimed in, noting their role in training workers who can handle these massive builds. Still, the American Society of Civil Engineers warns there’s a $3.7 trillion gap to truly modernize the system, a daunting figure hanging over the optimism.

History shows infrastructure can transform economies, think of the Erie Canal or the Interstate Highway System. But it’s not all smooth sailing. In Oregon, Governor Tina Kotek’s push for union-backed project labor agreements has hit legal snags, with contractors arguing it jacks up costs and freezes out non-union bidders. Back in Pennsylvania, the tone was less about debate and more about action, how to turn federal dollars into local paychecks. The workers at the table didn’t care much for political tug-of-war, they just want the tools to get it done.

Then there’s the veterans’ piece, a quieter but urgent thread. Transitioning from military to civilian life is no picnic, with hurdles like finding steady work or shaking off the weight of service. The Department of Defense runs the Transition Assistance Program, offering counseling a year before discharge, but gaps persist, especially for younger troops. Studies show the first year out is the riskiest for suicide, a stark reminder of what’s at stake. In 2024, the VA tossed $4 million at employment programs for vets and their spouses, a step forward, though advocates say it’s not enough to close the divide.

Chavez-DeRemer’s tour is just kicking off, with plans to crisscross the country, sitting down with welders, teachers, and shop owners. Her pitch is simple, federal labor policies need a reality check, and that starts with listening. Union reps in Nanticoke welcomed the move, though some wonder if it’ll translate into action, especially with recent moves like the Trump administration’s rollback of federal workers’ bargaining rights stirring unease. On the flip side, business owners argue trimming red tape could unleash growth, a tension that’s bound to shadow her travels.

For the folks in Northeastern Pennsylvania, this visit wasn’t about grand promises, it was a chance to be heard. Whether it’s a kid learning a trade, a vet hunting for a fresh start, or a union hand building the next bridge, their stories could nudge policy in a new direction. As the Secretary’s boots hit the pavement elsewhere, the question lingers, can Washington turn talk into something tangible? Time, and the tour, will tell.