Dear East Texas,
On National Apprenticeship Day, I introduced the Workforce Apprenticeship Growth and Education Support (WAGES) Act to create a refundable payroll tax credit for employers who maintain or participate in a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP), offsetting the cost of apprentice wages, mentor pay, related instruction, and program development expenses.
Last summer during a district work period, I sat down with members of the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce for a roundtable, and business after business shared the same concern: they understood the value apprenticeships could bring to their community, they just didn't have the resources to make it happen.
I wanted to find a real solution that would make it easier for companies to grow from within and open up apprenticeship opportunities across our region. That pursuit led me to Caliber Collision, who was already running successful apprenticeships around the nation and had begun to work on a tax focused policy solution. The WAGES Act is that solution—a payroll tax credit designed to help businesses clear the financial hurdles that have kept them from investing in the next generation of workers. |
To highlight the important WAGES Act, I toured East Texas to engage with community members, business leaders, and companies already in the process of implementing apprenticeships.
I started in New Boston with a tour of the West Fraser Lumber Mill. Plant leadership walked us through their operation where experienced workers are training the next generation on the floor every day. |
Over lunch at Texas High, Superintendent Dr. Brubaker welcomed a packed room of community partners—Texarkana College, the Chamber of Commerce, Graphic Packaging, AEP Swepco, Christus Health, The Assembly Line, Northeast Texas Workforce Solutions, and more. We had a strong discussion about what it takes to connect the classroom to a career. After lunch, we toured Texas High's newly renovated CTE facility. These students are learning real skills in real environments. The pipeline from CTE to a registered apprenticeship is right there waiting to be built. |
Our next stop was in Nash, TX to visit Cody Peak, the owner of Reliance Mechanical Contractors. Reliance focuses on plumbing, heating & air conditioning, metal fabrication, and mechanical construction—exactly the trades that are facing the greatest workforce shortages right now. Companies like Reliance Mechanical want to grow, and a key to this is to maintain a skilled workforce. It was great to discuss how this legislation will impact their operations and provide a real benefit to the company and their employees. |
In Tyler, we visited Trane Technologies to talk about workforce pipelines. Trane is partnering with Tyler Junior College and local CTE programs to build a pipeline of technically trained workers. This strong community investment has allowed the company and the apprentices to grow both personally and professionally. And, the WAGES Act gives companies like Trane the incentive to deepen these partnerships and reach even more workers. |
The WAGES tour ended where the idea began—Caliber Collision. We gathered one of the broadest groups of the whole trip there—Longview EDC, Workforce Solutions East Texas, Kilgore College, Tyler Junior College, Tyler ISD, and leadership from both Caliber and Trane. Apprenticeships are core to how they build their workforce. The message from the roundtable was consistent across every sector: apprenticeships work, and federal policy should be helping employers scale them.
Along with Caliber Collision, helping shape these ideas was Houston-based Adaptive Construction Solutions (ACS), a premier, veteran-owned national apprenticeship intermediary operating one of the largest programs focused on veterans and underrepresented populations in America. |
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Have you or your organization participated in a registered apprenticeship program?
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Ensuring Responsible Lithium Production |
Last week, I had the opportunity to visit EnergyX's plant in East Texas and get an up-close look at the research and development invested in our region’s lithium supply. EnergyX’s Project Lonestar sits in the Smackover Region and is EnergyX's first major lithium project on U.S. soil.
Increasing lithium production in East Texas in a responsible way means economic growth, more jobs, supply chain resilience, and less dependence on China. That is a win for energy security, economic development, and our communities. |
After 75 days, House Republicans passed a budget resolution to ensure funding for critical components of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The bill restores funding for the Transportation Security Administration, the Coast Guard, FEMA, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency—agencies that form the backbone of our nation's safety. I am grateful to the federal employees who continued to do vital work despite the circumstances. House Republicans are now working to complete funding for DHS—including ICE and CBP.
Read the full legislation here. |
On May 5, 1961, astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr. became America’s first space traveler as he made a 15-minute suborbital flight aboard Mercury capsule Freedom 7. |
Dealing with federal agencies can be complicated, and my office is here to help. If you need help with Social Security, the IRS, passport renewals, the VA, or other federal agencies, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office by calling (903) 561-6349 or visiting my website.
It is an honor to be your voice in Congress.
With gratitude, |
Nathaniel Moran Member of Congress |
Answer to Last Week's Texas Trivia Question
⬇️ Where was the first incorporated city named Houston in America? Hint: It is named after Sam Houston, but it's not in Texas. |
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This Week's Texas Trivia Question Before the Texas Legislature designated the bluebonnet as the state flower in 1901, what two other plants were considered? Check back next week for the answer! |
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