Mike Busby

🦋 As your next U.S. Senator, I want to make one thing clear: opportunity should not have an expiration date. I know firsthand what career and technical education can do because I lived it. During my junior and senior years of high school, I attended Southern Oklahoma Technology Center, where I received my CNA, Home Health Aide, and Medication Technician credentials my junior year. My senior year, I earned training in Medical Assisting, Phlebotomy, and EKG. And the most important part? It was tuition free for me. Before I ever stepped onto a college campus, I had skills that allowed me to enter the healthcare workforce. That opportunity changed the direction of my life. But I believe every person deserves access to that opportunity, not just high school students. What about the parent who needs a career change at 35? The veteran transitioning back into civilian life? The worker whose industry changed and needs a new skill? The person who knows they are capable of more but cannot afford thousands of dollars for training? Opportunity should not disappear because someone is no longer 17. That is why, as your next U.S. Senator, I will fight to create a Tuition-Free Workforce Training Act- expanding access to high-quality, credentialed workforce programs for adults. This legislation will invest in programs that prepare people for the careers our communities desperately need: 🏥 Medical assisting 🦷 Dental assisting 💉 CNA, phlebotomy, EKG, EMT and allied healthcare programs 🔧 Welding ⚡ Electrical ❄️ HVAC 🚰 Plumbing 🚗 Automotive and diesel technology 💆🏾 Massage therapy 💇🏾 Cosmetology and other licensed career pathways Because not everyone is meant to follow the same path and that’s okay. A four year college degree is an incredible pathway for many people, but it should never be the only pathway we respect. America needs doctors and engineers, but we also need the medical assistants who help care for patients. We need electricians keeping our communities running. We need welders building our infrastructure. We need skilled professionals in every corner of our economy. These are not backup careers. These are careers that keep America moving. As your next U.S. Senator, I will work to make sure “free workforce training” actually means accessible workforce training… including addressing the costs that stand in the way, like required certifications, exams, equipment, supplies, and other barriers that prevent people from getting started. We cannot complain about workforce shortages while making it harder for people to become the workers we need. If someone is willing to learn a skill, work hard, and build a future, we should be investing in them, because I believe in an Oklahoma where opportunity is not determined by your zip code, your age, or your bank account. Different paths. Same dignity. Real opportunity. 🦋