HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON WORKFORCE, TRADES, AND TALENT
REP. BETH GRIFFIN
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, February 11, 2021
9:00 a.m.
Room 519, House Office Building
The House Committee on Workforce, Trades, and Talent was called to order by the Chair.
The Chair laid before the committee the Speaker's appointment letter.
The Clerk read the following letter from the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Jason
Wentworth, to Gary L. Randall, Clerk of the Michigan House of Representatives:
January 26, 2021
Mr. Gary L. Randall, Clerk
Michigan House of Representatives
State Capitol Building
Lansing, MI 48913
Dear Mr. Clerk:
I appoint the following Members of the 101st Legislature to the Standing Committees for the
2021-2022 Legislative Session:
Workforce, Trades, and Talent
Reps. Griffin (C), Martin (Maj. VC), Howell, Farrington, Eisen, Markkanen, Sabo
(Min. VC), Hope, O’Neal
Sincerely,
Jason Wentworth, Speaker
Michigan House of Representatives
The Chair requested attendance be called. The Clerk called and announced a quorum was
present.
Present: Reps. Griffin, Martin, Howell, Farrington, Eisen, Markkanen, Sabo, Hope,
O'Neal.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Rep. Hope joined the committee remotely.
The Chair stated the committee would be following the Uniform Committee Rules, as stated
in Chapter IV of the House Standing Rules that were adopted by the House of
Representatives on Wednesday, January 13, 2021.
Rep. Martin moved to adopt Thursday at 9:00 a.m. in room 327 of the Anderson House
Office Building as the day, time and location for the regular operating schedule for the
committee meetings for the House Committee on Workforce, Trades, and Talent.
The motion prevailed 8-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Griffin, Martin, Howell, Farrington, Eisen, Markkanen, Sabo, O'Neal.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
The Chair explained her primary goals for "widening the talent pipeline" for employment
around the state and bridging the job skills gap to committee members. A copy is attached.
The Chair called on each member of the committee to give a brief introduction about
themselves.
The Chair laid before the committee a presentation on the COVID-19's impact on the state's
employment.
Al Pscholka, former State of Michigan Budget Director and Vice-President of Public
Relations and Government Affairs for Kinexus Group, testified on the impact of the COVID
pandemic on employment in the areas of manufacturing, healthcare and leisure and
hospitality industries. A copy of his handout is attached.
There being no further business before the committee; Rep. Martin moved that the committee
adjourn. The Chair adjourned the meeting at 9:39 a.m.
Representative Beth Griffin, Chair
Joy Brewer
Committee Clerk
joybrewer@house.mi.gov