A day in the life: 'Dirty Jobs' host Mike Rowe goes to Washington

Since 2005, "Dirty Jobs" host Mike Rowe has shown Discovery Channel viewers some of the worst - albeit essential - jobs needed to keep America running. Three years into the show, however, Rowe realized just getting dirty wasn't enough. So he launched a web site called "MikeRoweWorks" in the hopes that Americans would get over the apparent rift between white collar and blue collar workers.

"We are at war with work," he says on a video that is still visible on the site.

Rowe continues to lobby for skilled labor - including testifying before a Senate committee last week.

CNN's Stephen Samaniego followed Rowe as he prepared to argue before Congress on behalf of skilled laborers across the country. America needs to support skilled labor, Rowe says, first because America's infrastructure needs welders, pavers, electricians and the like. And second, because Rowe believes there are millions of 'shovel ready' jobs that could bolster the American economy.

See the video here.