February 26, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 35 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session
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SENATE RESOLUTION 79--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION MONTH; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 35
(Senate - February 26, 2019)
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[Pages S1494-S1495] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] SENATE RESOLUTION 79--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION MONTH Mr. KAINE (for himself, Mr. Portman, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Young, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Bennet, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Braun, Mr. Brown, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Carper, Mr. Casey, Mr. Coons, Mr. Cornyn, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Daines, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Enzi, Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. Harris, Ms. Hassan, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Hoeven, Mrs. [[Page S1495]] Hyde-Smith, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Isakson, Mr. King, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Murphy, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Perdue, Mr. Peters, Mr. Roberts, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Sanders, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Smith, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Thune, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Warner, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Wyden, and Ms. Ernst) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to: S. Res. 79 Whereas a competitive global economy requires workers who are prepared for skilled professions; Whereas, in the next decade, an estimated 3,000,000 new workers will be needed in infrastructure positions in the United States, including in positions for designing, building, and operating transportation, housing, utilities, and telecommunications facilities; Whereas career and technical education (referred to in this preamble as ``CTE'') ensures that competitive and skilled workers are ready, willing, and capable of holding jobs in high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand career fields such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics, nursing, allied health, construction, information technology, energy sustainability, and many other career fields that are vital in keeping the United States competitive in the global economy; Whereas CTE helps the United States meet the very real and immediate challenges of economic development, student achievement, and global competitiveness; Whereas the United States has 30,000,000 jobs with an average income of $55,000 per year that do not require a bachelor's degree yet increasingly require some level of postsecondary education; Whereas nearly 12,200,000 students are enrolled in CTE across the country at the secondary and postsecondary levels, with CTE programs in thousands of CTE centers, comprehensive high schools, career academies, and CTE high schools, and nearly 1,000 2-year colleges; Whereas CTE matches employability skills with workforce demand and provides relevant academic and technical coursework leading to industry-recognized credentials for secondary, postsecondary, and adult learners; Whereas CTE affords students the opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills, and credentials needed to secure careers in growing, high-demand fields; Whereas secondary CTE is associated with a lower probability of dropping out of high school and a higher likelihood of graduating on-time; Whereas CTE students were significantly more likely than non-CTE students to report having developed problem-solving, project completion, research, math, college application, work-related, communication, time management, and critical thinking skills during high school; Whereas, according to an American Federation of Teachers poll, 94 percent of parents approve of expanding access to CTE and other programs that prepare students for jobs; Whereas students at schools with highly integrated rigorous academic and CTE programs are significantly more likely to meet college and career readiness benchmarks than students at schools with less integrated programs; Whereas, last year, Congress affirmed the importance of CTE by passing the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Public Law 115-224), which supports program improvement in secondary and postsecondary CTE programs in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, and outlying areas; and Whereas February 23, 2019, marks the 102d anniversary of the signing of the Act of February 23, 1917 (commonly known as the ``Smith-Hughes Vocational Education Act of 1917'') (39 Stat. 929, chapter 114), which was the first major Federal investment in secondary CTE and laid the foundation for the bipartisan, bicameral support for CTE that continues as of February 2019: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) designates February 2019 as ``Career and Technical Education Month'' to celebrate career and technical education across the United States; (2) supports the goals and ideals of Career and Technical Education Month; (3) recognizes the importance of career and technical education in preparing a well-educated and skilled workforce in the United States; and (4) encourages educators, guidance and career development professionals, administrators, and parents to promote career and technical education as a respected option for students. Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, our Nation's continued economic progress and the social mobility of our citizens are contingent on the education and skills of the American workforce and its ability to adjust and fulfill the needs of the 21st century economy. Career and technical education (CTE) programs are an essential piece of every student's education, providing them access to the important knowledge, skills, and credentials needed to obtain careers in rapidly growing, high- demand fields. Today, approximately 12.2 million students across the Nation are enrolled in CTE programs offered by thousands of career academies, comprehensive high schools, CTE high schools, community colleges, and CTE centers. Through intentionally designed applied learning, these students gain workplace skills and technical training that mirror in-demand positions in the workforce. In the coming decade, a projected 3 million skilled workers will be needed to fill infrastructure positions in the United States, including jobs related to designing, building, and operating transportation, housing, telecommunication, and utilities facilities. CTE programs intentionally match employability skills with workforce demands, lowering the probability of students dropping out of high school and increasing their likelihood of graduating on time. These skills-based training programs will help fill the estimated 30 million U.S. jobs available with an average income annual income of $55,000 that do not require a bachelor's degree yet necessitate some level of postsecondary education. Across Virginia, I hear from manufacturers frustrated by the shortage of qualified skilled production employees--roles that require the training and instruction provided in CTE classrooms. It is essential that we elevate the important role of CTE in the country's ability to meet the interconnected challenges of economic development, student achievement, and global competitiveness. Last year, Congress affirmed the importance of CTE by passing the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act which supports CTE programs in secondary and postsecondary education. Today, with my Senate CTE Caucus co-chairs Senator Portman, Senator Baldwin, and Senator Young and 47 colleagues in the Senate, I am pleased to introduce a bipartisan resolution to designate February as Career and Technical Education (CTE) month. CTE Month encourages students, parents, counselors, educators, and school leaders to learn more about the diverse educational opportunities offered in their communities, and recognize the valuable role of CTE in developing a well-educated and highly skilled workforce in the United States. By formally recognizing CTE Month through this resolution, it is our aim to raise greater awareness of the importance of improving access to high-quality CTE for millions of America's students and our nation's ongoing economic competitiveness. ____________________
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