February 10, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 27 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              NATIONAL COURT REPORTING AND CAPTIONING WEEK

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                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 10, 2020

  Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, today, we recognize the Eighth Annual Court 
Reporters and Captioners Week. Approximately 48 million Americans are 
considered deaf or hard-of-hearing, and the captioning services that 
realtime writers and stenographic captioners ensure that all Americans 
have equal access to news and other vital information.
   Realtime writers are highly trained professionals who share a unique 
ability to convert the spoken word to text that can be read, streamed, 
broadcast, searched, and archived. This specialization includes 
broadcast captioning and realtime translation services for people who 
are deaf and hard of hearing, as well as providing near-instant 
translation in legal and other settings.
   In the 116th Congress, I am proud to have reintroduced the Training 
for Realtime Writers Act, which reauthorizes the Training for Realtime 
Writers Grant Program and encourages careers in realtime writing and 
court reporting, provides scholarships for students, and modernizes 
curriculum to adapt to our changing world. I was proud to have my bill 
included in the 2008 Higher Education Act Reauthorization.
   The Training for Realtime Writers Grant Program has been incredibly 
successful in training the current generation of captioners and court 
reporters and has aided in the rapid growth of these professions. By 
reauthorizing the Training for Realtime Writers grants, new students 
will have the opportunity to enter a technical, well-paid, and highly 
skilled career that will allow them to become court reporters and 
captioners immediately upon graduation.
   From maintaining the integrity of our democracy to ensuring every 
citizen stays up to date on today's 24-hour news cycle, realtime 
writers are vital to Americans in all communities. Over the past 
decade, this program has encouraged a new generation of realtime 
writers to enter this vital field. I am proud to work with the National 
Court Reporters Association and with my friend Rep. Rodney Davis, to 
reauthorize this program so we can continue to increase awareness and 
interest in this profession.

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