[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 33 (Thursday, February 28, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. MARK E. SOUDER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 25, 2008

  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 930 and 
especially in support of Brown Mackie College in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
  In my district, Mr. Speaker, there is a huge need for highly skilled 
workers, and Brown Mackie College plays a critical role in helping our 
region meet this demand. Each year they provide thousands of students 
opportunities to ``skill up,'' so that they can better contribute to 
local employers and better provide for their families.
  According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the top 20 fastest growing 
occupations in our country are supplied by career and technical 
education. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports that nearly three-
quarters of employers struggle to hire qualified workers. Clearly the 
need for career and technical education is severe, and we in Congress 
must do what we can to encourage its growth.
  In northeast Indiana--as in the rest of the country--a high quality 
education is critical to obtaining a good, well-paying job. While 
northeast Indiana is still a manufacturing center of the country, these 
jobs are becoming increasingly more high-tech and require higher levels 
of skills and training. Schools like Brown Mackie College are helping 
prepare students for these changes.
  Mr. Speaker, as competition in our global economy continues to grow 
more fierce, career and technical education is essential to preparing a 
well-educated, skilled workforce. I ask that my colleagues join with me 
in expressing support for Brown Mackie College and schools like it. 
They are critical to the future of northeast Indiana, and they are 
critical to the future of our country.

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