[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 9, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 367--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF CAREER AND 
                       TECHNICAL EDUCATION MONTH

  Mr. KAINE (for himself, Mr. Portman, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Isakson, Mr. 
Warner, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Franken, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. 
Enzi, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. Ayotte, Mr. Coons, Mr. 
Thune, Mr. Boozman, Mrs. Capito, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Casey, and Mr. 
Durbin) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
agreed to:

                              S. Res. 367

       Whereas a competitive global economy requires workers who 
     are trained in skilled professions;
       Whereas, according to the National Association of 
     Manufacturers, 80 percent of respondents indicated a moderate 
     to severe shortage of qualified skilled production employees, 
     including front-line workers such as machinists, operators, 
     craft workers, distributors, and technicians;
       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 approximately 14,000,000 students are enrolled in 
     CTE across the country with CTE programs in nearly 1,300 
     public high schools and 1,700 2-year colleges;
       Whereas of the 20 fastest growing occupations--
       (1) 10 require an associate's degree or a degree with fewer 
     requirements;
       (2) 13 with the largest numbers of new jobs projected 
     require on-the-job training, an associate's degree, or a 
     certificate; and
       (3) nearly all require real-world skills that can be 
     mastered through CTE;
       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 CTE students were significantly more likely than 
     non-CTE student to report having developed problem-solving, 
     project completion, research, math, college application, 
     work-related, communication, time management, and critical 
     thinking skills during high school; and
       Whereas students at schools with highly integrated rigorous 
     academic and CTE programs have significantly higher 
     achievement in reading, mathematics, and science than 
     students at schools with less integrated programs: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates February 2016 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, counselors, and administrators to 
     promote career and technical education as an option to 
     students.

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