[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 138 (Tuesday, September 13, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H5349]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         PERKINS CONSIDERATION

  (Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, in July, the Education and the Workforce 
Committee unanimously reported H.R. 5587, Strengthening CTE--or, its 
full name, Career and Technical Education--for the 21st Century Act. 
Later today, the full House will consider it here on the floor.
  I am so proud to be an original cosponsor of this bipartisan bill 
that reauthorizes important career and technical education programs to 
reflect the demands of the modern economy. I particularly want to 
salute and recognize my colleague and partner in this effort, G.T. 
Thompson from Pennsylvania, and also Katherine Clark from 
Massachusetts, for their efforts. This bill makes important investments 
in skills, training, and career exploration.
  H.R. 5587 expands two of my longstanding priorities: the role of 
school counselors in helping students find a career path that best fits 
their skill and access to work-based learning to bridge the gap between 
the classroom and the workplace. Students will be able to tailor their 
classes to learn the skills that they know employers are looking for. 
It is time to close the skills gap and give students the tools to 
succeed.
  I want to also commend the chairman and ranking member of the full 
committee and all those who had a hand in bringing the bill to the 
floor that we will be voting on later today.

                          ____________________