[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 28 (Thursday, February 16, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1398-S1399]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 66--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF CAREER AND
TECHNICAL EDUCATION MONTH
Mr. KAINE (for himself, Mr. Portman, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Young, Mr.
Bennet, Mr. Brown, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Boozman, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Casey,
Mr. Coons, Mr. Daines, Mr. Donnelly, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, Mr.
Enzi, Mr. Franken, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Hatch, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Isakson, Mr.
King, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Markey, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Peters,
Mr. Thune, Mr. Warner, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Rounds) submitted the
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 66
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 11,500,000 students are enrolled in
CTE across the country with CTE programs in thousands of CTE
centers, comprehensive high schools, career academies, and
CTE high schools, and nearly 1,700 2-year colleges;
Whereas, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics,
the 3 fastest growing occupations require an associate's
degree or a degree with fewer requirements, and each has an
annual median salary greater than $50,000;
Whereas CTE matches employability skills with workforce
demand and provides relevant academic and technical
coursework
[[Page S1399]]
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 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 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; and
Whereas February 23, 2017, marks the 100th 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 2017: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates February 2017 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) honors the 100th anniversary of the Act of February 23,
1917 (commonly known as the ``Smith-Hughes Vocational
Education Act of 1917'') (39 Stat. 929, chapter 114);
(4) recognizes the importance of career and technical
education in preparing a well-educated and skilled workforce
in the United States; and
(5) encourages educators, counselors, and administrators to
promote career and technical education as an option for
students.
Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, our Nation's continued economic
competitiveness relies on the education and skills of the American
workforce and its ability to meet and adapt to the 21st-century
economy. Career and technical education, CTE, programs are a critical
component to every student's education, creating diverse pathways into
further education and developing careers. Today, approximately 11.5
million students are enrolled in CTE, encompassing every State through
nearly 1,700 two-year and thousands more secondary CTE centers,
comprehensive high schools career academies and CTE high schools.
According to the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Career,
Technical and Adult Education, in 2012, the average high school
graduation rate for students concentrating in CTE programs was 93
percent, compared with the national average of 80 percent. These
students gain real-world skills through applied learning, and integrate
their academic curriculum with technical and employability skills. In
addition, our Nation's continued economic competitiveness relies on the
skill of the American workforce and its ability to meet and adapt to
the 21st-century economy.
CTE prepares students with education and training leading to
industry-recognized credentials, including certifications, licenses,
certificates and degrees, in a wide variety of fields. According to the
U.S. Department of Labor, of the top three fastest-growing occupations,
all will require real-world skills that can be mastered through CTE--
none require a bachelor's degree and all have median salaries above
$50,000 per year. By increasing opportunities for students to obtain
postsecondary skills training and meaningful credentials, CTE can
spread economic opportunity to all students who are willing to work for
it.
Today with my Senate CTE Caucus cochairs Senator Portman, Senator
Baldwin, and Senator Young and other colleagues in the Senate, I am
introducing a bipartisan resolution to designate February as Career and
Technical Education, CTE, Month. CTE Month provides a chance for
students, counselors, educators and administrators to learn more about
the educational opportunities available in their communities and
recognize the importance of CTE in preparing a well-educated and
skilled workforce in the United States. This year's resolution also
marks the 100th anniversary of the Smith-Hughes National Vocational
Education Act of 1917, the Nation's first major federal investment in
secondary CTE.
By formally recognizing CTE Month through this resolution, it is our
hope that we can build greater awareness for the importance of
strengthening access to high-quality CTE for millions of America's
students and our nation's continued economic competitiveness.
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