[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 26, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1494-S1495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 79--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF CAREER AND
TECHNICAL EDUCATION MONTH
Mr. KAINE (for himself, Mr. Portman, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Young, Mr.
Barrasso, Mr. Bennet, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Boozman, Mr.
Braun, Mr. Brown, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Carper, Mr. Casey, Mr.
Coons, Mr. Cornyn, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Daines, Ms. Duckworth, Mr.
Durbin, Mr. Enzi, Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. Harris, Ms. Hassan, Ms. Hirono,
Mr. Hoeven, Mrs.
[[Page S1495]]
Hyde-Smith, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Isakson, Mr. King, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr.
Manchin, Mr. Murphy, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Perdue, Mr. Peters, Mr. Roberts,
Ms. Rosen, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Sanders, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Smith, Ms.
Stabenow, Mr. Thune, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Warner, Mr.
Wicker, Mr. Wyden, and Ms. Ernst) submitted the following resolution;
which was considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 79
Whereas a competitive global economy requires workers who
are prepared for skilled professions;
Whereas, in the next decade, an estimated 3,000,000 new
workers will be needed in infrastructure positions in the
United States, including in positions for designing,
building, and operating transportation, housing, utilities,
and telecommunications facilities;
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 the United States has 30,000,000 jobs with an
average income of $55,000 per year that do not require a
bachelor's degree yet increasingly require some level of
postsecondary education;
Whereas nearly 12,200,000 students are enrolled in CTE
across the country at the secondary and postsecondary levels,
with CTE programs in thousands of CTE centers, comprehensive
high schools, career academies, and CTE high schools, and
nearly 1,000 2-year colleges;
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 secondary CTE is associated with a lower
probability of dropping out of high school and a higher
likelihood of graduating on-time;
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, according to an American Federation of Teachers
poll, 94 percent of parents approve of expanding access to
CTE and other programs that prepare students for jobs;
Whereas students at schools with highly integrated rigorous
academic and CTE programs are significantly more likely to
meet college and career readiness benchmarks than students at
schools with less integrated programs;
Whereas, last year, Congress affirmed the importance of CTE
by passing the Strengthening Career and Technical Education
for the 21st Century Act (Public Law 115-224), which supports
program improvement in secondary and postsecondary CTE
programs in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto
Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, and outlying areas;
and
Whereas February 23, 2019, marks the 102d 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 2019: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates February 2019 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, guidance and career development
professionals, administrators, and parents to promote career
and technical education as a respected option for students.
Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, our Nation's continued economic progress
and the social mobility of our citizens are contingent on the education
and skills of the American workforce and its ability to adjust and
fulfill the needs of the 21st century economy. Career and technical
education (CTE) programs are an essential piece of every student's
education, providing them access to the important knowledge, skills,
and credentials needed to obtain careers in rapidly growing, high-
demand fields. Today, approximately 12.2 million students across the
Nation are enrolled in CTE programs offered by thousands of career
academies, comprehensive high schools, CTE high schools, community
colleges, and CTE centers. Through intentionally designed applied
learning, these students gain workplace skills and technical training
that mirror in-demand positions in the workforce.
In the coming decade, a projected 3 million skilled workers will be
needed to fill infrastructure positions in the United States, including
jobs related to designing, building, and operating transportation,
housing, telecommunication, and utilities facilities. CTE programs
intentionally match employability skills with workforce demands,
lowering the probability of students dropping out of high school and
increasing their likelihood of graduating on time. These skills-based
training programs will help fill the estimated 30 million U.S. jobs
available with an average income annual income of $55,000 that do not
require a bachelor's degree yet necessitate some level of postsecondary
education.
Across Virginia, I hear from manufacturers frustrated by the shortage
of qualified skilled production employees--roles that require the
training and instruction provided in CTE classrooms. It is essential
that we elevate the important role of CTE in the country's ability to
meet the interconnected challenges of economic development, student
achievement, and global competitiveness. Last year, Congress affirmed
the importance of CTE by passing the Strengthening Career and Technical
Education for the 21st Century Act which supports CTE programs in
secondary and postsecondary education.
Today, with my Senate CTE Caucus co-chairs Senator Portman, Senator
Baldwin, and Senator Young and 47 colleagues in the Senate, I am
pleased to introduce a bipartisan resolution to designate February as
Career and Technical Education (CTE) month. CTE Month encourages
students, parents, counselors, educators, and school leaders to learn
more about the diverse educational opportunities offered in their
communities, and recognize the valuable role of CTE in developing a
well-educated and highly skilled workforce in the United States.
By formally recognizing CTE Month through this resolution, it is our
aim to raise greater awareness of the importance of improving access to
high-quality CTE for millions of America's students and our nation's
ongoing economic competitiveness.
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