[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 186 (Wednesday, November 20, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H9062]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
American Education Week.
  Every year, this week underscores the importance of access to quality 
education. It honors the teachers, instructors, and educational mentors 
who make a difference in the lives of our Nation's learners.
  Working to ensure access to high-quality and affordable education for 
all students is of utmost importance. The American education system 
should be as diverse as our Nation's students, including learners of 
all ages, of all socioeconomic backgrounds, and from rural America, 
urban America, and everywhere in between. That includes students who 
choose to pursue a traditional 4-year college degree as well as those 
who choose to attend a trade school or an apprenticeship program.
  As co-chair of the bipartisan Career and Technical Education Caucus, 
I have been pleased to introduce a number of career and technical 
education bills, alongside my fellow co-chair, Congressman  Jim 
Langevin, which aim to restore rungs on the ladder of opportunity for 
every American.
  Most recently, that includes H.R. 5092, the Counseling for Career 
Choice Act. H.R. 5092 ensures students have access to quality 
counseling resources that can help them make more informed decisions 
about their educational futures and professional career choices. By 
better equipping these students with the skills to succeed, we are one 
step closer to closing our Nation's skills gap.
  The skills gap is the result of a lack of qualified students in STEM 
disciplines like nursing, energy, information technology, 
cybersecurity, and more. Career and technical education is working to 
empower students by equipping them with employable skills.
  To directly address the workforce shortage in cybersecurity, I was 
proud to cosponsor H.R. 1592, the Cybersecurity Skills Integration Act. 
This bill would create a pilot program through the Department of 
Education to award grants to create or expand existing postsecondary 
CTE programs in cybersecurity competencies.
  Career and technical education has support outside of the Education 
and Labor Committee as well. I also cosponsored H.R. 898, the Skills 
Investment Act of 2019. H.R. 898 enhances Coverdell Education Savings 
Accounts, which are tax-advantaged savings accounts for 
educational expenses. American workers can use the accounts to pay for 
skills-based learning, career training, and workforce development. In 
addition, both workers and employers receive tax credits for 
contributions to these accounts.

  Mr. Speaker, in addition to addressing the shortage of our skilled 
workforce, we need to continue increasing educational access for 
students who are living with disabilities. The Individuals with 
Disabilities Education Act ensures nearly 7 million infants, toddlers, 
children, and youth with disabilities have access to quality education.
  Unfortunately, Congress has fallen short on our commitment to these 
individuals, and support for students with disabilities has remained 
underfunded. That is why I was proud to support H.R. 1878, the IDEA 
Full Funding Act, which would mandate gradual increases in IDEA funding 
to reach the full funding as promised by Congress when IDEA was passed 
and to do that by fiscal year 2029.
  Lastly, there are many bipartisan bills that support quality 
education for American learners. I have always believed that we produce 
the best results for students when we work across the aisle. However, 
the partisan College Affordability Act, which would reauthorize the 
Higher Education Act, actually contributes to crippling college costs 
and widens our Nation's skills gap.
  It is my hope that we can offer real solutions like the High-Quality 
Opportunities in Postsecondary Education Act, or the HOPE Act, which 
provides institutions with the tools they need to help students prepare 
for successful careers and successful lives.
  This is American Education Week. Let's remember that students deserve 
better than a one-size-fits-all educational plan.

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