[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 133 (Thursday, July 29, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E847]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   MORE FUNDING FOR CAREER EDUCATION

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                  HON. GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN

                    of the northern mariana islands

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 29, 2021

  Mr. SABLAN. Madam Speaker, today, I introduced two bills that give 
this House an opportunity to provide more funding for career education.
  My Job Corps Nationwide Act does this by allowing the establishment 
of Job Corps centers in all U.S. insular areas. Job Corps centers offer 
disadvantaged youth training in more than 70 career paths and 
participants can also work toward earning secondary school diplomas or 
recognized postsecondary credentials. However, the Workforce Innovation 
and Opportunity Act only authorized these training sites in the 50 
states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Allowing Job Corps 
centers in all U.S. insular areas would mean our young people would not 
have to leave to get the training they need, and local businesses would 
benefit from a skilled workforce connected to our community and 
committed to remaining.
  My second bill, the Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education 
(IELCE) Nationwide Act, will help put people to work by providing 
support to increase their English proficiency. It is not unusual for my 
constituents to grow up in homes that speak one of the indigenous 
languages of the Marianas: Chamorro or Refaluwasch. By including all 
U.S. insular areas in the IELCE program, my bill will make grant 
funding available for programs that help English language learners 
acquire the proficiency needed to obtain employment.
  By fixing these inequities in career education funding for the U.S. 
insular areas, we can help all in our nation receive the training and 
education they need to enter and succeed in the workforce.
  The gentlelady from American Samoa, Mrs. Radewagen, and the gentleman 
from Guam, Mr. San Nicolas, are original cosponsors of the bills.
  I urge my colleagues to support both bipartisan pieces of 
legislation.

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