[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 15, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S722]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RESOLUTIONS SUBMITTED TODAY

  Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to 
the en bloc consideration of the following Senate resolutions 
introduced earlier today: S. Res. 515, S. Res. 516, S. Res. 517.
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolutions en bloc.


                              S. Res. 515

  Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, by supporting the development of a 
workforce trained in in-demand skills, we can accelerate the recovery 
of our economy. The Nation's continued progress and the socioeconomic 
mobility of our citizens are contingent on the education and skills of 
the American workforce and its ability to adjust to and fulfill the 
needs of the 21st century economy, especially in the wake of the 
coronavirus pandemic and with growing infrastructure needs. Career and 
technical education--CTE--programs are vital to every student's 
education, providing them access to the important knowledge, skills, 
and credentials needed to obtain careers in rapidly growing, high-
demand industries. Today, approximately 11 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 applied learning, these students 
obtain workplace skills and technical training that mirror in-demand 
positions in the workforce.
  In the next decade, millions of 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. As local governments are 
able to invest in projects previously put on hold because of the 
pandemic and with the recent passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure 
Investment and Jobs Act, there will be even more demand for skilled 
workers. CTE programs intentionally match skills with workforce 
demands, lowering the probability of high school drop-out and 
increasing the likelihood of on-time graduation rates. One study showed 
that high school students who were CTE concentrators graduated from 
high school, enrolled in postsecondary education, and were employed 
full-time at higher rates than their nonconcentrator peers. CTE 
concentrators also had a higher median income 8 years after graduation. 
These CTE programs will help fill the estimated 30 million U.S. jobs 
available with an average annual income of $55,000 that do not require 
a bachelor's degree yet necessitate some level of postsecondary 
education.
  In 2018, 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. 
We also need to ensure we continue reskilling and upskilling workers by 
supporting workforce development programs.
  Today, with my Senate CTE Caucus cochairs Senator Portman, Senator 
Baldwin, and Senator Young and more than two-thirds of my Senate 
colleagues, I am pleased to again 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, we 
hope to bring greater awareness to improving access to high-quality 
career and technical education for millions of America's students and 
our Nation's ongoing economic competitiveness.


                              S. Res. 517

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, the first criminal trial arising out of 
the events of January 6, 2021, is scheduled to begin on February 28, 
2022, in Federal district court in the District of Columbia. The 
Federal indictment charges the defendant with five felony counts for 
obstructing the counting by Congress of the electoral ballots for 
President and Vice President, transporting a firearm for unlawful use 
in furtherance of a civil disorder, using and carrying a firearm in a 
restricted area on the Capitol grounds, obstructing the Capitol Police 
during a civil disorder, and obstructing justice based on statements 
the defendant made to his children in reference to these matters.
  The government has requested trial testimony from Daniel Schwager, 
formerly counsel to the Secretary of the Senate, related to the 
obstruction count, including his knowledge and observations of the 
process and constitutional and legal bases for Congress' certification 
of the Electoral College vote.
  The Secretary of the Senate would like to cooperate with this request 
by providing relevant testimony from Mr. Schwager at this trial. In 
keeping with the rules and practices of the Senate, this resolution 
would authorize the production of relevant testimony from Mr. Schwager, 
with representation by the Senate legal counsel.
  Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed 
to, the preambles be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be 
considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolutions were agreed to.
  The preambles were agreed to.
  (The resolutions, with their preambles, are printed in today's Record 
under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')

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