[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 17 (Thursday, January 26, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H339-H340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           ENCOURAGING COLLEAGUES TO JOIN BIPARTISAN CAUCUSES

  The SPEAKER. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage 
my colleagues to join the bipartisan Career and Technical Education 
Caucus, the Congressional Service Caucus, the German-American Caucus, 
and the Congressional Scouting Caucus.
  As the proud co-chair of all four of these bipartisan caucuses, these 
organizations are a great way for members to get involved and share 
interests. As a senior member of the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce, I have always supported and will continue to support career 
and technical education programs that provide learners of all ages with 
career-ready skills, restoring rungs on the ladder of opportunity.
  Along with my co-chair, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon, the 
bipartisan CTE Caucus highlights the importance of preparing a well-
educated and skilled workforce.
  Through this caucus, we have made tremendous strides in providing 
learners of all ages the skills necessary to obtain high-quality, 
family-sustaining jobs. One of those successes includes the passing and 
enactment of the Strengthening Career and Technical Education 21st 
Century Act.
  Through these programs, we give individuals the ability to restore 
the rungs on the ladder of opportunity. CTE programs exist in every 
State and congressional district; therefore, I cordially invite you to 
join the bipartisan Career and Technical Education Caucus. Together, we 
can improve America's competitiveness and help facilitate job 
opportunities for our constituents.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join the bipartisan 
Congressional Service Caucus, co-chaired by my colleague, Congressman  
Jim Panetta of California.
  This caucus recognizes the many nonprofit service organizations 
across the country and their long history of promoting community 
service and humanitarian assistance.
  These volunteer service organizations have extensive member clubs in 
towns across America and in nearly every country around the world, and 
notable examples include the distinguished organizations such as 
Kiwanis International, Lions Clubs International, Optimist 
International, and Rotary Clubs International.
  The caucus will serve as a platform for educating Members, staff, and 
the public on policy issues relating to our service organizations. It 
will also share positive stories from clubs across the country in hopes 
of fostering the future viability and continued growth of local service 
clubs and the work of their volunteers.
  Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join the bipartisan 
German-American Caucus. I co-chair the German-American caucus with my 
colleague, Congressman Bill Keating of Massachusetts.
  Today, there are more than 40 million Americans of German descent 
living in the United States, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 
boasts one of the largest German populations in the country.
  Our caucus seeks to bring together members dedicated to strengthening 
the German-American friendship and economic partnership, discuss joint 
priorities, and work through differences in opinion, as well as 
maintain the historical and cultural connection between our two 
nations.
  The partnership between Germany and the United States is central to 
the transatlantic alliance and the US-EU relations. Through networking, 
supporting educational and exchange programs, and discussing recent 
updates and events around global foreign affairs, the caucus will focus 
on advancing the German-American partnership to better support 
security, safety, and prosperity within our own countries and on a 
global stage.
  Madam Speaker, lastly, I encourage my colleagues to join the 
bipartisan Scouting Caucus. I co-chair this caucus alongside my 
colleague, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., from Georgia. The 
Congressional Scouting Caucus is a bipartisan group that aims to 
promote the values of scouting and support it in all forms at the 
highest levels of our government.
  As a caucus, we will serve as an informal group of members dedicated 
to issues related to scouting and educating other members on this 
subject.
  Scouting has been an important part of each of our lives and gives us 
the tools at an early age to develop personal and leadership skills 
that have helped make us successful.
  As adults, we have been involved in promoting scouting and believe 
strongly in its ability to positively impact millions of American 
youths. I would encourage any member interested in supporting scouting 
of any kind to join the caucus.

[[Page H340]]

  Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to consider joining these 
caucuses as we start the 118th Congress.

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