[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 48 (Wednesday, March 15, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S794]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                 RECOGNIZING IDAHO'S COMMUNITY COLLEGES

 Mr. CRAPO. Madam President, along with my colleagues Senator 
Jim Risch, Representative Mike Simpson and Representative Russ Fulcher, 
we honor Idaho's community colleges in recognition of Community College 
Month and commend them for contributing to the success of Idahoans.
  The designation of April as Community College Month by the American 
Association of Community Colleges and the Association of Community 
College Trustees provides an opportunity to acknowledge the important 
role Idaho's community colleges have in enhancing Idahoans' quality of 
life and contributing to Idaho's economic growth.
  Idaho's community colleges prepare young people and adults throughout 
our great State for postsecondary education, successful careers, and 
productive lives. We are fortunate to have community colleges working 
hard to fuel the ingenuity and skill to advance students to Idaho's 4-
year institutions and provide dual enrollment opportunities for 
students pursuing advanced learning while in high school. According to 
statistics from the Idaho State Board of Education, nearly 142,000 dual 
credits were earned at our 2-year institutions in fiscal year 2022, 
meaning community colleges are giving Idaho high school students 
considerable opportunities to kickstart their higher educations.
  They also help keep pace with an ever-changing job market as they 
help grow the skills needed to prepare students to meet the 
requirements of progressing in Idaho's workforce. The Idaho State Board 
of Education found a notable 75 percent of graduates from 2-year 
institutions are employed in Idaho 1 year after graduation, and Idaho 
residents with an associate's degree earn $41,197 more than those 
without a degree.
  Our State is brimming with innovators and cutting-edge businesses. 
Community colleges are central partners in our communities fostering 
ideas and helping to meet the needs of area students and small 
businesses. Thank you to Idaho's community colleges for the important 
role they play in fueling Idaho achievement and growth.

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