[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 20]
[House]
[Pages 26742-26743]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNIZING THE EFFORTS OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES

  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 880) recognizing the efforts of career 
and technical colleges to educate and train workers for positions in 
high demand industries, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 880

       Whereas the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that 
     15,600,000 new jobs will be added to the labor force between 
     2006 and 2016, with population shifts and new technologies 
     fueling job growth;
       Whereas more than 80 percent of respondents in the 2005 
     National Association of Manufacturers Skills Gap report 
     indicated that they are experiencing a shortage of qualified 
     workers;
       Whereas postsecondary institutions offering career and 
     technical education provide the real-world situations 
     necessary to engage students and prepare them for the 
     workforce;
       Whereas postsecondary institutions offering career and 
     technical education provide an environment where students can 
     apply fundamental academic skills and employability skills to 
     complex job-related problems;
       Whereas postsecondary institutions offering career and 
     technical education connections with local business leaders 
     allow the use of workforce readiness credentials to spread 
     from the ground up in a way that is mutually beneficial to 
     students and employers;
       Whereas 14 percent of all employers reported being a member 
     of a career and technical education advisory committee in a 
     Census Bureau Survey; and
       Whereas employers assist postsecondary institutions 
     offering career and technical education in developing 
     programs that reflect the needs of industry: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the efforts of postsecondary institutions 
     offering career and technical education to educate and train 
     workers for positions in high-demand industries; and
       (2) supports the connection postsecondary institutions 
     offering career and technical education provide between 
     employers and students.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas). Pursuant to the 
rule, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Bishop) and the gentleman from 
Louisiana (Mr. Cassidy) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days 
during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous 
material on H. Res. 880 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. I rise today in support of H. Res. 880, which 
recognizes the efforts of career and technical education colleges that 
educate and train workers for positions in high-demand industries. This 
resolution supports partnerships between career and technical colleges, 
employers, and students so that students can be prepared to enter high 
demand technical fields.
  Career and technical education colleges help students apply practical 
information learned in the classroom to employment. CTE schools serve a 
diverse set of students. They serve secondary students who need job 
skills to transition into the workplace and employees who need to 
upgrade their skills for new technologies. Employers work with CTE 
programs to hire fully competent, well-trained workers for professional 
technical positions.
  As America has evolved from an industrial economy to a knowledge 
economy, the globalization of business and industry requires workers to 
acquire core knowledge and skills that can be applied in a wide and 
rapidly changing variety of work settings.
  With the changing business industry, employers want more competent, 
skilled workers, but they are having a difficult time finding these 
workers. More than 80 percent of respondents in the 2005 National 
Association of Manufacturers Skills Gap Report indicate that employers 
are experiencing a shortage of qualified workers. CTEs are situated to 
respond rapidly to changing job market demand to prepare potential 
employees.
  Along with CTEs, community colleges help spur the economy and provide 
a skilled workforce that contributes more than $31 billion to the 
Nation's economy. This year, community colleges in this country will 
award more than 500,000 associate degrees and 270,000 associate 
certificates.

[[Page 26743]]

  In September of this year, the House of Representatives passed the 
Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act. This bill includes an 
unprecedented investment of $10 billion into community colleges by 
encouraging partnerships between community colleges, States, 
businesses, job training, and adult education programs, and by creating 
a new competitive grant program for community colleges to improve 
instruction, bolster student services and implement other innovative 
reforms. Community colleges play an important role in career and 
technical education, and in many communities are leading the way in 
providing workforce development programs that meet the needs of local 
businesses.
  Madam Speaker, I again wish to express my support for H. Res. 880, 
and I thank Congressman Cassidy for bringing this bill forward. I urge 
my colleagues to support this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASSIDY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 880, 
recognizing the efforts of post-secondary institutions offering career 
and technical education to educate and train workers for positions in 
high-demand industries.
  Post-secondary institutions that offer career and technical education 
are an incredibly valuable resource to our communities. These 
institutions enable adults in the community to improve their lives by 
furthering their education in order to improve their employability and 
working life. Career and technical education enables students to learn 
specific skills or earn a certificate or a degree that employers 
require or prefer.
  Many institutions that offer career and technical education also have 
valuable connections with employers in the community. These connections 
allow these institutions to better serve their students. Employers in 
high-demand industries are able to communicate with post-secondary 
institutions what skills, certificates and degrees they expect 
potential employees to exhibit. The close relationship between post-
secondary institutions that offer career and technical education and 
employers provide students, and potential employees, with a valuable 
advantage.
  The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that 15.6 million new jobs 
will be added to the labor force between 2006 and 2016. These 
industries and employers also benefit from the unique relationship 
between post-secondary institutions that offer career and technical 
education and local business leaders. The relationship enables 
industries and businesses to communicate where there are experience and 
employment gaps and what skills they require for such positions.
  Post-secondary institutions that offer career and technical education 
provide students and the business community with an invaluable 
connection.
  I am honored to support this resolution, and I ask my colleagues to 
join me.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, we have no further speakers on 
our side, so with my gratitude to Mr. Cassidy, I urge my colleagues to 
approve this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Bishop) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 880, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the 
ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a 
quorum is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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