Career and Technical Education

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, Congressman Jim Langevin and I serve as the cochair for the bipartisan Career and Technical Education, or the CTE, Caucus.

During the two previous Congresses, we worked to raise awareness of the importance of career and technical education. We have also led the charge to ensure that CTE programs receive robust funding.

For nearly a decade, CTE programs were largely marginalized, receiving level funding and even taking sizable reductions. The CTE Caucus, in turn, has advocated for maintaining funding levels for CTE programs. We are pleased that yesterday the House passed modest funding increases for CTE programs. This is a good start.

Mr. Speaker, with so many unemployed or underemployed in this country, it is time for us to take a more strategic approach to helping Americans get back to work. We can no longer afford to undervalue CTE. In fact, we will only succeed if career and technical education is an essential element of our strategy.

Mr. Speaker, I would like, as a point of personal privilege, a valued House staff member, Trudi Terry, is retiring before we return from this coming week's recess. I want to thank her for her service to this country.

Thank you, Trudi.

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