Portman, Colleagues Applaud Senate Passage of Resolution Recognizing February as "Career and Technical Education Month"

Statement

Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that the Senate unanimously passed a resolution recognizing February 2022 as Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. The resolution was sponsored by the co-chairs of the Senate CTE Caucus, Senators Portman, Tim Kaine (D-VA), Todd Young (R-IN), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). A broad, bipartisan group of 68 senators co-sponsored the resolution.

"Career and Technical Education provides our kids with the skills they need to be job-ready on graduation day. This is about ensuring that our young folks can take full advantage of the opportunities in the job market and hit the ground running right off the bat," said Senator Portman. "Now more than ever, as we emerge from this pandemic, I believe that raising awareness about Career and Technical Education is key to creating more opportunities in more communities in Ohio and around the country. As co-chair of the Senate Career and Technical Education Caucus, I will continue my work at the federal level to make sure that Washington is an effective partner with local communities in providing Americans with the skills training they need to succeed."

"I'm proud the Senate passed our resolution recognizing the importance of career and technical education. I remain committed to investing in career and technical training programs to equip all students with the skills needed for successful careers," said Senator Kaine.

"Supporting workforce training opportunities for Hoosiers is vital to our state's economic prosperity and future," said Senator Young. "Indiana's workforce needs the right skills and training for the jobs of tomorrow. By investing in our people, we help provide a pathway to a meaningful career and a chance to live the American Dream."

"I'm proud to join this bipartisan effort to highlight the importance of career and technical education. The only way we can meet workforce readiness challenges effectively, is if we have strong public-private partnerships that are supported by a Congress working across party lines. We are showing that commitment with this Senate Resolution," said Senator Baldwin. "We know that CTE is one of the most effective vehicles for responding to labor market changes and the workforce readiness needs of business. Now we need to do more to support CTE students so that they are better equipped for the high-skilled jobs of today and tomorrow."

Senator Portman supported the advancement of the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, which became law in 2018 and included Portman's Educating Tomorrow's Workforce Act as well as provisions related to a number of different bills sponsored and introduced by members of the CTE Caucus, including the SHOP CLASS Act, the SUCCESS Act, and the Perkins Fund for Equity and Excellence.

This Congress, Senators Portman and Kaine introduced the bipartisan Jumpstart Our Businesses By Supporting Students (JOBS) Act, a bill that would help students access training and close this "skills gap" by expanding Pell Grant eligibility to cover high-quality and rigorous short-term job training programs so workers can afford the skills training and credentials that are in high-demand in today's job market.

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