Supporting the Goals and Ideals of National Community College Month

Floor Speech

SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE MONTH

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Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in strong support of this resolution to support the goals and ideals of National Community College Month.

Community colleges are centers of educational opportunity. For over 100 years, they have been inclusive institutions that welcome all who desire to learn, regardless of wealth, heritage or previous academic experience.

Since their creation, community colleges have grown tremendously in numbers and have changed with the times. According to the American Association of Community Colleges, there are over 1,000 community colleges in this country serving about 11 million students. No other segment of higher education is more responsive to its community and workforce needs than the community college.

The community colleges help provide the country with professionals in fields like computer technology, law enforcement, homeland security, nursing and other health care fields. About 50 percent of new nurses are educated at community colleges, and close to 80 percent of firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency medicine technicians received their credentials from community colleges.

Not only do community colleges serve a unique role in graduating students with specific skills, but they are also extremely affordable. Tuition and fees at public community colleges average less than half of those at public 4-year colleges and one-tenth the tuition and fees at independent 4-year colleges.

In my congressional district, the Harrisburg Area Community College is a shining example of the important and successful role of community colleges in our Nation's higher education system. In fact, I am fortunate to have two branches of the Harrisburg Area Community College in my congressional district, in York and Gettysburg. Graduates from HACC begin careers in fields currently experiencing shortages such as nursing, early childhood education, and law enforcement. I have seen firsthand the successful partnerships created between the community college and local businesses.

We hope to continue to build on the support being given to community colleges through the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. The reauthorization is an opportunity to look at every program individually and determine if it is helping us meet our goal of providng a quality and affordable post-secondary education to every American.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution honoring the goals and ideals of National Community College Month.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I again urge a ``yes'' vote and want to commend the sponsor, Mr. Miller, and others supporting this, and my chairwoman, Mrs. McCarthy, for her advocacy here on floor. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

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