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“SENATE RESOLUTION 66--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION MONTH” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the Senate section on pages S1398-S1399 on Feb. 16, 2017.
The Department provides billions in unemployment insurance, which peaked around 2011 though spending had declined before the pandemic. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, claimed the Department funds "ineffective and duplicative services" and overregulates the workplace.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
SENATE RESOLUTION 66--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF CAREER AND
TECHNICAL EDUCATION MONTH
Mr. KAINE (for himself, Mr. Portman, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Young, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Brown, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Boozman, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Casey, Mr. Coons, Mr. Daines, Mr. Donnelly, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Franken, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Hatch, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Isakson, Mr. King, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Markey, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Peters, Mr. Thune, Mr. Warner, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Rounds) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 66
Whereas a competitive global economy requires workers who are trained in skilled professions;
Whereas, according to the National Association of Manufacturers, 80 percent of respondents indicated a moderate to severe shortage of qualified skilled production employees, including front-line workers such as machinists, operators, craft workers, distributors, and technicians;
Whereas career and technical education (referred to in this preamble as ``CTE'') ensures that competitive and skilled workers are ready, willing, and capable of holding jobs in high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand career fields such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics, nursing, allied health, construction, information technology, energy sustainability, and many other career fields that are vital in keeping the United States competitive in the global economy;
Whereas CTE helps the United States meet the very real and immediate challenges of economic development, student achievement, and global competitiveness;
Whereas approximately 11,500,000 students are enrolled in CTE across the country with CTE programs in thousands of CTE centers, comprehensive high schools, career academies, and CTE high schools, and nearly 1,700 2-year colleges;
Whereas, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the 3 fastest growing occupations require an associate's degree or a degree with fewer requirements, and each has an annual median salary greater than $50,000;
Whereas CTE matches employability skills with workforce demand and provides relevant academic and technical coursework leading to industry-recognized credentials for secondary, postsecondary, and adult learners;
Whereas CTE affords students the opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills, and credentials needed to secure careers in growing, high-demand fields;
Whereas CTE students were significantly more likely than non-CTE students to report having developed problem-solving, project completion, research, math, college application, work-related, communication, time management, and critical thinking skills during high school;
Whereas students at schools with highly integrated rigorous academic and CTE programs have significantly higher achievement in reading, mathematics, and science than students at schools with less integrated programs; and
Whereas February 23, 2017, marks the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Act of February 23, 1917 (commonly known as the ``Smith-Hughes Vocational Education Act of 1917'') (39 Stat. 929, chapter 114), which was the first major Federal investment in secondary CTE and laid the foundation for the bipartisan, bicameral support for CTE that continues as of February 2017: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates February 2017 as ``Career and Technical Education Month'' to celebrate career and technical education across the United States;
(2) supports the goals and ideals of Career and Technical Education month;
(3) honors the 100th anniversary of the Act of February 23, 1917 (commonly known as the ``Smith-Hughes Vocational Education Act of 1917'') (39 Stat. 929, chapter 114);
(4) recognizes the importance of career and technical education in preparing a well-educated and skilled workforce in the United States; and
(5) encourages educators, counselors, and administrators to promote career and technical education as an option for students.
Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, our Nation's continued economic competitiveness relies on the education and skills of the American workforce and its ability to meet and adapt to the 21st-century economy. Career and technical education, CTE, programs are a critical component to every student's education, creating diverse pathways into further education and developing careers. Today, approximately 11.5 million students are enrolled in CTE, encompassing every State through nearly 1,700 two-year and thousands more secondary CTE centers, comprehensive high schools career academies and CTE high schools.
According to the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Career, Technical and Adult Education, in 2012, the average high school graduation rate for students concentrating in CTE programs was 93 percent, compared with the national average of 80 percent. These students gain real-world skills through applied learning, and integrate their academic curriculum with technical and employability skills. In addition, our Nation's continued economic competitiveness relies on the skill of the American workforce and its ability to meet and adapt to the 21st-century economy.
CTE prepares students with education and training leading to industry-recognized credentials, including certifications, licenses, certificates and degrees, in a wide variety of fields. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, of the top three fastest-growing occupations, all will require real-world skills that can be mastered through CTE--
none require a bachelor's degree and all have median salaries above
$50,000 per year. By increasing opportunities for students to obtain postsecondary skills training and meaningful credentials, CTE can spread economic opportunity to all students who are willing to work for it.
Today with my Senate CTE Caucus cochairs Senator Portman, Senator Baldwin, and Senator Young and other colleagues in the Senate, I am introducing a bipartisan resolution to designate February as Career and Technical Education, CTE, Month. CTE Month provides a chance for students, counselors, educators and administrators to learn more about the educational opportunities available in their communities and recognize the importance of CTE in preparing a well-educated and skilled workforce in the United States. This year's resolution also marks the 100th anniversary of the Smith-Hughes National Vocational Education Act of 1917, the Nation's first major federal investment in secondary CTE.
By formally recognizing CTE Month through this resolution, it is our hope that we can build greater awareness for the importance of strengthening access to high-quality CTE for millions of America's students and our nation's continued economic competitiveness.
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