Susan Davis: “I am pleased that our colleagues in the Senate have joined the House in passing career and technical education…”

“I am pleased that our colleagues in the Senate have joined the House in passing career and technical education legislation. I want to thank Chairwoman Foxx and Ranking Member Scott, along with our authors of the bill, for your leadership in moving the House version of this bill through committee. Also, today, we gathered experts from across the country to participate in the committee's first Workforce Innovation Forum. We just had an opportunity to hear from these innovators from cities around the country about the importance of investments and workforce development programs, and they shared how Federal investments can spur private investments in students, raise public awareness--very, very critical--of these programs, and connect workers to jobs in their communities. CTE provides a crucial link between the K-12 system and the workforce, and allows promising students to prepare for fields where high-paying jobs are available. Mr. Speaker, every day, families across America gather around the kitchen table to discuss college and career options, and we need to make sure that high-need job development programs are a bigger part of that conversation. Students and parents need good, current information to make these critical decisions. The flexibility in many of these programs offers our students less time in the classroom and more time in the workplace. And the hands-on education model keeps people engaged while teaching necessary soft skills before graduation.…”