Drew Ferguson: “I thank Mr. Smucker for yielding to me. I, too, would like to express my appreciation for Representative Thompson for…”

“I thank Mr. Smucker for yielding to me. I, too, would like to express my appreciation for Representative Thompson for taking the lead on this on our side of aisle. He did a great job. I also appreciate Representative Krishnamoorthi from Illinois, who worked tirelessly to make this a real solid bill. So thanks to both of them. Thank you for taking time to lead these Special Orders tonight. In my district and throughout Georgia, our school systems, technical colleges, and communities are creating innovative career tech opportunities to help transition students into a workforce through dual enrollment with the Technical College System of Georgia, work-based learning apprenticeships, and Career Academies like the THINC Academy in LaGrange, the Central Education Center in Newnan, and 12 for Life in Carrollton, Georgia. These programs are helping our young people make the transition from high school directly into the workforce, and they are also helping adult learners transition into new careers. I visited these centers and learned about these education programs, and they provide a meaningful transition for these students. They rely heavily on the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Eduction Act. This is a pivotal workforce development tool. It enables our education leaders to develop tailored programs that reflect the workforce needs, leveraging small dollars for very large outcomes.…”