Barbara Mikulski: “I rise in support of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2005. To compete in this…”

“I rise in support of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2005. To compete in this global economy, we need to make sure our students have 21st century skills for 21st century jobs. Vocational and technical education is an extremely important part of this effort. The Perkins Act, which provides $1.3 billion to help train more than 10 million Americans across the country, is a vital investment in our Nation's high schools, community colleges, and our students. The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical program gives a boost to America's workforce development system by providing funds to schools that teach technical skills ranging from auto shop to computer programming. The Perkins Act also supports practical career programs and links between secondary and postsecondary education, helping students to move up the opportunity ladder and prepare them for high- skill, high-wage jobs. Students who have completed Perkins-supported programs are better prepared not only for higher education but for the workplace. The President has proposed eliminating funding for all vocational and technical education programs. This is the wrong way to go. If Perkins was eliminated, high schools, technical schools, and community colleges in every State would suffer. In Maryland, our schools would lose almost $19 million. Last year, we had more than 150,000 students enrolled in career and technical programs in Maryland.…”