Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick: “Mr. Chairman, I support all the previous speakers and all that they have said as it relates to this fine piece of…”

“Mr. Chairman, I support all the previous speakers and all that they have said as it relates to this fine piece of legislation. I want to first commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Goodling], the chairman, as well as the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Clay], our ranking member, for all their hard work over the years to work on and retain the Perkins Act which has helped several million women across this country. I am a former teacher in the public school system in the Detroit public schools. I taught business classes and vocational classes. I saw the peak as young women and men gained the skill necessary to compete in America's job market. I know the importance of vocational education and the skills that it requires and offers to young people to move and matriculate as they become parents. Most of my colleagues know that this is the 25th year of title 9. Title 9 was instituted in 1972 and this year we celebrate the 25th anniversary of title 9. In title 9's experience, millions of women and men, particularly women, have shared across this country in higher education experiences as a result of the title 9 experiences, and many of them in their vocational education training. As has been already said, vocational education has increased employment opportunities. Vocational education has also increased wage earning for millions of Americans.”