Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) released a statement Monday applauding the Senate’s advancement of a bill to reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) Act.
“This legislation is about providing students and workers with the skills they need to compete for good paying jobs today and in the future,” Casey said. “I urge the House to pass this legislation so that it can be signed into law.”
The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act would encourage states, schools, and local CTE providers to upgrade education and job training. It would also enhance alignment with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) as well as support local businesses in communicating their needs to states and educators to help develop strategies and programs.
The bill would be the first reauthorization of the Perkins CTE Act since 2006.
Senate Education Committee Chair Lamar Alexander (R-TN) also praised the Senate’s advancement of the legislation.
“What I hear most often from Tennessee employers is that they need more skilled workers,” Alexander said. “The Perkins CTE Act funds the programs that help train those skilled workers—for example, a high school student wanting to become a computer coder, or an adult going back to school to learn about commercial construction.”
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has expressed support for the reauthorization of the Perkins CTE Act, and approximately 500 businesses and organizations from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) sent a letter of support to Alexander and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
“Because employers are reporting a shortage of skilled workers to fill in-demand positions, ensuring that secondary and postsecondary institutions offer modern, quality and relevant career and technical education (CTE) programs remains a leading priority so that we can develop and grow our nation’s workforce,” the letter stated. “As competition for high-skilled labor increases and as the U.S. economy reaches full employment, every effort must be made to close the skills gaps that many industries across all sectors face.”