WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, praised a new proposal announced by President Obama today that will prepare more students and workers for jobs by strengthening the nation's community colleges. Miller said that he plans to introduce the initiative in the U.S. House of Representatives tomorrow as part of larger legislation that will make college more affordable through major student loan reforms.
"The President's proposal recognizes that community colleges can and should be a catalyst for our nation’s recovery. New data shows that jobs that require only an associate’s degree or a certificate are expected to grow faster in the next ten years than jobs that require a bachelor’s degree. We would be making a mistake if we missed this opportunity to adapt our community colleges to the rigors and demands of the 21st century economy we are working to rebuild. This proposal represents exactly the type of investment we’ll need to make if we’re serious about building a lasting economic recovery and leading the world in college graduates by 2020. Tomorrow I will introduce legislation that embraces this and other initiatives that will expand access to quality, affordable educational opportunities.
“Our community colleges have the potential to be much stronger than they are today. Too many institutions don’t have the resources they need to align their courses with the needs of local businesses and employers. Too many of their campuses are in need of serious repair. Too many students, from high school on, aren’t getting the basic skills they need to compete in high-wage jobs, in high-growth industries. And millions of Americans who have lost their jobs in this recession need access to affordable education and training programs that will help get back on their feet and back to work.
“For all of these reasons, President Obama’s proposal is a game-changer for our economy and our competitiveness. It will transform our community colleges into high-quality vessels for education and job training by driving partnerships between community colleges, local employers, and communities. And it will offer free, high-quality, online training courses to help prepare Americans of all ages, from high school and college students to displaced workers, for the careers of the future.”
“Our community colleges have the potential to be much stronger than they are today. Too many institutions don’t have the resources they need to align their courses with the needs of local businesses and employers. Too many of their campuses are in need of serious repair. Too many students, from high school on, aren’t getting the basic skills they need to compete in high-wage jobs, in high-growth industries. And millions of Americans who have lost their jobs in this recession need access to affordable education and training programs that will help get back on their feet and back to work.
“For all of these reasons, President Obama’s proposal is a game-changer for our economy and our competitiveness. It will transform our community colleges into high-quality vessels for education and job training by driving partnerships between community colleges, local employers, and communities. And it will offer free, high-quality, online training courses to help prepare Americans of all ages, from high school and college students to displaced workers, for the careers of the future.”
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