House Passes Legislation Strengthening Career and Technical Education Opportunities

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Candice Miller (MI-10) issued the following statement after a bipartisan majority of the House passed the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 5587), legislation that seeks to provide more Americans with the skills they need to compete in a changing economy and ever-evolving workforce environment:

“According to the National Science Foundation, less than 25% of high school seniors are proficient in science and math, and, in an ever-increasingly STEM-based economy, this means, when it comes to workforce preparedness, we are failing our students. We need to ensure our students have the education they need to compete in a global economy, which is why, today, the House passed legislation that provides students with the skills and resources they need to pursue vital technical fields. This legislation provides states with the flexibility to tailor federal resources to their unique education and economic needs and streamlines career and technical education programs. Every student deserve the opportunity to develop the skills they need to participate in a 21st century economy, and I am confident these additional resources will help them do so.”

Highlights of the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act:

• Delivers states more flexibility to use federal resources in response to changing education and economic needs.
• Ensures career and technical education prepares all students, including historically disadvantaged and vulnerable students, for success in high-skill, high-wage occupations and careers in nontraditional fields. 
• Improves alignment with in-demand jobs by supporting innovative learning opportunities, building better community partnerships, and encouraging stronger engagement with employers.
• Enhances career and technical education through increased focus on employability skills, work-based learning opportunities, and meaningful credentialing so students are prepared to enter the workforce poised for success. 
• Empowers state and local leaders to develop plans that improve the quality of career and technical education and take into account unique ‎local and state needs.

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