ICYMI: Blue Dogs Host Rural Opportunity Roundtable Discussion on Education and Workforce Development

Oct 7, 2020
Press Release
WASHINGTON—This week, Rep. Kendra Horn (OK-05), a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, moderated a Rural Opportunity Roundtable discussion on education and workforce development.
 
A champion for public education, Rep. Horn recently introduced the bipartisan Coronavirus College Access and Completion Emergency Relief Act, which would provide emergency funding to the Federal TRIO Programs to support access to counseling, tutoring, mentoring and technology to help students enter and complete college.
 
“I was grateful to speak with rural educators and education leaders to hear directly about the unique challenges rural schools and colleges face,” said Rep. Kendra Horn (OK-05). “The quality of a child’s education should not be based on their zip code or if they grew up in a rural or urban area. COVID-19 has highlighted this divide. Many of our rural students from kindergarten to technical training to college are losing out on a quality education because of a lack of resources. In Congress, I am working to ensure all students receive a quality education. This necessary investment is key to the long-term development of our rural communities.”
 
Rep. Horn was joined by the following special guests for the discussion:
 
  • Dr. Monte Randall, Dean of Academic Affairs, College of the Muscogee Nation
  • Dr. Alissa Young, President, Hopkinsville Community College
  • Tamara Hiler, Director of Education, Third Way
  • Dr. Allen Pratt, Executive Director, National Rural Education Association
 
To watch the full discussion, click here.
 
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND:
 
The Blue Dogs are developing a forward-looking plan to strengthen rural America by building a strong economic foundation and creating good-paying jobs. As they develop their plan, the Blue Dogs want to hear from policy experts and from those who are experiencing the issues of our time on the ground. That’s why the Coalition launched the Rural Opportunity Roundtable series, which began with a discussion with local and tribal leaders about the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on their communities, followed by a discussion on expanding access to high-speed broadband internet, a discussion on expanding access to affordable quality health care, a discussion on mental health care and addiction treatment in rural communities, a discussion on small business and entrepreneurship, and a discussion on strengthening the outdoor economy.
 
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