A big breakthrough to boost career & technical education programs

I hear it from manufacturers and business owners across from Virginia: They do not have the skilled workers they need to fill the good-paying jobs they have available. Investing in education training programs is critical to building a skilled workforce by preparing students for future careers.

Yesterday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee passed a bill to improve and expand career and technical education programs in an effort to close that skills gap and grow the economy. This is a major breakthrough and something I have been working on for a long time.

I’m thrilled that this bill includes key priorities from legislation I have introduced to raise the quality of CTE programs, expose middle school students to CTE programs focused on career exploration, and support re-designing the high school experience to include courses relevant to the 21st century workforce that can prepare students for in-demand jobs.

Watch my remarks to the HELP Committee to hear more about this legislation >>

The next step is a vote by the full Senate. I hope Majority Leader McConnell will quickly bring this bill to the floor.