III 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 66 

Supporting the goals and ideals of Career and Technical Education Month. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 17 (legislative day, FEBRUARY 16), 2017 

Mr. KAINE (for himself, Mr. PORTMAN, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. YOUNG, Mr. BENNET, Mr. BROWN, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mrs. CAPITO, Mr. 

CASEY, Mr. COONS, Mr. DAINES, Mr. DONNELLY, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Mr. 

DURBIN, Mr. ENZI, Mr. FRANKEN, Ms. HASSAN, Mr. HATCH, Ms. 

HIRONO, Mr. ISAKSON, Mr. KING, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. MANCHIN, Mr. 

MARKEY, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. PETERS, Mr. THUNE, Mr. WARNER, Mr. 

WYDEN, and Mr. ROUNDS) submitted the following resolution; which was 

considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of Career and Technical 

Education Month. 

Whereas a competitive global economy requires workers who 

are trained in skilled professions; 

Whereas, according to the National Association of Manufacturers, 80 percent of respondents indicated a moderate to 

severe shortage of qualified skilled production employees, 

including front-line workers such as machinists, operators, craft workers, distributors, and technicians; 

Whereas career and technical education (referred to in this 

preamble as ‘‘CTE’’) ensures that competitive and skilled 

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workers are ready, willing, and capable of holding jobs in 

high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand career fields such as 

science, technology, engineering, mathematics, nursing, 

allied health, construction, information technology, energy 

sustainability, and many other career fields that are vital 

in keeping the United States competitive in the global 

economy; 

Whereas CTE helps the United States meet the very real and 

immediate challenges of economic development, student 

achievement, and global competitiveness; 

Whereas approximately 11,500,000 students are enrolled in 

CTE across the country with CTE programs in thousands of CTE centers, comprehensive high schools, career 

academies, and CTE high schools, and nearly 1,700 2- 

year colleges; 

Whereas, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 

the 3 fastest growing occupations require an associate’s 

degree or a degree with fewer requirements, and each has 

an annual median salary greater than $50,000; 

Whereas CTE matches employability skills with workforce demand and provides relevant academic and technical 

coursework leading to industry-recognized credentials for 

secondary, postsecondary, and adult learners; 

Whereas CTE affords students the opportunity to gain the 

knowledge, skills, and credentials needed to secure careers in growing, high-demand fields; 

Whereas CTE students were significantly more likely than 

non-CTE students to report having developed problemsolving, project completion, research, math, college application, work-related, communication, time management, 

and critical thinking skills during high school; 

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Whereas students at schools with highly integrated rigorous 

academic and CTE programs have significantly higher 

achievement in reading, mathematics, and science than 

students at schools with less integrated programs; and 

Whereas February 23, 2017, marks the 100th anniversary of 

the signing of the Act of February 23, 1917 (commonly 

known as the ‘‘Smith-Hughes Vocational Education Act 

of 1917’’) (39 Stat. 929, chapter 114), which was the 

first major Federal investment in secondary CTE and 

laid the foundation for the bipartisan, bicameral support 

for CTE that continues as of February 2017: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates February 2017 as ‘‘Career and 

3 Technical Education Month’’ to celebrate career and 

4 technical education across the United States; 

5 (2) supports the goals and ideals of Career and 

6 Technical Education month; 

7 (3) honors the 100th anniversary of the Act of 

8 February 23, 1917 (commonly known as the 

9 ‘‘Smith-Hughes Vocational Education Act of 1917’’) 

10 (39 Stat. 929, chapter 114); 

11 (4) recognizes the importance of career and 

12 technical education in preparing a well-educated and 

13 skilled workforce in the United States; and 

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1 (5) encourages educators, counselors, and ad2 ministrators to promote career and technical edu3 cation as an option for students. 

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