IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1239 

Expressing support for designating November 2020 National Career 

Development Month. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 24, 2020 

Mr. LANGEVIN (for himself and Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for designating November 2020 National 

Career Development Month. 

Whereas November 2020 marks the 107th year that the National Career Development Association (NCDA) is committed to its mission of inspiring and empowering individuals to achieve their career and life goals; 

Whereas a competitive global economy requires workers who 

make informed career choices to prepare for skilled professions; 

Whereas preparation for a purposeful career path helps to ensure gainful employment best utilizing one’s skills and 

talent, while providing potential employers with a wellprepared workforce ready to meet the challenges of the 

global marketplace; 


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•HRES 1239 IH 

Whereas career development programs enable students to 

gain a realistic understanding of how formal education 

prepares them for post-high school plans, which may include immediate employment in a civilian or military occupation, or further education at a vocational program, 

community college, or university; 

Whereas career development activities in our communities 

contribute to lower unemployment as people identify careers that match their interests and desired work environments; 

Whereas freedom of occupational and career choice is one of 

the most important birthrights of every United States citizen, and this freedom will be protected and enhanced 

throughout life; 

Whereas professional career development assistance, including but not limited to career counseling, should be available to all persons throughout their lifespans; 

Whereas career development assistance is a community partnership effort involving the education system, the home 

and family structure, business, industry, and a wide variety of community agencies and organizations and is not 

carried out by career development professionals alone; 

Whereas equity, not just equality, of career development opportunities should be available for all persons; 

Whereas the right to change occupations or career directions 

is fully as important as the right to choose an occupation 

or career direction; 

Whereas accurate, up-to-date information about educational 

and occupational opportunities is vital; 


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Whereas helping individuals increase self-understanding of 

their abilities, interests, values, and goals is a vital foundation of the career development process; 

Whereas career professionals help to provide career development services to inspire and empower our citizens’ attention to where it is needed most: empowering the national 

economy through maximum individual productivity; 

Whereas according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, as 

of October 2020, 11,000,000 workers are unemployed; 

Whereas career professionals help the United States worker 

meet the very real and immediate challenges of economic 

development, student achievement, and global competitiveness; 

Whereas career professionals are a vital resource for the livelihood of our Nation’s workforce and are underutilized 

relative to their potential need and value; 

Whereas a Harris Interactive Poll, conducted in partnership 

with NCDA, examined the perceptions of today’s workforce on the effectiveness of career counselors, the need 

for expanded workforce training opportunities and the 

hardships implicit in selecting, changing, or getting a job 

in the current economic climate, and the feedback is very 

clear; and 

Whereas the 2011 Harris Poll results revealed that— 

(1) only one quarter (24 percent) of adults report 

that they have already visited a career practitioner and 

86 percent of those found them to be helpful; and 

(2) only 37 percent of respondents reported making 

a conscious choice when choosing a career while over half 

(56 percent) took the only job available, looked interVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:44 Nov 24, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1239.IH HR1239

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•HRES 1239 IH 

esting at the time, or chose based on the influence of parents, relatives, or friends: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses support for the designation of 

3 ‘‘National Career Development Month’’; 

4 (2) affirms that career professionals are a valu5 able resource for the Nation’s workforce; 

6 (3) recognizes career development activities in7 crease competencies needed for success in a global 

8 economy; 

9 (4) urges workers and jobseekers to utilize the 

10 services of career professionals; and 

11 (5) encourages career professionals, students, 

12 educators, parents, employers, and the current work13 force to celebrate and promote career development. 

Æ 


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