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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 550 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 550

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

             February 8 (legislative day, February 7), 2024

Mr. Kaine (for himself, Mr. Young, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Budd, Mr. Barrasso, 
 Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Mrs. Britt, Mr. Brown, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. 
Capito, Mr. Carper, Mr. Casey, Mr. Cassidy, Ms. Collins, Mr. Coons, Ms. 
  Cortez Masto, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Daines, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. 
   Durbin, Mr. Fetterman, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Hagerty, Ms. Hassan, Mr. 
 Heinrich, Mr. Hickenlooper, Ms. Hirono, Mr. King, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. 
    Lankford, Mr. Lujan, Ms. Lummis, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Marshall, Mr. 
Merkley, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Peters, Mr. Reed, Mr. Risch, Ms. 
Rosen, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, 
  Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Smith, Mr. Thune, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. 
  Warner, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Wyden, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. 
 Bennet, Mr. Braun, and Ms. Ernst) 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 prepared for 
        skilled professions;
Whereas not fewer than 17,000,000 new workers will be needed to support the 
        infrastructure sector of the United States through 2031, including to 
        design, build, and operate transportation, housing, utilities, and 
        telecommunications;
Whereas advancements in technology have fundamentally changed critical economic 
        sectors of the United States and the global economy, creating 
        significant, new demand for high-wage, high-quality, and efficient 
        education and training opportunities;
Whereas career and technical education (referred to in this preamble as ``CTE'') 
        ensures that a competitive and skilled workforce is ready, willing, and 
        capable of holding jobs in high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand career 
        fields;
Whereas CTE helps the United States meet the very real and immediate challenges 
        of economic development, student achievement, and global 
        competitiveness;
Whereas, in the United States, it is forecast that nearly \1/3\ of all jobs will 
        require some level of postsecondary education, but less than a 
        bachelor's degree, by 2031;
Whereas 11,500,000 students are enrolled in CTE programs across the United 
        States at the secondary and postsecondary levels, with CTE programs in 
        thousands of comprehensive high schools, area technical centers, and 
        career academies and in over 1,000 two-year colleges;
Whereas CTE aligns with labor market demand and provides students with 
        employability skills and relevant academic and technical coursework 
        leading to credentials of value for secondary and postsecondary 
        education levels and adult learners;
Whereas CTE affords students the opportunity to cultivate the knowledge and 
        skills to earn the credentials needed to secure careers in growing, 
        high-demand fields;
Whereas secondary CTE is associated with a lower probability of dropping out of 
        high school and a higher likelihood of graduating high school on time;
Whereas, according to a recent national survey conducted by the Hunt Institute 
        and Lake Research Partners, 94 percent of parents and voters favor 
        increased opportunities for students to access workforce training and 
        related opportunities to cultivate skills needed for a career;
Whereas students at schools with highly integrated, rigorous academics and CTE 
        programs are significantly more likely to meet college and career 
        readiness benchmarks than students at schools with less integrated 
        programs;
Whereas, in 2018, Congress affirmed the importance of CTE by passing the 
        Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act 
        (Public Law 115-224; 132 Stat. 1563), which supports investment and 
        improvement in secondary and postsecondary CTE programs in all 50 
        States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the 
        United States Virgin Islands, and outlying areas; and
Whereas February 23, 2024, marks the 107\th\ anniversary of the signing of the 
        Act of February 23, 1917 (39 Stat. 929, chapter 114, commonly known as 
        the ``Smith-Hughes Vocational Education Act of 1917''), 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 2024: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the designation of February 2024 as ``Career 
        and Technical Education Month'' to celebrate career and 
        technical education across the United States;
            (2) supports the goals and ideals of Career and Technical 
        Education Month;
            (3) recognizes the importance of career and technical 
        education in preparing a well-educated and skilled workforce in 
        the United States; and
            (4) encourages educators, school counselors, guidance and 
        career development professionals, administrators, and parents 
        to promote career and technical education as a respected 
        educational pathway for students.
                                 <all>
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