Title: Expressing support for designating November 2020 National Career Development Month.
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
This resolution supports the designation of National Career Development Month.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1239 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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 well-prepared workforce ready to meet the 
        challenges of the global marketplace;
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;
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 interesting at the time, or chose based on the influence 
of parents, relatives, or friends: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses support for the designation of ``National 
        Career Development Month'';
            (2) affirms that career professionals are a valuable 
        resource for the Nation's workforce;
            (3) recognizes career development activities increase 
        competencies needed for success in a global economy;
            (4) urges workers and jobseekers to utilize the services of 
        career professionals; and
            (5) encourages career professionals, students, educators, 
        parents, employers, and the current workforce to celebrate and 
        promote career development.
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