Congressman Krishnamoorthi Hails Advancement of Companion to His Career and Technical Education Bill Through Senate Education Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee advanced the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21^st Century Act by a unanimous voice vote. This legislation, led by Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Congressman Glenn ‘GT' Thompson (R-PA) passed the full House unanimously in June, 2017 and would reauthorize and modernize the American career and technical education (CTE) system for the first time in 12 years. The bill's reforms include requiring educators to work with local businesses to build curricula around in-demand skills while increasing state control, funding, and accountability measures.

"With the Senate's action today, we are now one step closer to the Senate passing this overwhelmingly bipartisan legislation to modernize career and technical education," said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. "With our skills gap growing and now leaving nearly 6.7 million jobs left open because employers can't find qualified workers to fill them, there has never been a more important time to invest in our students, our workers, and our small businesses. I will continue to work with my colleagues from both parties, and in both chambers of Congress, to get our bill to the President's desk and signed into law."