Enzi: Major bipartisan breakthrough

Press Release – U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., applauded the Senate education committee’s passage of bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) Act, which is designed to help the nation’s students acquire the skills needed to be successful in today’s workplace.

Enzi drafted the legislation with Senator Bob Casey, D-Pa., along with Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Ranking Member Patty Murray, D-Wash.

Enzi said the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act would make important, necessary updates to career and technical education (CTE) to give workers and students the skills they need to find high-skill, high-wage or in-demand jobs. It would give businesses the ability to find the talent they need to compete in a changing 21st century economy.

“I appreciate the Chairman and Ranking Member, HELP member offices and stakeholders for working with us over the last few years on legislation to reauthorize the Perkins CTE Act,” Enzi said, “Career and technical education is an increasingly important part of preparing Americans to enter and thrive in the modern workforce. This reauthorization is particularly important to the state of Wyoming, where one sixth of school districts have chosen not to participate in this program because the compliance and reporting burdens have been too heavy to justify the funds they would receive. I am proud of this bipartisan breakthrough that supports learning opportunities for students to gain technical skills and knowledge.”

The first reauthorization of the Perkins CTE Act since 2006, this legislation would encourage states, schools and local CTE providers to update education and job training to meet the needs of the local economies. This would help ensure students have the skills needed to remain competitive. It would also increase alignment with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and promote collaboration between stakeholders so that local businesses can communicate their needs to states and educators as strategies and programs are developed.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, along with nearly 500 businesses and organizations from the National Association of Manufacturers, has voiced its support for bipartisan reauthorization of the Perkins CTE Act.