U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Highlights Importance of Career and Technical Education Today During CTE Month

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, co-chair of the Senate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus, joined Wisconsin higher education and business leaders throughout the day today to highlight the importance of CTE. In multiple events, Senator Baldwin celebrated “CTE Month” and called for robust investments in CTE programs.

“I’m proud to join Wisconsin leaders in higher education and manufacturing today. The only way we can meet workforce readiness challenges effectively, is if we have strong public-private partnerships that are supported by a Congress working across party lines,” said Senator Baldwin. “There is a growing belief among both parties that Career and Technical Education is one of the most effective vehicles for responding to labor market changes and the workforce readiness needs of business and industry. Now we need to do a better job of supporting CTE students so that they are better equipped for the high-skilled jobs of today and tomorrow.”

This morning, Senator Baldwin delivered remarks at the Community College Congressional Forum to presidents, trustees, administrators and students of community colleges across the country. In her speech, Senator Baldwin noted the importance of her America’s College Promise Act, a part of the Senate #InTheRed college affordability campaign. Following the address, Senator Baldwin met with the Wisconsin Technical College District Boards Association to discuss the role of Wisconsin’s technical colleges in promoting CTE in the state.

This afternoon, Senator Baldwin co-hosted a Congressional briefing on CTE featuring a range of employers from industries that rely on skilled workers. The briefing, co-sponsored by the Association for Career and Technical Education and Opportunity ‎America, featured Dan Conroy, consultant & former VP of Human Resources at Nexen Group in Wisconsin. WATCH the CTE briefing here.

Earlier this week, Senator Baldwin joined her fellow co-chairs of the Senate CTE Caucus, Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Rob Portman (R-OH) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) in applauding unanimous passage of a bipartisan resolution to encourage educators to CTE as an option for students. In addition to recognizing the importance of career and technical education in preparing a skilled workforce, the resolution also designates the month of February as “Career and Technical Education Month” to celebrate CTE programs across the United States.

Senator Baldwin has long been a strong advocate for Career and Technical Education and has visited a number of Wisconsin’s technical colleges. Senator Baldwin has received the Association for Career and Technical Education’s Policymaker of the Year award.

Recently, Senator Baldwin championed provisions to support CTE and workforce readiness included in the landmark bipartisan education reform law. She has also sponsored legislation to support students who work their way through school and students enrolled in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.