Preparing Students for the Jobs of Tomorrow
One of the most common concerns I hear when I tour businesses and manufacturers across the North Country is the need for more high-skilled workers. This year, my colleagues and I have been hard at work passing meaningful legislation to expand opportunities to every American, no matter their background. One of my priorities in Congress is to ensure that our North Country workforce is prepared for the jobs of the 21st Century.
Whether you’re a high school student, attend traditional college or take night classes while working full-time, it is imperative that you are given the tools necessary to become competitive in the workforce. I’m pleased to report that with my support, the House of Representatives passed two important pieces of legislation that will help our district’s workforce achieve the American Dream.

It is estimated that there are as many as 6 million jobs in the United States that have gone unfilled simply because of a serious, nationwide shortage of skilled workers. It was with this in mind that the House of Representatives passed the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act in June. I was pleased to help craft this bill as part of my work on the Education and the Workforce Committee, and was able to incorporate important feedback I received during my meetings with students and educators from across our district. A traditional college education works for many students, but for others, this path isn’t the best choice. This bill enables more individuals to gain the skills they need to succeed by empowering state and local community leaders to use Federal resources to respond to changing economic conditions. It also streamlines performance standards to ensure that Career and Technical Education programs are working and delivering measurable results, and creates community partnerships to strengthen engagement between students and employers.
With my support, the House of Representatives also passed the Accelerating Individuals into the Workforce Act. This bill, which passed the House by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote, continues to make good on our promise to expand opportunity and to bridge the skills gap between low-income Americans and the middle class. This legislation encourages the creation of employer-led partnerships to hire recipients of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Expanding employment opportunities to those who rely on TANF will provide critical work experience for low-income Americans, and put them on track for a life of success and independence.

These bills are just some of the ways in which the House has been working to provide support for Career and Technical Education programs. It is imperative that we provide our North Country students with as many education and training options as possible as we work to build a high-skilled labor pool for our employers. There is still much work to be done to help our students secure good paying jobs and achieve their ultimate goals, and in Congress, I’ll continue to support Career and Technical Education Programs.
