Kaine Visits Louisa County High School In Mineral, Tours Reconstruction Efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine continued his two-week tour of the Commonwealth with a visit to Louisa County High School in Mineral, which is under construction after being severely damaged in a 2011 earthquake. Kaine, who co-chairs the Senate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus, visited classes studying small animal care, turf maintenance, auto mechanics, and culinary arts, and learned about LCHS's dual enrollment programs in partnership with community colleges in the region. 

“After the earthquake, the county went into a good problem-solving mode to deal with the immediate emergency, but then you have to build the new facilities. The federal government played a major role in that," said Kaine. "I’m on the Budget Committee so that’s why I wanted to come. I believe I can be a better advocate for funding if I come out and see the FEMA dollars in action rather than if I'm just sitting in the office reading out of the budget book.”
 
“Louisa has a great track record of CTE programs and they do them right in the high school. They do it in the school because they have realized you now get some of the best jobs in the country with a high school degree and technical training, not necessarily the four-year college degree. High schools can give kids a great head start through strong CTE programs in the k-12 system, and Louisa’s has a very good reputation.” 

Following his visit to Louisa County High School, Kaine toured the new Thomas Jefferson Elementary School and visited North Anna Power Station. 
 
Tomorrow, Kaine will travel to Newport News to visit the Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School. He will discuss the importance of CTE programs as an alternative to traditional four-year colleges that can prepare students for highly-skilled, well-paying jobs. In the afternoon, Kaine will visit the Philippine Cultural Center in Virginia Beach.

###