Kaine, Young, Baldwin, & Budd Applaud Passage of Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing February as Career and Technical Education Month

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Todd Young (R-IN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Ted Budd (R-NC) applauded unanimous Senate passage of their bipartisan resolution recognizing February 2024 as Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. The senators are co-chairs of the Senate CTE Caucus.

“I’m glad the Senate unanimously passed my bipartisan resolution to recognize February as Career and Technical Education,” said Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. “As the son of an ironworker and during my time working at a technical school in Honduras, I’ve witnessed firsthand how CTE can provide a pathway to good-paying, meaningful jobs. This month and every month, let’s work to expand access to CTE, including by passing my JOBS Act to allow students to use Pell Grants for job training programs, and build an economy that works for everyone.”

“Supporting workforce training is vital to preparing for the jobs of tomorrow,” said Young. “Career and technical education equips individuals with hands-on experiences, addresses the skills gap, and provides a pathway to a meaningful career. Hoosiers deserve opportunities to succeed and live the American Dream."

“We know that a four-year degree is not for everyone and there are many other ways to a good middle-class life. I’m proud to support career and technical education because it gives people the hands-on experiences and skills they need to land a good-paying job and meet our economy’s demands,” said Baldwin. “I look forward to continuing to work with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to support CTE programs and set Wisconsinites up for success.”

“I’d like to thank my colleagues for unanimously passing our bipartisan resolution recognizing February as Career and Technical Education Month,” said Budd. “I will continue to advocate for more educational options for students, with a special focus on CTE programs, because they offer a high-salary, low-debt pathway to success.”

Kaine has long supported expanding access to CTE. He has introduced the bipartisan JOBS Act to help more Americans access high-quality, short-term job training by allowing them to use federal Pell Grants for the first time.

The resolution was cosponsored by Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mike Braun (R-IN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan M. Collins (R-ME), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), James Lankford (R-OK), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jim Risch (R-ID), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tim Scott (R-SC), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), John Thune (R-SD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Full text of the resolution is available here.

###