Vocational and Technical Education for the Future Act
VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR THE FUTURE ACT -- (House of Representatives - May 04, 2005)
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Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Boehner) for the time to speak on this bill, and am proud to serve on the gentleman's committee.
I think I am unique in this body in my experience with this kind of program. I am an educator, a former Trio director, I began a tech prep program, and I was a community college president and university administrator. I understand firsthand the importance of good, solid technical and vocational education. Armed with the proper skills, our students can achieve anything they set their minds to.
The gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Boehner) and the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) are to be commended for putting together a bill that strengthens accountability so that we can ensure that the vocational and technical courses provided to our students are the best that can be offered. Our students deserve no less.
This bill also includes provisions to ensure States and local communities will have more control rather than the Federal Government. That is very important. In this bill, State and local communities are empowered to determine academic content and curriculum. This is an extremely important part designed to provide students with an appropriate education based on what skills and industries are important to their local communities.
H.R. 366 streamlines Federal funding of vocational and technical education programs, thereby increasing flexibility for States and allowing more funding to reach the local communities.
The benefits of vocational and technical education to our communities are incredible. With the world changing so rapidly and all of the constant changes in our workforce, education is the key to our success as a Nation. In order to keep our Nation competitive in the global economy, we must ensure that our students maintain the best opportunities to better themselves, learn a new skill and give back to their communities.
Mr. Chairman, the key to good education does not lie in the hands of the Federal Government. It lies in the willing and able hands of those in our localities. That is why I am supporting this bill. Our students deserve no less than the best education. With these tools, the possibilities are endless.
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