BCW Applauds Reauthorization of Perkins Career and Technical Education Act

The Business Council of Westchester applauds this week’s passage of the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, which will reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to provide additional support for students pursuing technical education.

Career and Technical programs offer students an opportunity to gain the skills and experience necessary to compete for jobs in a broad range of fields, such as healthcare and technology. The updated legislation will improve how the government invests in the American workforce and will strengthen American competitiveness.

“The BCW has been a longtime supporter of the Perkins Act, and we are encouraged by this week’s strong show of support for career and technical education,” said John Ravitz, Vice President and COO of the BCW. “Career and technical training is so important in helping students acquire the skills needed to be successful in today’s economy and workforce.”

In June, the BCW joined with more than 400 organization in signing a letter urging the Senate to take swift, bipartisan action to reauthorize the Perkins Act. The BCW continues to support the expansion of high quality career and technical programs as part of its 2018 Legislative Agenda, including expanding access to P-Tech schools and establishing regional high schools.

The legislation passed in the Senate on Monday, July 23 and was unanimously approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, July 25. It now heads to the President’s desk for a signature.

In a statement following the passage on Wednesday, President Donald Trump said: “In the twelve years since Congress passed the last Perkins reauthorization, the economy has evolved tremendously, becoming increasingly dependent on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines and other skilled labor… By enacting it into law, we will continue to prepare students for today’s constantly shifting job market, and we will help employers find the workers they need to compete.”