WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today issued the following statement after President Donald Trump signed into law the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, bipartisan legislation reauthorizing the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. The Senate passed the bill unanimously last week.

“As our economy continues to grow and our workforce needs change, it’s absolutely critical that we make sure our students and workers have the knowledge and the skills they need to get good-paying jobs and pursue successful careers in a wide range of industries. Career and technical education not only helps prepare individuals to succeed in today’s workforce, but it also sets them up to take full advantage of new opportunities in fields that will continue to drive growth and development in the future. That’s why I have continued to champion measures to strengthen and encourage career and technical education—along with workforce development tools like apprenticeships, digital skills training, and other vocational education.

“Workforce development is especially important in states like West Virginia where we are working to grow and diversify our economy, and I appreciate that the administration—led by Ivanka Trump—has made this such a priority. I was excited to join Ivanka and a small group of public- and private-sector leaders for dinner recently to discuss ways we can further strengthen our workforce, create new job opportunities, and better meet the needs of both workers and employers. I look forward to continuing that discussion and working with the administration and others to continue driving growth, development, and opportunity in West Virginia and across the country.” 

# # #