Earlier this week, the House Education and Workforce Committee held their first full Committee hearing, “The State of American Education” to discuss issues facing students and their families, as well as faculty and administrators. Witnesses included Parents Defending Education President Nicole Neily, American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Preston Cooper, Society for Human Resource Management President and CEO Johnny C. Taylor Jr., and NAACP Legal Defense Fund President and Director-Counsel Janai Nelson.
Chair Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) set the tone for the hearing with agenda items including university spending, foreign influence, social issues and workforce development. On workforce development, Rep. Walberg noted that a priority for the 119th Congress is a reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). He discussed with witnesses the high-level impact of the legislation, emphasizing the opportunity to strengthen the law and ensure that American workers have the skills and knowledge to succeed as they seek alternative pathways. Rep. Walberg also questioned witnesses on the significance of WIOA within the context of AI, and they agreed more funding needs to go toward skilling and upskilling.
Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) also noted that WIOA almost passed in the latest Continuing Resolution, passed last year to extend government funding through March, but was removed at the last minute. He also addressed the conversation surrounding a probable Executive Order that President Trump intends to introduce to eliminate the Department of Education, reminding his colleagues and the public that the Department of Education cannot be eliminated without Congressional approval.
Rep. Courtney raised the relationship between the Department of Education and Perkins, emphasizing the important role the Department plays in assisting with the goals outlined in CTE legislation and providing funding to critical workforce development programs like welding and nursing.
House CTE Caucus co-chair Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) highlighted CTE programs focused on agriculture and business. He also referenced a recent uptick in enrollment in CTE and work the House Education and Workforce Committee has done to bolster CTE in recent years.
Reps. Rick Allen (R-GA), Donald Norcross (D-NJ) and Mark Messmer (R-IN) also raised their concerns for ensuring that CTE programs and Registered Apprenticeships are properly funded.
