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Newark, NJ – Today, at the Technical Careers Center, Tenth District Congressman Donald M. Payne, a senior member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, held a press conference opposing President Bush’s FY 2006 budget proposal to eliminate funding for the Carl Perkins Vocational and Technical Education program. Supporters of the program speaking at the event included U.S. Representatives Robert Andrews (D-1st), co-host of the press conference and also a member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce; Robert Menendez (D-13th); Steven Rothman (D-9th); and Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo and Dr. Thomas Bistocchi, President of the New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools. Also in attendance were vocational-technical education school administrators, teachers and students.
The Perkins Act supports career and technical education programs at the state and local levels, prepares youth and adults for the future by building their skills for the careers of today and tomorrow, and is essential to strengthening the American workforce.
Career and technical education have proven results – providing effective skills-building opportunities and improving employment outcomes. Students completing a rigorous academic core coupled with a career concentration often have test scores that are equal or higher than those of students considered to be “college prep”. They are also more likely to pursue postsecondary education, have a higher grade point average in college and are less likely to drop out of school in the first year. As a result, Perkins students have better employment and earnings outcomes than other students.
“Well, there he goes again. President Bush is attacking a program that works well and serves more than 10 million Americans across the country,” said Congressman Payne. “I am committed to restoring full federal funding of the Carl Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act and will fight any attempts to eliminate this program to ensure that our students continue to receive first-class education and training opportunities that will help prepare them to compete in a highly skilled workforce,” added Payne.
"Since President Bush has taken office, the nation has lost over 1.7 million good paying jobs. Rather than investing in America's workforce by improving the nation's job training programs, this Administration has instead proposed massive cuts in vocational education funding," said Rep. Rob Andrews. "This President must focus his priorities on helping hard working Americans attain the skills they need to remain competitive rather than provide massive tax cuts to the nation's wealthiest individuals.”
"For our nation to remain competitive in today's global marketplace, we need to ensure that we have a crop of skilled workers ready to take on the challenge, and this is where our vocational and technical schools play such a vital role. We cannot afford to sacrifice our nation's future competitiveness because of these Bush budget cuts," said Rep. Menendez. "I, together with my colleagues in Congress, will continue to fight for funding for these valuable education programs."
Congressman Rothman stated, “It is utterly inconceivable to me that President Bush is proposing to completely zero out federal funding for vocational and technical educational programs and equipment. I will use my position on the Appropriations Committee to fight this latest example of the President’s wrong-headed domestic policy priorities.”
“Our vocational schools fill a vital need in the community and provide our students with first-class education and training that enables them to move on to higher education or prepares them to become productive members of the workforce. If we are going to continue to successfully serve our students, we must receive our fair share of federal funding,” DiVincenzo said. “Congress understands the importance of voc-tech education and the need to restore funding to the federal budget, and I ask that President Bush support this decision,” he added.
"Certainly, we all support reforming high schools to better prepare students for work or further study," said Dr. Thomas Bistocchi, president of the NJ Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools. "But it is perplexing and disheartening that the President proposes to fund his high school reform initiative by robbing our vocational-technical schools -- the very schools that are widely recognized as innovators and leaders in high school reform."
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