Rep. Wilson Advocates for Career and Technical Education
Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02), Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce participated in a markup on the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. Congressman Wilson spoke in support of the legislation.
Watch Congressman Wilson's remarks here.
Congressman Wilson's remarks as prepared for delivery:
I am grateful to Chairwoman Virginia Foxx and Representative Glenn Thompson for their leadership on this crucial issue. Career and technical education provides an excellent opportunity to promote advanced educational opportunities aligned with the needs of the workforce and diminishing the skills gap that has developed throughout our nation.
South Carolina has been especially successful in using career and technical education programs to partner with businesses and create jobs. One example of a successful partnership is between Boeing and ReadySC, a division of the South Carolina Technical College System. Boeing and ReadySC have cooperated at each point in the educational process—working together to develop curriculum and provide materials for a simulated work environment.
The success of the partnership is clear—over 4,500 ReadySC graduates have been hired as Boeing employees, with another 2,100 hired by area contractors. I appreciate the leadership of Boeing SC's General Manager Joan Robinson-Berry and the entire South Carolina Boeing team in advancing these programs that support jobs for meaningful lives.
Boeing is just one of many successful partnerships of career and technical education programs in South Carolina to include Michelin, MTU, BMW, Volvo, and more. I am grateful to support H.R. 2353, Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act and urge its passage.
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