Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Hosts Two Roundtables in Southern Illinois on the Future of Career and Technical Education

BELLEVILLE, IL - Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) held two roundtable discussions on workforce development with students, workers, employers, and Southern Illinois education and labor leaders. The two discussions, which took place at John A. Logan College's construction management educational facility in Cartersville and Southwestern Illinois College's Advanced Manufacturing Academy in Belleville, focused on federal career and technical education (CTE) funding and how to best utilize it to keep growing Illinois's economy and provide Illinoisans with tools necessary to succeed.

"The journey to a successful career and the Middle Class shouldn't hinge on a four-year degree," Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. "High-quality career and technical education (CTE) programs at schools like John A. Logan College and Southwestern Illinois College are the key to the Middle Class for so many Illinoisans. By convening students, employers, and local labor and education leaders for discussions like these, we will ensure federal CTE funding continues to expand critical programs, strengthen our workforce, and bolster our state's economy."

Congressman Krishnamoorthi has been a congressional leader in the field of CTE during his time in Congress, authoring and passing the bipartisan Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21^st Century Act that increased funding for CTE programs by $1.3 billion per year. Congressman Krishnamoorthi also introduced the Opportunity to Compete Act to ensure that computer hiring systems do not automatically dismiss candidates who lack a four-year degree but have relevant job experience.