WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01), a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and an electrician by trade, cheered the unanimous, bipartisan, final passage of H.R. 2353, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education (CTE) for the 21st Century Act. The bill, which is now heading to the President’s desk, included a provision by Norcross that extends the allowable use of funding for career-building programs.

“Career and technical training is often overlooked, and it shouldn’t be. I owe my path to technical training – it’s what took me from Community College to construction work to Congress. The four-year college experience is critical for many, but it’s not for everyone, and we worked to allow more students to learn about more options,” said Congressman Norcross. “We need electricians and computer programmers, just like we need doctors and judges – and this bipartisan bill provides more opportunities for students and workers to build valuable skills.”

Norcross added a provision to ensure that high school officials better inform students about the broad array of options available to them, including college and career and technical education training. It also helps improve coordination between college and high school programs, and keeps training programs targeted to the in-demand jobs of the 21st century economy.

The CTE bill originally passed the Committee and full House last year, and returned from the Senate for final passage today. Norcross’ added language remained in the bill’s final version. Click here to read full text of H.R. 2353. Norcross’ provision (section 135) can be found starting on page 144.

“I am pleased we all worked together on the Committee to pass this bill and ensure that our career and technical education system will adapt to the needs of emerging industries,” said House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott. “Rep. Norcross is the only former electrician on the Committee and was able to work on an important section of this bill by bringing his unique personal perspective as someone who received technical training and attended community college. With this bill passing, we are one step closer to helping more Americans enter the workforce with the skills they need to compete for high-skilled, high-wage jobs.”

“All one needs to do is examine the changing job market to understand the importance of career and technical training programs that will lead to meaningful employment for an ever-increasing number of our citizens,”  said Don Borden, President, Camden County College. “The provision added by Congressman Norcross, as well as his overall support of the bill, illustrates his understanding of the types of educational programs we need to provide for our students.”

Related Content

• In May 2018, Norcross wrote about career training and said, “as we recognize Infrastructure Week around the country, we must take the opportunity to encourage both the work and the workers who will rebuild America.”
• Norcross welcomed television personalities, construction workers and apprentices from This Old House to Washington, DC for a conversation on addressing the skills gap in America through apprenticeships.
• Norcross introduced the 529 OPTIONS Act in Congress to help make apprenticeship training more accessible to America’s students.
• Norcross led a bipartisan tour of apprenticeship training centers for members of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
• In an op-ed in The Star-Ledger, Norcross wrote, “an apprenticeship program shaped my life – taking me from construction work to Congress.”
• Norcross was selected to serve on the House and Senate Joint Super Committee on Pensions.
• Norcross was named Co-Chair of House Democrats’ “Rebuilding America” task force.
• Norcross hosted colleagues in South Jersey for a daylong forum on ‘The Future of Work, Wages and Labor.’
• Norcross founded the Congressional Building Trades Caucus, which launched a bipartisan infrastructure series.
• Norcross was appointed to serve on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and he vowed to represent New Jersey working families.

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Contact: Ally Kehoe, Communications Director
ally.kehoe@mail.house.gov