WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-Howard, is one of two recipients, announced at this week’s Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) conference in Washington, of the National Policymaker of the Year Award.
The award is presented annually by the ACTE Board of Directors to federal lawmakers who have made a significant impact on policy related to career and technical programs.
Thompson serves on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, which handles legislation affecting education and job training. Thompson is also currently serving his second term as the co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus, where he has been active in numerous efforts to raise awareness of career and technical education in Congress. His fellow caucus co-chair, Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI), was the other honoree.
“Reps. Langevin and Thompson have been outspoken supporters of Career and Technical Education during the 112th and 113th Congresses,” said ACTE Board President Karen Mason. “Their support during funding debates and recent reauthorization attempts of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Workforce Investment Act make a difference for CTE students and educators, and we want to recognize them today for those contributions and for the continuing support we know they will make in the future.”
Speaking on the House Floor in February, Thompson acknowledged National Career and Technical Education Month, urging Congress to recognize the critical role CTE programs play in building individual careers, strengthening the nation’s workforce, and in advancing American competitiveness: “Career and Technical Education programs continue to evolve in order to ensure that workers are prepared to hold jobs in high wage, high skill and high demand career fields like engineering, information technology, healthcare and advanced manufacturing for the 21st Century.”
“During this time of record high unemployment, Career and Technical Education Programs provide a life line for the under employed who look to begin new careers alongside young adults just starting out in the rapidly evolving job market,” Thompson continued. “While historically undervalued, they help tackle critical work force shortages and provide an opportunity for America to remain globally competitive.”
The Association of Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit education association dedicated to the advancement of CTE programs.