PRINTER'S NO. 1796
No. 283 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY HARHAI, DALEY, DeWEESE, CAPPELLI, CORRIGAN,
GINGRICH, GRUCELA, JAMES, JOSEPHS, LAUGHLIN, LEH, ROEBUCK,
SHANER, SOLOBAY, THOMAS, TIGUE, WASHINGTON, WOJNAROSKI AND
YOUNGBLOOD, MAY 13, 2003
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, MAY 13, 2003
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Memorializing Congress to reject the proposed Secondary and
2 Technical Education Excellence Act of 2003.
3 WHEREAS, Congress is considering proposed legislation known
4 as the Secondary and Technical Education Excellence Act of 2003;
5 and
6 WHEREAS, This proposed legislation would replace existing
7 Federal school aid with a new block grant; and
8 WHEREAS, This new block grant, by concentrating on elementary
9 education, will have detrimental effects on career and technical
10 education at the secondary and postsecondary levels; and
11 WHEREAS, The elimination of support for career and technical
12 education reduces options available for students at the
13 secondary level; and
14 WHEREAS, Career and technical education provides students
15 with coursework which is relevant to their future endeavors,
16 thus encouraging them to perform better and stay in school
1 longer; and
2 WHEREAS, According to the Workforce 2020 Report, in the
3 future only 20% of jobs will require a four-year degree and 65%
4 will require postsecondary education or training; and
5 WHEREAS, There could be a national shortage of up to 10
6 million skilled workers by 2020; and
7 WHEREAS, Students need skills learned outside of a four-year
8 institution to be successful in the work force; and
9 WHEREAS, The focus in secondary education should be on
10 integration of technical and academic skills; therefore be it
11 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
12 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the
13 United States to reject the proposed Secondary and Technical
14 Education Excellence Act of 2003 in favor of educational funding
15 which integrates career and technical education at the secondary
16 and postsecondary levels; and be it further
17 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
18 the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
19 member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
D10L82VDL/20030H0283R1796 - 2 -