For Immediate Release:
Friday, July 28, 2006

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Dan Boren voted late Friday night to renew two vocational education programs originally slated for elimination by the Bush Administration.  The Perkins Basic State Grants and Tech Prep Grants programs provide 154,000 Oklahoma students the skills they need to compete in today’s economy.

 

“Despite the administration’s repeated attempts to eliminate career and vocational funding, the broad bipartisan support for these programs should make it clear that Congress is not willing to sacrifice such a critical component of our education system,” Boren said.

 

The Perkins Basic State Grants provide states funding for coursework in professions – such as carpentry and some business services – that do not require four-year degrees.  The Perkins Tech Prep Grants fund specialized math and science courses for high school students going into vocational schools.

 

“Oklahoma has a world-class Career-Tech system that is critical to offering quality job training in rural Oklahoma,” said Boren.  “If we are to attract new businesses and spur job growth in Eastern Oklahoma, we must have a healthy Career-Tech system to meet workforce demands.”

 

The conference report on Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2005 (S. 250) passed the House of Representatives 399-1.  The Senate is expected to quickly pass the measure.  Though the president has proposed eliminating the program, he is expected to sign the bill into law.

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