Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi hosts roundtable discussions on Workforce Development

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BELLEVILLE, IL – On October 21, 2024, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) hosted two roundtable discussions on workforce development, engaging with students, workers, employers, and educational and labor leaders from Southern Illinois.

These discussions were held at the construction management educational facility of John A. Logan College in Cartersville and at the Advanced Manufacturing Academy of Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville. The primary focus was on federal career and technical education (CTE) funding and strategies to effectively leverage it for the continued growth of Illinois’s economy, while equipping residents with the necessary tools for success.

“The journey to a successful career and the Middle Class shouldn’t hinge on a four-year degree,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi said in a statement. “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.”

As a prominent advocate for CTE in Congress, Congressman Krishnamoorthi authored and passed the bipartisan Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, which boosted CTE program funding by $1.3 billion annually. He also introduced the Opportunity to Compete Act to prevent computer hiring systems from automatically screening out candidates who lack a four-year degree but possess relevant work experience.

(Used with permission from South Asian Herald)