Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined his Senate co-chairs on the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus, Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), in introducing a bipartisan resolution recognizing February 2026 as Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month.
“Career and Technical Education programs don’t just help provide students with the skills they need to enter the workforce, they are pivotal to breaking the ‘bachelor’s or bust’, one-size-fits-all approach to education and career preparedness. CTE Month recognizes the programs and hard-working educators who have helped train millions of Americans with the expertise to go into the workforce and keep America building and innovating,” said Senator Budd.
“Growing up working in our family’s ironworking business and later serving as the principal of a technical school in Honduras, I’ve seen firsthand the impact career and technical education can have on people. I’m proud to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to introduce this legislation and will continue to fight to expand access to CTE programming to ensure all Virginians have the skills they need to fill critical jobs,” said Senator Kaine.
“This resolution recognizes the importance of career and technical education and encourages more educators and students to seek out CTE programs. Preparing the students of today for the jobs of tomorrow will lead to more opportunities, a stronger economy, and a highly skilled workforce,” said Senator Young.
“I’m committed to creating pathways to connect Wisconsinites to good-paying careers in the trades and making sure businesses across the state have the workforce they need to grow and thrive. Career and Technical Education is a worthwhile investment in Wisconsin’s students, workforce, and future, and I’m proud to join my Republican and Democratic colleagues to show just that,” said Senator Baldwin.
U.S. Senators Mark Warner (D-Va.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
U.S. Representatives Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.-15) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01), House co-chairs of the CTE Caucus, introduced the resolution in the House of Representatives.
U.S. Representatives Aaron Bean (R-Fla.-04), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.-01), Bryan Steil (R-Wis.-01), Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.-25), Sam Graves (R-Mo.-06), Frank Mrvan (D-Ind.-01), Tracey Mann (R-Kan.-01), Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.-02), Don Bacon (R-Neb.-02), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.-03), James Moylan (R-Guam-At-large), Josh Harder (D-Calif.-09), Ryan Mackenzie (R-Pa.-07), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28), Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.-11), Angie Craig (D-Minn.-02), Mike Bost (R-Ill.-12), Henry “Hank” Johnson (D-Ga.-04), John Carter (R-Texas-31), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.-08), Rudy Yakym (R-Ind.-02), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.-04), Nick Langworthy (R-N.Y.-23), Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.-06), Rick Crawford (R-Ark.-01), Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Mich.-08), Adrian Smith (R-Neb.-03), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.-20), Brad Finstad (R-Minn.-01), Sharice Davids (D-Kan.-03), and Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.-11) joined in introducing the legislation.
Read the full bill text HERE.
BACKGROUND
As a member of the CTE Caucus, Senator Budd is a leading supporter of career and technical education and expanding access to CTE programming. Last year, his PELL Act was signed into law as part of the Working Families Tax Cut Act, expanding Pell Grant eligibility for high-quality, short-term workforce programs.
###
