{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://jasonlewis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=99", "Rules Committee approves Lewis amendment transferring $70 million to bridge skills gap", "2017-09-07", "2017", "2017-09", "Republican", "House", "MN", "Jason Lewis", "L000587", "jasonlewis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rules Committee approves Lewis amendment transferring $70 million to bridge skills gap \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        September 7, 2017\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Jason Lewis (MN-02) issued the following statement after the Rules Committee approved his amendment to transfer $70 million of education funding to support technical education:\u201cThere\u2019s a skills gap in our country as colleges push students to take a four-year degree instead of equipping them with the technical knowledge to get on the fast-track for an in-demand career. My amendment would simply transfer the proposed funding increase from well-funded programs that encourage more four-year degrees and put that $70 million where it\u2019s needed most: state grants to improve Career and Technical Education (CTE). Encouraging CTE means that young people avoid debt and graduate school ready to succeed in a well-paid job.\u201dBackground: Lewis\u2019 amendment transfers the funding increase that TRIO and GEAR UP would have received and puts the money towards Career and Technical Education (CTE) state grants. TRIO and GEAR UP remain funded at their 2017 level. CTE, which is funded well below the 2007 level despite widespread bipartisan support, would receive a much-needed $70 million boost.\u00a0CTE Statistics\u2022 High school graduation rate for students who concentrate in CTE is 93%, well above nation average of 80%  \r\n\u2022 High-risk students are 8 to 10 times less likely to drop out in the 11th and 12th grade if enrolled in a CTE program  \r\n\u2022 4 out of 5 high school CTE graduates who pursued postsecondary education had earned a credential or were still enrolled 2 years later  \r\n\u2022 27% of people with less than an associate\u2019s degree earn more than avg. bachelor\u2019s degree\u00a0  \r\n\u2022 Over 80% of manufactures report that talent shortages will impact their ability to meet customer demand  \r\n\u2022 Currently, only 19% of high school students are concentrating in CTE, 81% are taking an academic route###  \r\n\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://jasonlewis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=99"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7440671324729919, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}