Illinois Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi says he wants to expand federal funding for career and technical education when legislation he co-sponsored comes up for reauthorization next year.
Krishnamoorthi is a Democrat representing the west and northwest Chicago suburbs, but he grew up in Peoria. He says CTE programs are effective at high schools and community colleges, but more is needed.
"What we need to do is modify some of the constraints on the use of those funds so that they can be used, for instance, for some of these wraparound services, and we need to add to those funds, because although what we provided is good, it's not nearly enough to meet the need," he said.
Wraparound services include things like child care, transportation, and even help purchasing tools.
He said it's important for the two-thirds of Americans who don't have a four-year college degree to still get the training they need to land a good paying job, like those in the trades.
"It's both an opportunity and a challenge to make sure they get the right skills and to fill those jobs that are necessary for us to really compete globally as a country," he said.
He said building up the workfrce and basing more manufacturing of items like semiconductors domestically can help America vie in economic competition against China. The congressman serves as Ranking Member of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party.
He said he's against broad tariffs, which he said raises the costs of everything and ultimately equates to a national sales tax. But in specific, narrower cases of "economic aggression," Krishnamoorthi said action can help keep competitors from undercutting American industry.
Krishnamoorthi was in town to support the re-election campaign of state Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria.
