Policymaker Perspectives: A Discussion with Representative Drew Ferguson

Policymaker Perspectives: A Discussion with Representative Drew Ferguson

Policymaker Perspectives is a discussion series between ACTE and federal policymakers. It is intended to allow CTE professionals to hear directly from policymakers about their priorities and the work taking place in Washington to strengthen the CTE ecosystem.

Representative Drew Ferguson (R-GA) was first elected in 2016 to represent Georgia’s Third Congressional District, located southwest of Atlanta. He previously served as the mayor of West Point, GA for eight years. Rep. Ferguson is a dentist by trade and established a family dental practice in his hometown after graduating from the Medical College of Georgia.

In Congress, Rep. Ferguson has quickly demonstrated leadership on CTE issues. He is a member of the Congressional CTE Caucus and an original co-sponsor of H.R. 2353, the House Perkins reauthorization bill. As a member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and as the Freshman Policy Representative for the 115th Congress, Rep. Ferguson is in a strong position to strengthen the CTE ecosystem. He also serves on the Budget Committee and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Congressman Ferguson has deep family roots in his district, and together with his wife Buffy, have four children.

ACTE spoke with Representative Ferguson as part of our Policymaker Perspectives discussion series.

----------------

ACTE: Though you only took office in January, you have quickly become a leader on CTE issues by joining the CTE Caucus, writing an op-ed, and co-sponsoring H.R. 2353. Why is CTE such an important priority for you?

Representative Ferguson: As a local mayor in a manufacturing community I saw firsthand the shrinking pool of individuals who were properly prepared to fill our workforce needs. I also saw how innovative CTE programs in Georgia’s Third District filled that void with a new generation of workers who were graduating from these programs with the skills they needed to thrive. These students were able to immediately secure well-paying, meaningful jobs. I believe that creating a modern American workforce requires enabling programs like these across the nation to meet the needs of our modern workforce and make America the most competitive place to do business.

 

ACTE: As a dentist and an employer, you have firsthand knowledge of the types of careers that are available to CTE students. For example, the Georgia Department of Education lists dental hygienist as a “hot career” with 350 annual openings and an annual wage of more than $65,000 per year. What’s more, dental hygienists only need a two-year degree, which can be obtained at community colleges. In addition to careers in dentistry, countless other occupations also require education beyond high school but below a bachelor’s degree. Did CTE programs help provide skilled workers for your dental practice? Further, do you see community colleges playing an increasingly important role in the nation’s higher education system to ensure a skilled workforce?

Representative Ferguson: CTE programs in the Third District and throughout Georgia provided a number of skilled workers for my own dental practice over the years. Community colleges absolutely play an important role in our higher education system. Whether it’s allowing students to receive a certification, two-year degree or providing another option to gain credits towards a four-year degree, we need to ensure students have flexible options that work for their lives and goals.

 

ACTE: Since Fiscal Year 2007, federal funding for states through the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act has declined by 23 percent when adjusted for inflation. In fact, Georgia received over $3 million less this year than it did in FY 2010. ACTE is appreciative of a bipartisan letter you signed in April to leaders on the Appropriations Committee urging “strong funding” for the Perkins Act in the Fiscal Year 2018 budget. What are the prospects for federal CTE funding in FY 2018? What can advocates do to encourage policymakers to restore harmful cuts to CTE funding?

Representative Ferguson: H.R. 2353 authorizes a gradual increase in Perkins CTE funding over the next 5 years. I believe this is the appropriate way to scale up our support. I hope that Appropriators can also support this strategy, but I understand the challenges. Our nation is facing an ever-growing debt crisis as mandatory spending continues to go unchecked. As a member of the House Budget Committee, it is a priority of mine to address and solve our long-term fiscal challenges in order to ensure sustained funding for important programs like CTE in the future.

 

ACTE: In a joint session of Congress earlier this year, President Trump said he would be “asking Congress to approve legislation that produces a $1 trillion investment in the infrastructure of the United States.” Both Republicans and Democrats have since indicated that an infrastructure package could be an area of bipartisan agreement. As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, what are your priorities for an infrastructure package? Do you believe it is important to include a CTE component to ensure there are enough American workers with the skills to plan, build, operate and maintain the nation’s infrastructure?

Representative Ferguson: Targeted investments in infrastructure are key to developing our economy and making America the most competitive place in the world to do business. I’m glad there is bipartisan agreement on this topic, and we are having thoughtful conversations about what exactly that package should look like. I think we should focus firsts on projects that are already in the pipeline and have demonstrated clear economic development benefits for our communities. This demonstrates again why completing Perkins Reauthorization is so critically important so we can continue to enhance our investment in the skilled workforce to meet the needs of tomorrow.