Policymaker Perspectives:
A Discussion with Representative Bradley Byrne
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 Bradley Byrne was first elected to Congress in 2013 and represents Alabama’s First Congressional District, encompassing the southwestern corner of the state. Rep. Byrne attended Duke University and the Alabama School of Law. Before his election to Congress, Rep. Byrne served on the state school board, in the state senate, and as chancellor of the state’s community college system.
Representative Byrne is a leader on education issues and serves on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. There, he chairs the Workforce Protections subcommittee and also serves on the Higher Education and Workforce Development subcommittee. He also is a member of the House Armed Services and Rules committees. This year, Rep. Byrne was an original cosponsor of H.R. 2353, the Perkins reauthorization bill that passed the House unanimously earlier this year.
Representative Byrne and his wife, Rebecca, live in Fairhope and are parents and grandparents.
ACTE spoke with Representative Byrne as part of our Policymaker Perspectives discussion series.
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ACTE: On your website, you specifically identify “workforce training and technical education” as a top priority of yours. Why is CTE so important for both your constituents and the country at large?
Representative Byrne: CTE is an important program for providing skills and technical education to high school students and older students in America’s community and technical colleges. Here is the way I look at it. If we get an individual the skills they need to obtain a high paying job, then that person’s life is made intrinsically better. At the same time, by adding another skilled worker to the workforce, we are further growing our economy and boosting overall output. Even more, by doing this we are saving taxpayer’s money by having another productive member of society and one less person on our welfare rolls. CTE is not, and should not be viewed, as a secondary option. It is the best option for so many individuals in today’s economy.
ACTE: As the former chancellor of Alabama’s community college system, you have a unique perspective into the postsecondary CTE ecosystem. There have been some indications that this Congress may consider the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. What changes do you believe can be made during the reauthorization process to better reflect and support today’s postsecondary CTE?
Representative Byrne: Reauthorizing the Higher Education Act is a top priority of the Committee and Chairwoman Foxx, as it should be. I think CTE must and will play a crucial role in our higher education system. We should also look for ways to make programs more flexible in order to meet the interests of today’s students and the needs of our workforce.
ACTE: You have supported legislation to ensure students can access Pell Grants year-round. Why is year-round Pell important? Though it was reinstated in the FY17 budget, what are the prospects for year-round Pell in the future and in FY18?
Representative Byrne: Year-round Pell has broad bipartisan support in Congress, so I think the outlook is very bright. I have heard from both colleges and universities and students about the importance of year-round Pell, and I think their points are absolutely valid. I will continue to advocate for the program because it is important to our nation’s workforce.
ACTE: You previously sponsored a bill to make computer science a core academic subject and include computer science teachers in professional development activities. Information Technology (IT) jobs pay more than double the national average and IT employment is projected to increase by 18 percent through 2022, outpacing the average occupation growth. What else is Congress doing to support the growing demand for skilled labor in new and innovative career fields?
Representative Byrne: We have to make sure all of our workforce training programs, including CTE, are focused on in-demand skill areas. A great example is with computer science and other STEM fields. There is a real demand for workers in these areas, and I want to make sure that we are creating opportunities for people in these fields at every level of education. Exposure to these fields is a big part of the battle, but we must also follow through to ensure our CTE programs have the resources necessary to adequately train workers in these high-tech fields.
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