As the 118th Congress gets underway, ACTE has created a list of some of the freshmen members in the House of Representatives with established connections to education or education policy, based on publicly available information. Several of these new Members of Congress have discussed CTE-related issues and priorities in their campaigns. Here is a preview of their public statements and/or plans for education as they begin their service.
- Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-6) - Rep. Ciscomani is a first-generation college graduate, and is a supporter of school choice. Previously, he was an advisor to former Arizona governor Doug Ducey.
- Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA-42) - Rep. Garcia is a supporter of tuition-free community college. He has previously served as a professor of public policy and communications at California State University, Long Beach, and as mayor of Long Beach, CA.
- Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37) - Rep. Kamlager-Dove previously served in the California State Senate, California State Assembly and as a trustee for the Los Angeles Community College District.
- Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-7) - Rep. Pettersen previously served as a member of the Colorado State Senate and Colorado House of Representatives, representing the 28th district. As a state senator, she chaired the House Education Committee. She plans to work to invest in community colleges to reduce costs for students.
- Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-CO-8) - Rep. Caraveo is a first-generation college graduate and pediatrician. She previously represented the 31st district in the Colorado House of Representatives.
- Rep. Laurel Lee (R-FL-15) - Rep. Lee served as Florida Secretary of State and as a judge in the Florida Thirteenth Circuit Court. Her mother was a public school teacher.
- Rep. Jared Evan Moskowitz (D-FL-23) - Rep. Moskowitz is a school safety and mental health advocate. He has previously served in the Florida House of Representatives and has a background in emergency management. He supports expanding school funding, increasing teacher pay and improving school safety.
- Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-HI-2) - Rep. Tokuda previously served as a member of the Hawaii Senate, where she chaired the Education Committee. She supports universal access to free public education from early childhood through college, and funding for workforce training. She was co-director of CyberHawaii, which supports workforce development in IT, cyber security and data science.
- Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-1) - Rep. Jackson is a former business professor at Chicago State University. He supports workforce training through community and technical colleges.
- Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) - Rep. Budzinksi previously served as chief of staff at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). She plans to work to expand CTE opportunities and skills training.
- Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA-15) - Rep. Nunn previously served in the Iowa Senate, Iowa House of Representatives and as a member of the Iowa Air National Guard. His father was a teacher.
- Rep. Morgan McGarvey (D-KY-3) - Rep. McGarvey formerly represented Kentucky’s 19th Senate District. He is a supporter of universal pre-K and tuition-free community college.
- Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD-4) - Rep. Ivey has worked on Capitol Hill, primarily serving as a counsel in the Senate. He supports increased federal funding for education. He previously served as the state's attorney for Prince George's County, Maryland.
- Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI-3) - Rep. Scholten was formerly an attorney for the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. Her campaign materials note that she will advocate for teacher compensation, early childhood education, college affordability and apprenticeship and skilled trades programs.
- Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13) - Rep. Thanedar previously served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives. He is a researcher and entrepreneur. He writes ”The skilled workforce is the backbone of our societal infrastructure and should be treated with such respect. Apprenticeships are often funded, paid, provide hands-on training and experience, don’t result in debt, and provide an actual pathway to employment. That’s why I also support free skills training and vocational schools.”
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Rep. Marie Glusenkamp Perez (D-WA-3) - Rep. Glusenkamp Perez is the owner of a small auto repair business. She campaigned on investing and expanding apprenticeship and skills training programs at high schools, community colleges and vocational schools.
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Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT-1) - Rep. Zinke is returning to serve in Congress as Montana’s First Congressional District representative after serving as Interior Secretary under former President Trump and representing Montana‘s formerly at-large Congressional District. He is a supporter of school choice. He notes on his campaign website from the Montana State Senate “We expanded options for rural education and skilled trades, knowing that not every kid learns the same way or excels in the same subjects.”
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Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30) - Rep. Crockett previously represented the 100th District in the Texas House of Representatives. Her father is a teacher.
- Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT-AL) - Rep. Balint last served as a member and majority leader of the Vermont Senate. She is also a former middle school teacher.
- Rep. Gabriel Vasquez (D-NM-2) - Rep. Vasquez previously served as a member of the Las Cruces, NM, City Council. In addition, he worked for Washington, DC-based First Focus as an advocate for children and families.
- Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-NC-4) - Rep. Foushee is a former school board member. She is also a supporter of universal free pre-K and cancelling student debt.
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Rep. Val Hoyle (D-OR-14) - Rep. Hoyle is a first-generation college graduate. She is a supporter of paid apprenticeship programs, cancelling student loan debt and tuition-free community college. She notes in her campaign platform that “As Labor Commissioner, [she] has championed paid apprenticeship programs that provide hands-on workforce training throughout Oregon and expanded apprenticeship opportunities beyond the building and construction trades in partnership with labor unions, employers and community colleges.”
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