Congressman Glenn Thompson continues to highlight the importance of career and technical education programming.

He said in his weekly newsletter that he participated in a hearing last week to discuss the role that such skills can play in shaping the nation’s economic future.

“As the author of the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, I know the value CTE programs across the country have when developing new skills and preparing our workforce for in demand careers,” Thompson said.

That legislation, according to a federal source, was signed into law in 2018 and continued a Congressional commitment to provide nearly $1.4 billion annually for career and technical education programs – like the Warren County Career Center – across the United States.

“These classes offer students the opportunity to investigate different possible career paths and even earn industry-recognized credentials,” he said. “I raised concerns from the agricultural perspective asking expert witnesses what we can do from the CTE perspective to inspire the next generation of American agriculturists.”

Thompson added that he’s co-chair of the bipartisan Career and Technical Education Caucus.

“I will always be an advocate for CTE access to learners of all ages,” he said. “Collaboration with job creators unleashes skills-based education and now is the time to unlock career and technical education to fill in-demand jobs across the modern economy.”

DEATH TAX REPEAL ACT

Thompson also outlined how the estate tax is a “big concern for many family farms.

“This tax is calculated after the estate owner dies by adding the value of all cash and securities, real estate, insurance, trusts, annuities, business interests, and other assets and then subtracting certain deductions like mortgages and debts,” he said.

“In many cases, this tax can be a death sentence to family farms transferring to younger generations.”

The tax applies on estates between $13.6 million and $27.2 million but he said the tax “particularly impacts family farms, ranches, and businesses since the value of these ventures is usually tied to illliquid assets such as land, buildings, and equipment. I proudly support H.R. 7035, Death Tax Repeal Act, which would permanently repeal the estate tax.”