Rep. Pettalia offered the following concurrent resolution:

            House Concurrent Resolution No. 46. 

            A concurrent resolution to memorialize Congress to reconsider cuts to vocational education.

            Whereas, Vocational education consists of industry-focused teachings, tailored to teach students the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in a specified industry. Companies depend on workers with expertise, and many require an advanced certification in a specified field, creating a large job market for individuals with these qualifications; and

            Whereas, In a tough and unstable economy, many students cannot afford to attend a four- year university. Vocational education provides an alternative form of education that allows workers to enter the work force directly and succeed. The Georgetown Center for Education and the Workforce has projected that U.S. employers will have 47 million job openings between 2010 and 2018, 14 million of which will require an associate's degree or a vocational education certificate, rather than a bachelor's degree; and

            Whereas, Federal funding for vocational education has been cut by $140 million this year and has been proposed to be cut an additional 20 percent within the next year. These cuts have depleted a thriving job market for those who obtain skills from vocational education, young people seeking careers and experienced workers pursuing new fields. Many technical jobs, which require two years of college or advanced certification, will go unfilled if the highly skilled workforce is further diminished by funding cuts; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That we memorialize Congress to reconsider cuts to vocational education; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.