House Approves Technical Ag Education Bill

The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 2353), recently passed by the House, gives a boost to the high school career and technical agriculture education programs that are so vital to developing the talent and leadership needed in the farming and agricultural services industries, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

The measure reauthorizes the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act.

Rural America needs a skilled workforce as much as urban and suburban communities, AFBF President Zippy Duvall noted in a letter urging House lawmakers to support the bill.

“Agricultural education programs provide a well-rounded, practical approach to learning through classroom education in agricultural topics such as plant and animal sciences, horticulture, forestry, agri-marketing, etc., and hands-on supervised agricultural career experience, such as starting a business or working for an established company,” Duvall wrote.